Mrs. Pearce opens the door and awaits orders.

Higgins.  Mrs. Pearce:  this is Eliza’s father.  He has come to take her away.  Give her to him. [He goes back to the piano, with an air of washing his hands of the whole affair].

Doolittle.  No.  This is a misunderstanding.  Listen here—­

Mrs. Pearce.  He can’t take her away, Mr. Higgins:  how can he?  You told me to burn her clothes.

Doolittle.  That’s right.  I can’t carry the girl through the streets like a blooming monkey, can I?  I put it to you.

Higgins.  You have put it to me that you want your daughter.  Take your daughter.  If she has no clothes go out and buy her some.

Doolittle [desperate] Where’s the clothes she come in?  Did I burn them or did your missus here?

Mrs. Pearce.  I am the housekeeper, if you please.  I have sent for some clothes for your girl.  When they come you can take her away.  You can wait in the kitchen.  This way, please.

Doolittle, much troubled, accompanies her to the door; then hesitates; finally turns confidentially to Higgins.

Doolittle.  Listen here, Governor.  You and me is men of the world, ain’t we?

Higgins.  Oh!  Men of the world, are we?  You’d better go, Mrs. Pearce.

Mrs. Pearce.  I think so, indeed, sir. [She goes, with dignity].

Pickering.  The floor is yours, Mr. Doolittle.

Doolittle [to Pickering] I thank you, Governor. [To Higgins, who takes refuge on the piano bench, a little overwhelmed by the proximity of his visitor; for Doolittle has a professional flavor of dust about him].  Well, the truth is, I’ve taken a sort of fancy to you, Governor; and if you want the girl, I’m not so set on having her back home again but what I might be open to an arrangement.  Regarded in the light of a young woman, she’s a fine handsome girl.  As a daughter she’s not worth her keep; and so I tell you straight.  All I ask is my rights as a father; and you’re the last man alive to expect me to let her go for nothing; for I can see you’re one of the straight sort, Governor.  Well, what’s a five pound note to you?  And what’s Eliza to me? [He returns to his chair and sits down judicially].

Pickering.  I think you ought to know, Doolittle, that Mr. Higgins’s intentions are entirely honorable.

Doolittle.  Course they are, Governor.  If I thought they wasn’t, I’d ask fifty.

Higgins [revolted] Do you mean to say, you callous rascal, that you would sell your daughter for 50 pounds?

Doolittle.  Not in a general way I wouldn’t; but to oblige a gentleman like you I’d do a good deal, I do assure you.

Pickering.  Have you no morals, man?

Doolittle [unabashed] Can’t afford them, Governor.  Neither could you if you was as poor as me.  Not that I mean any harm, you know.  But if Liza is going to have a bit out of this, why not me too?