Liza [defiantly non-resistant] Wring away.  What do I care?  I knew you’d strike me some day. [He lets her go, stamping with rage at having forgotten himself, and recoils so hastily that he stumbles back into his seat on the ottoman].  Aha!  Now I know how to deal with you.  What a fool I was not to think of it before!  You can’t take away the knowledge you gave me.  You said I had a finer ear than you.  And I can be civil and kind to people, which is more than you can.  Aha!  That’s done you, Henry Higgins, it has.  Now I don’t care that [snapping her fingers] for your bullying and your big talk.  I’ll advertize it in the papers that your duchess is only a flower girl that you taught, and that she’ll teach anybody to be a duchess just the same in six months for a thousand guineas.  Oh, when I think of myself crawling under your feet and being trampled on and called names, when all the time I had only to lift up my finger to be as good as you, I could just kick myself.

Higgins [wondering at her] You damned impudent slut, you!  But it’s better than snivelling; better than fetching slippers and finding spectacles, isn’t it? [Rising] By George, Eliza, I said I’d make a woman of you; and I have.  I like you like this.

Liza.  Yes:  you turn round and make up to me now that I’m not afraid of you, and can do without you.

Higgins.  Of course I do, you little fool.  Five minutes ago you were like a millstone round my neck.  Now you’re a tower of strength:  a consort battleship.  You and I and Pickering will be three old bachelors together instead of only two men and a silly girl.

Mrs. Higgins returns, dressed for the wedding.  Eliza instantly becomes cool and elegant.

Mrs. Higgins.  The carriage is waiting, Eliza.  Are you ready?

Liza.  Quite.  Is the Professor coming?

Mrs. Higgins.  Certainly not.  He can’t behave himself in church.  He makes remarks out loud all the time on the clergyman’s pronunciation.

Liza.  Then I shall not see you again, Professor.  Good bye. [She goes to the door].

Mrs. Higgins [coming to Higgins] Good-bye, dear.

Higgins.  Good-bye, mother. [He is about to kiss her, when he recollects something].  Oh, by the way, Eliza, order a ham and a Stilton cheese, will you?  And buy me a pair of reindeer gloves, number eights, and a tie to match that new suit of mine, at Eale & Binman’s.  You can choose the color. [His cheerful, careless, vigorous voice shows that he is incorrigible].

Liza [disdainfully] Buy them yourself. [She sweeps out].

Mrs. Higgins.  I’m afraid you’ve spoiled that girl, Henry.  But never mind, dear:  I’ll buy you the tie and gloves.

Higgins [sunnily] Oh, don’t bother.  She’ll buy em all right enough.  Good-bye.

They kiss.  Mrs. Higgins runs out.  Higgins, left alone, rattles his cash in his pocket; chuckles; and disports himself in a highly self-satisfied manner.