[Timson, momentarily
roused from slumber on the doorstep, sits
up.]
Hoxton. [Struggling to his knees.] Damnation!
Calway. [Sitting.] How simultaneous!
[Wellwyn and Ferrand approach hastily.]
Ferrand. [Pointing to Timson.] Monsieur,
it was true, it seems.
They had lost sight of the individual.
[A Policeman has appeared
under the street lamp. He picks up
Hoxton’s
hat.]
Constable. Anything wrong, sir?
Hoxton. [Recovering his feet.] Wrong? Great Scott! Constable! Why do you let things lie about in the street like this? Look here, Wellyn!
[They all scrutinize Timson.]
Wellwyn. It’s only the old fellow whose reform you were discussing.
Hoxton. How did he come here?
Constable. Drunk, sir. [Ascertaining Timson
to be in the street.]
Just off the premises, by good luck. Come along,
father.
Timson. [Assisted to his feet-drowsily.] Cert’nly, by no means; take my arm.
[They move from the
doorway. Hoxton and Calway re-enter,
and
go towards the fire.]
Ann. [Entering from the house.] What’s happened?
Calway. Might we have a brush?
Hoxton. [Testily.] Let it dry!
[He moves to the fire
and stands before it. Professor Calway
following stands a little
behind him. Ann returning begins to
brush the PROFESSOR’s
sleeve.]
Wellwyn. [Turning from the door, where he has stood looking after the receding Timson.] Poor old Timson!
Ferrand. [Softly.] Must be philosopher, Monsieur! They will but run him in a little.
[From the model’s
room Mrs. Megan has come out, shepherded
by
Canon Bertley.]
Bertley. Let’s see, your Christian name is——.
Mrs. Megan. Guinevere.
Bertley. Oh! Ah! Ah! Ann, take Gui—take our little friend into the study a minute: I am going to put her into service. We shall make a new woman of her, yet.
Ann. [Handing Canon Bertley the brush,
and turning to Mrs. Megan.]
Come on!
[She leads into the house, and Mrs. Megan follows Stolidly.]
Bertley. [Brushing Calway’s back.] Have you fallen?
Calway. Yes.
Bertley. Dear me! How was that?
Hoxton. That old ruffian drunk on the doorstep. Hope they’ll give him a sharp dose! These rag-tags!
[He looks round, and his angry eyes light by chance on Ferrand.]