[Little Aida has put out her tongue.]

Mrs. L. I’d saner there was a gude ’eart in ’er than any fortune.

L. Aida. [Hugging her pile of trousers] It’s thirteen pence three farthin’s I’ve got to bring yer, an’ a penny aht for me, mykes twelve three farthin’s:  [With the same little hop and sudden smile] I’m goin’ to ride back on a bus, I am.

Lemmy.  Well, you myke the most of it up there; it’s the nearest you’ll ever git to ’eaven.

Mrs. L. Don’ yu discourage ’er, Bob; she’m a gude little thing, an’t yu, dear?

L. Aida. [Simply] Yus.

Lemmy.  Not ’arf.  Wot c’her do wiv yesterdy’s penny?

L. Aida.  Movies.

Lemmy.  An’ the dy before?

L. Aida.  Movies.

Lemmy.  Wot’d I tell yer, old lydy—­she’s got vicious tystes, she’ll finish in the theayter yep Tyke my tip, little Aida; you put every penny into yer foundytions, yer’ll get on the boards quicker that wy.

Mrs. L. Don’ yu pay no ’eed to his talk.

L. Aida.  I daon’t.

Ice.  Would yer like a sip aht o’ my mug?

L. Aida. [Brilliant] Yus.

Mrs. L. Not at yore age, me dear, though it is teetotal.

     [Little Aida puts her head on one side, like a dog trying to
     understand.]

Lemmy.  Well, ‘ave one o’ my gum-drops.

     [Holds out a paper.]

     [Little Aida brilliant, takes a flat, dark substance from it,
     and puts it in her mouth.]

Give me a kiss, an’ I’ll give yer a penny.

     [Little Aida shakes her head, and leans out of window.]

Movver, she daon’t know the valyer of money.

Mrs. L. Never mind ’im, me dear.

L. Aida. [Sucking the gum-drop—­with difficulty] There’s a taxi-cab at the corner.

     [Little Aida runs to the door.  A figure stands in the doorway;
     she skids round him and out.  The press comes in.]

Lemmy. [Dubiously] Wat-oh!

Press.  Mr. Lemmy?

Lemmy.  The syme.

Press.  I’m from the Press.

Lemmy.  Blimy.

Press.  They told me at your place you wens very likely here.

Lemmy.  Yus I left Downin’ Street a bit early to-dy! [He twangs the feddle-strings pompously.]

Press. [Taking out his note-book and writing] “Fiddles while Rome is burning!” Mr. Lemmy, it’s my business at this very critical time to find out what the nation’s thinking.  Now, as a representative working man—­

Lemmy.  That’s me.

Press.  You can help me.  What are your views?

Lemmy. [Putting down fiddle] Voos?  Sit dahn!