JUGGINS. [presenting the salver to Mr Gilbey] Lady wishes to see Mr Bobby’s parents, sir.

GILBEY. [pointing to Mrs Gilbey] Theres Mr Bobby’s parent.  I disown him.

JUGGINS.  Yes, sir. [He presents the salver to Mrs Gilbey].

MRS GILBEY.  You mustnt mind what your master says, Juggins:  he doesnt mean it. [She takes the card and reads it].  Well, I never!

GILBEY.  Whats up now?

MRS GILBEY. [reading] “Miss D. Delaney.  Darling Dora.”  Just like that—­in brackets.  What sort of person, Juggins?

GILBEY.  Whats her address?

MRS GILBEY.  The West Circular Road.  Is that a respectable address,
Juggins?

JUGGINS.  A great many most respectable people live in the West Circular Road, madam; but the address is not a guarantee of respectability.

GILBEY.  So it’s come to that with him, has it?

MRS GILBEY.  Dont jump to conclusions, Rob.  How do you know? [To
Juggins] Is she a lady, Juggins?  You know what I mean.

JUGGINS.  In the sense in which you are using the word, no, madam.

MRS GILBEY.  I’d better try what I can get out of her. [To Juggins]
Shew her up.  You dont mind, do you, Rob?

GILBEY.  So long as you dont flounce out and leave me alone with her. [He rises and plants himself on the hearth-rug].

Juggins goes out.

MRS GILBEY.  I wonder what she wants, Rob?

GILBEY.  If she wants money, she shant have it.  Not a farthing.  A nice thing, everybody seeing her on our doorstep!  If it wasnt that she may tell us something about the lad, I’d have Juggins put the hussy into the street.

JUGGINS. [returning and announcing] Miss Delaney. [He waits for express orders before placing a chair for this visitor].

Miss Delaney comes in.  She is a young lady of hilarious disposition, very tolerable good looks, and killing clothes.  She is so affable and confidential that it is very difficult to keep her at a distance by any process short of flinging her out of the house.

DORA. [plunging at once into privileged intimacy and into the middle of the room] How d’ye do, both.  I’m a friend of Bobby’s.  He told me all about you once, in a moment of confidence.  Of course he never let on who he was at the police court.

GILBEY.  Police court!

MRS GILBEY. [looking apprehensively at Juggins] Tch—!  Juggins:  a chair.

DORA.  Oh, Ive let it out, have I! [Contemplating Juggins approvingly as he places a chair for her between the table and the sideboard] But hes the right sort:  I can see that. [Buttonholing him] You wont let on downstairs, old man, will you?

JUGGINS.  The family can rely on my absolute discretion. [He withdraws].

DORA. [sitting down genteelly] I dont know what youll say to me:  you know I really have no right to come here; but then what was I to do?  You know Holy Joe, Bobby’s tutor, dont you?  But of course you do.