MRS GILBEY.  Did a what?

DORA.  A bunk.  Holy Joe did one too all right:  he sprinted faster than he ever did in college, I bet, the old dear.  He got clean off, too.  Just as he was overtaking me half-way down the square, we heard the whistle; and at the sound of it he drew away like a streak of lightning; and that was the last I saw of him.  I was copped in the Dock Road myself:  rotten luck, wasn’t it?  I tried the innocent and genteel and all the rest; but Bobby’s hat done me in.

GILBEY.  And what happened to the boy?

DORA.  Only fancy! he stopped to laugh at the copper!  He thought the copper would see the joke, poor lamb.  He was arguing about it when the two that took me came along to find out what the whistle was for, and brought me with them.  Of course I swore I’d never seen him before in my life; but there he was in my hat and I in his.  The cops were very spiteful and laid it on for all they were worth:  drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police and all that.  I got fourteen days without the option, because you see—­well, the fact is, I’d done it before, and been warned.  Bobby was a first offender and had the option; but the dear boy had no money left and wouldnt give you away by telling his name; and anyhow he couldnt have brought himself to buy himself off and leave me there; so hes doing his time.  Well, it was two forty shillingses; and Ive only twenty-eight shillings in the world.  If I pawn my clothes I shant be able to earn any more.  So I cant pay the fine and get him out; but if youll stand 3 pounds I’ll stand one; and thatll do it.  If youd like to be very kind and nice you could pay the lot; but I cant deny that it was my fault; so I wont press you.

GILBEY. [heart-broken] My son in gaol!

DORA.  Oh, cheer up, old dear:  it wont hurt him:  look at me after fourteen days of it; I’m all the better for being kept a bit quiet.  You mustnt let it prey on your mind.

GILBEY.  The disgrace of it will kill me.  And it will leave a mark on him to the end of his life.

DORA.  Not a bit of it.  Dont you be afraid:  Ive educated Bobby a bit:  hes not the mollycoddle he was when you had him in hand.

MRS GILBEY.  Indeed Bobby is not a mollycoddle.  They wanted him to go in for singlestick at the Young Men’s Christian Association; but, of course, I couldnt allow that:  he might have had his eye knocked out.

GILBEY. [to Dora, angrily] Listen here, you.

DORA.  Oh, aint we cross!

GILBEY.  I want none of your gaiety here.  This is a respectable household.  Youve gone and got my poor innocent boy into trouble.  It’s the like of you thats the ruin of the like of him.

DORA.  So you always say, you old dears.  But you know better.  Bobby came to me:  I didnt come to him.

GILBEY.  Would he have gone if you hadnt been there for him to go to?  Tell me that.  You know why he went to you, I suppose?