Juggins appears at the door.

JUGGINS.  Miss Delaney, Sir. [Dora comes in.  Juggins goes out.  Margaret hastily releases Bobby, and goes to the other side of the room.]

DORA. [through the door, to the departing Juggins] Well, you are a Juggins to shew me up when theres company. [To Margaret and Bobby] It’s all right, dear:  all right, old man:  I’ll wait in Juggins’s pantry til youre disengaged.

MARGARET.  Dont you know me?

DORA. [coming to the middle of the room and looking at her very attentively] Why, it’s never No. 406!

MARGARET.  Yes it is.

DORA.  Well, I should never have known you out of the uniform.  How did you get out?  You were doing a month, wernt you?

MARGARET.  My bloke paid the fine the day he got out himself.

DORA.  A real gentleman! [Pointing to Bobby, who is staring open-mouthed] Look at him.  He cant take it in.

BOBBY.  I suppose you made her acquaintance in prison, Meg.  But when it comes to talking about blokes and all that—­well!

MARGARET.  Oh, Ive learnt the language; and I like it.  It’s another barrier broken down.

BOBBY.  It’s not so much the language, Meg.  But I think [he looks at Dora and stops].

MARGARET. [suddenly dangerous] What do you think, Bobby?

DORA.  He thinks you oughtnt to be so free with me, dearie.  It does him credit:  he always was a gentleman, you know.

MARGARET.  Does him credit!  To insult you like that!  Bobby:  say that that wasnt what you meant.

BOBBY.  I didnt say it was.

MARGARET.  Well, deny that it was.

BOBBY.  No.  I wouldnt have said it in front of Dora; but I do think it’s not quite the same thing my knowing her and you knowing her.

DORA.  Of course it isnt, old man. [To Margaret] I’ll just trot off and come back in half an hour.  You two can make it up together.  I’m really not fit company for you, dearie:  I couldnt live up to you. [She turns to go].

MARGARET.  Stop.  Do you believe he could live up to me?

DORA.  Well, I’ll never say anything to stand between a girl and a respectable marriage, or to stop a decent lad from settling himself.  I have a conscience; though I maynt be as particular as some.

MARGARET.  You seem to me to be a very decent sort; and Bobby’s behaving like a skunk.

BOBBY. [much ruffled] Nice language that!

DORA.  Well, dearie, men have to do some awfully mean things to keep up their respectability.  But you cant blame them for that, can you?  Ive met Bobby walking with his mother; and of course he cut me dead.  I wont pretend I liked it; but what could he do, poor dear?

MARGARET.  And now he wants me to cut you dead to keep him in countenance.  Well, I shant:  not if my whole family were there.  But I’ll cut him dead if he doesnt treat you properly. [To Bobby, with a threatening move in his direction] I’ll educate you, you young beast.