Part 17

JAWBONES. I’ll ’ave it. Get ’im another. Guess ’e won’t be back for ’alf an hour.

MRS. CHINN. He’s nasty when his food ain’t ready.

JAWBONES. (He takes the tray from her.) Not your fault. Tell ’im I took it from you by brute force.

MRS. CHINN. (She acquiesces with her usual even absence of all emotion.)

JAWBONES. You needn’t stop. Miss Rose Merton will do the waiting.

GINGER. (Starts, then begins to collect her etceteras.)

MRS. CHINN. Perhaps there’ll be time to cook him another.

(She goes out.)

JAWBONES. Take off that cover.

GINGER. (She starts on a bolt for the door.)

JAWBONES. (He is quite prepared. In an instant he is in front of her.) No, yer don’t.

(A pause.)

Take off that cover.

GINGER. (She still hesitates.)

JAWBONES. If yer don’t do what I tell yer, I’ll ’ide yer. I’m in the mood.

GINGER. (She takes off the cover.)

JAWBONES. (He seats himself and falls to.) Now pour me out a cup of tea.

GINGER. (Is pouring it out.)

JAWBONES. Know why yer doing it?

GINGER. (With shrill indignation.) Yus. Becos yer got me ’ere alone, yer beast, with only that cracked image of a Mrs. Chinn—

JAWBONES. That’ll do.

GINGER. (It is sufficient. She stops.)

JAWBONES. None of your insults agen a lady as I ’olds in ’igh respect. The rest of it is all right. Becos I’ve got yer ’ere alone. You wimmin, you think it’s going to pay you to chuck law and order. You’re out for a fight, are yer?

GINGER. Yus, and we’re going to win. Brute force ’as ’ad its d’y. It’s brains wot are going to rule the world. And we’ve got ’em.

(She has become quite oratorical.)

JAWBONES. Glad to ’ear it. Take my tip: you’ll use ’em. Meanwhile I’ll ’ave another cup o’ tea.

GINGER. (She takes the cup—is making for the window.)

JAWBONES. (Fierce again.) I said tea.