Part 32

(Turning from window he sees JAWBONES, goes to meet him.) Couldn’t they do anything?

JAWBONES. (He has bought a new hat; has also brought back the remains. He shakes his head.) No good for anything else but a memento.

SIGSBY. (With a grunt he snatches the thing and flings it into a corner. Tries on the new one.)

JAWBONES. ’Ow’s it feel?

(SIGSBY, with the help of JAWBONES, attends to his appearance.)

LAMB. (To ST. HERBERT.) No use talking to her, I suppose?

ST. HERBERT. (Shrugs his shoulders.) She’ll do what she imagines to be her duty. Women are so uncivilised.

(A burst of cheering is heard. A shrill male voice: “Three cheers for Winston Churchill!” It is followed by an explosion of yells.)

ST. HERBERT. Who’s that?

LAMB. (He has opened the window.) Phoebe Mogton!

SIGSBY. What a family!

(JANET has entered.)

JANET. Is that Mrs. Chilvers? (To LAMB and ST. HERBERT.) Good evening.

ST. HERBERT. Good evening.

LAMB. No; it’s her sister.

JANET. I wonder she doesn’t come.

SIGSBY. What are the latest figures? Do you know?

(PHOEBE enters.)

JANET. I forget the numbers. Mrs. Chilvers is forty ahead.

PHOEBE. Forty ahead! (To JANET.) Did you order the band?

LAMB. (To SIGSBY.) The Dock division was against him to a man; that Shipping Bill has upset them.

JANET. No. I didn’t think we should want the band.

PHOEBE. Not want it! My dear girl—

JANET. Perhaps Lady Mogton has ordered it, I’ll ask her.

(She goes out.)

SIGSBY. Hadn’t you better “Wait and see”? It isn’t over yet.

PHOEBE. We may as well have it! It can play the Dead March in “Saul” if you win. (She laughs.)

SIGSBY. (Grunts. To LAMB.) Are you coming?