Oh! Susannah! Part 22

_(crosses to sofa)_

_(Aurora goes off into hysterics lying on sofa.)_

Doctor. _(looking at Aurora)_ I--I don't quite know. I think it's some form of hysteria, _(bending over her)_

Aurora. _(suddenly recovering and sitting up)_ It's a complicated case, mum. _(laughs and falls back)_

Aunt. _(to Aurora)_ Hold your tongue! _(to Doctor)_ coward! to try to sneak out of it like that! I've done with you.

Flora. _(bursting into tears)_ So have I! _(crosses C. to meet Aunt)_

Aunt. Don't cry, dear--he's not worth it.

Flora. _(quickly)_ Oh, but he is--that's the worst of it.

Aunt. _(aside)_ I'll save this sweet girl from him, my way. _(to Flo.)_ Go in there, dear, while I talk to him.

_(Exit Flo. into bathroom.)_

Aurora. _(behind Doctor)_ Buck up, sir--I'll stand by yer.

_(Aunt descends upon him, he backs into Aurora. Bus. [ad lib.])_

Aunt. So, sir, you're not satisfied with your outrageous treatment of me--your loving aunt, who came to London to be your best friend--_(C.)_

Doctor. If you'll only give me----

Aunt. Hold your tongue sir, I won't give you anything _(L. C.)_

Aurora. Give 'im a chance, mum, that don't cost nothin'--_(end of sofa)_

Aunt. Silence, the pair of you!

Aurora. _(taking Doctor's arm--looks up at him lovingly)_ "The pair of us!"

Aunt. You shameless Don Juan; you've bragged to me about your goings on with two sailor girls----

Aurora. 'Tain't 'is fault, mum, they will kiss 'im! _(c.)_

Aunt. Silence! You're breaking the heart of that dear girl in there, _(pointing to bathroom)_ Who's worth a hundred such creatures as _you_--a murderer who tried to drown his own aunt!

Aurora. Drown yer! Why, the dear doctor wouldn't drown a kitten, and you ain't no kitten, 'Amlet!

Aunt. _(furious)_ And to crown all--I find you in the arms of this----

Aurora. This! Who are you callin' "this?"

Aunt. A disreputable Pimlico lodging-house kitchen girl!

_(crosses R. and back again)_

Aurora. 'Ere! Cheese it! I may be a kitchen girl, but I ain't disreputable!

Aunt. _(very furious)_ There's only one thing left for you to do, sir.

Doctor. _I_ know--the water cure!

Aunt. You shall marry this girl, sir.

Aurora. _(in a dream)_ Marry the dear doctor!

Doctor. _(aghast)_ Marry--Aurora!

_(Aurora turns away delighted.)_

_(aside)_ I'd rather drown myself! _(crosses R. corner)_ Aunt.

Yes, and I'll make you do it. _(with scorn)_

She's a fit---

Aurora _(surprised--kneels)_ Oh, thank you for those blessed words, mum! You darlin' lady! I'll go and see to your clothes now, auntie! _(going, comes back)_ Kiss me, Jack! Kiss your Financy!

_(Doctor leans with his back to table--Aurora climbs up on table and kisses him.)_

_(aside)_ I'm a lady at larst!'

_(Exit Aurora.)_

Aunt. Who's that poor girl in there? _(pointing to bathroom)_

Doctor. _(absently)_ Oh, that is Miss Garden.

Aunt. _(seating herself end of sofa, and putting rug over her, aside)_ She shall come and live with me! I know what it is to have loved a worthless man! _(looks severely at Doctor)_ I pity her!

Doctor. _(very timidly)_ Aunt, may I explain? I'm not----_(crosses to sofa)_

Aunt. _(loudly)_ Silence, sir!

_(Enter Plant with bag, hurriedly, shown in by Tupper.)_

Plant. _(not seeing Aunt, meets Doctor going towards door)_ Bear up, Jack, I've bad news for you--Miss Garden's bolted--gone back to her husband, I'm afraid.

Aunt. Her husband?

Plant. _(staggered, recovers himself)_ My dear Miss Sheppard!

_(aside to Doctor)_ What's the matter with her?

Doctor. I don't know--complicated case.

Plant. Ahem! So this joyful meeting between aunt and nephew has taken place--how I wish I'd been here to witness it--and my daughters, too. _(to Aunt)_ They're devoted to dear Jack. Ah, I'm afraid the rascal means to rob me of one of my precious jewels.