Act II - Page 2

B. B. Certainly, CER-tainly.

WALPOLE. Theres no real difficulty, if only you know what to do.

MRS DUBEDAT. Oh, how can I ever thank you! From this night I can
begin to be happy at last. You dont know what I feel.

She sits down in tears. They crowd about her to console her.

B. B. My dear lady: come come! come come! [very persuasively]
come come!

WALPOLE. Dont mind us. Have a good cry.

RIDGEON. No: dont cry. Your husband had better not know that weve
been talking about him.

MRS DUBEDAT [quickly pulling herself together] No, of course not.
Please dont mind me. What a glorious thing it must be to be a
doctor! [They laugh]. Dont laugh. You dont know what youve done
for me. I never knew until now how deadly afraid I was--how
I had come to dread the worst. I never dared let myself know. But
now the relief has come: now I know.

Louis Dubedat comes from the hotel, in his overcoat, his throat
wrapped in a shawl. He is a slim young man of 23, physically
still a stripling, and pretty, though not effeminate. He has
turquoise blue eyes, and a trick of looking you straight in the
face with them, which, combined with a frank smile, is very
engaging. Although he is all nerves, and very observant and quick
of apprehension, he is not in the least shy. He is younger than
Jennifer; but he patronizes her as a matter of course. The
doctors do not put him out in the least: neither Sir Patrick's
years nor Bloomfield Bonington's majesty have the smallest
apparent effect on him: he is as natural as a cat: he moves among
men as most men move among things, though he is intentionally
making himself agreeable to them on this occasion. Like all
people who can be depended on to take care of themselves, he is
welcome company; and his artist's power of appealing to the
imagination gains him credit for all sorts of qualities and
powers, whether he possesses them or not.

LOUIS [pulling on his gloves behind Ridgeon's chair] Now, Jinny-
Gwinny: the motor has come round.

RIDGEON. Why do you let him spoil your beautiful name like that,
Mrs Dubedat?

MRS DUBEDAT. Oh, on grand occasions I am Jennifer.

B. B. You are a bachelor: you do not understand these things,
Ridgeon. Look at me [They look]. I also have two names. In
moments of domestic worry, I am simple Ralph. When the sun shines
in the home, I am Beedle-Deedle-Dumkins. Such is married life! Mr
Dubedat: may I ask you to do me a favor before you go. Will you
sign your name to this menu card, under the sketch you have made
of me?

WALPOLE. Yes; and mine too, if you will be so good.

LOUIS. Certainly. [He sits down and signs the cards].

MRS DUBEDAT. Wont you sign Dr