[Illustration] Reddish brick walls. Plaster falling off in places. Very old square carpet. Fire burning. No ornaments. Tin box on mantelpiece. A few plates, workbasket and tin boxes on dresser. Shoes, clogs on top of dresser. Old coloured tablecloth on table. Roll of leather, etc., at table behind screen. Three hat pegs on wall above fireplace. Lamp on mantelpiece. ACT III _The cellar in Oldfield Road is at once workroom, shop, and living-room. It is entered from the_ R. _corner by a door at the top of a flight of some seven stairs. Its three windows are high up at the back--not shop windows, but simply to give light. Each window has on it "William Mossop, Practical Bootmaker," reversed as seen from the inside and is illuminated dimly from outside by a neighbouring street lamp. A door_ L. _leads to the bedroom. Up stage_ L. _is a small screen or partition whose purpose is to conceal the sink. A shoemaker's bench, leather and tackle are against the wall_, R., _above the fire-place. Below the door_, L., _is a small dresser. Table_ R. C. _Seating accommodation consists solely of the sofa and the two chairs taken from_ HOBSON'S, _now repaired. The sofa is_ L. _of the table, the two chairs_ R. _Crowded on the sofa are, in order, from down up,_ ALBERT, ALICE, VICKEY, FRED. _As the curtain rises, the four are standing, tea-cups in hand, saying together "The Bride and Bridegroom." They drink and sit. General laughter and conversation. On the chair down stage is_ MAGGIE. _From the other chair_, C., _behind table_, WILL _rises, nervously, and rushes his little speech like a child who has learnt a lesson. The table has hot-house flowers (in a basin) and the remains of a meal at which tea only has been drunk, and the feast is represented by the sections of a large pork pie and a small wedding cake. As_ WILL _rises_, ALBERT _hammers on the table_. ALICE _suppresses him_. WILLIE. It's a very great pleasure to us to see you here to-night. It's an honour you do us, and I assure you, speaking for my--my wife, as well as for myself, that the--the-- MAGGIE (_in an undertone_). Generous. WILLIE. Oh, aye. That's it. That the generous warmth of the sentiments so cordially expressed by Mr. Beenstock and so enthusiastically seconded by--no, I've gotten that wrong road round--expressed by Mr. Prosser and seconded by Mr. Beenstock--will never be forgotten by either my life partner or self--and--and I'd like to drink this toast to you in my own house. Our guests, and may they all be married soon themselves. MAGGIE (_rising and drinking with_ WILL). Our guests. (WILL _and_ MAGGIE _sit. General laughter and conversation_.) ALBERT (_solemnly rising_). In rising to respond-- ALICE (_tugging his coat and putting him into his seat_). Sit down. We've had enough of speeches. I know men fancy themselves when they're talking, but you've had one turn and you needn't start again. ALBERT. But we ought to thank him, Alice.