DOCTOR. He is. I'm Doctor MacFarlane. (_Coming_ C.) Will you come and live here again? MAGGIE. I'm married. DOCTOR. I know that, Mrs.-- MAGGIE. Mossop. DOCTOR. Your father's drinking himself to death, Mrs. Mossop. HOBSON. Look here, Doctor, what's passed between you and me isn't for everybody's ears. DOCTOR. I judge your daughter's not the sort to want the truth wrapped round with a feather-bed for fear it hits her hard. MAGGIE (_nodding appreciatively_). Go on. I'd like to hear it all. (_Goes to and sits in chair_ R. _of table_.) HOBSON. Just nasty-minded curiosity. DOCTOR. I don't agree with you, Mr. Hobson. If Mrs. Mossop is to sacrifice her own home to come to you, she's every right to know the reason why. HOBSON. Sacrifice! If you saw her home you'd find another word than that. Two cellars in Oldfield Road. MAGGIE. I'm waiting, Doctor. DOCTOR. I've a constitutional objection to seeing patients slip through ma fingers when it's avoidable, Mrs. Mossop, and I'll do ma best for your father, but ma medicine will na do him any good without your medicine to back me up. He needs a tight hand on him all the time. MAGGIE. I've not same chance I had before I married. DOCTOR. Ye'll have no chance at all unless ye come and live here. I willna talk about the duty of a daughter because I doubt he's acted badly by ye, but on the broad grounds of humanity, it's saving life if ye'll come-- MAGGIE. I might. DOCTOR. Nay, but will ye? MAGGIE. You've told me what you think. The rest's my business. (_Rises and goes_ L.) HOBSON. That's right, Maggie. (_To_ DOCTOR.) That's what you get for interfering with folks' private affairs. So now you can go, with your tail between your legs, Doctor MacFarlane. DOCTOR. On the contrary, I am going, Mr. Hobson, with the profound conviction that I leave you in excellent hands. (R. _of table_.) One prescription is on the table, Mrs. Mossop. The other two are total abstinence and--you. MAGGIE (_nodding amiably_). Good morning. DOCTOR. Good morning. (_Exit_ DOCTOR L. MAGGIE _picks up prescription and follows to door_, L.) MAGGIE. Tubby! (_She stands by door_, TUBBY _just enters inside it_.) Go round to Oldfield Road and ask my husband to come here and get this made up at Hallow's on your way back. TUBBY. Yes, Miss--Mrs. Mossop. MAGGIE. Tell Mr. Mossop that I want him quick. (TUBBY _nods and goes_. MAGGIE _goes_ R.) HOBSON. Maggie, you know I can't be an abstainer. A man of my habits. At my time of life. MAGGIE. You can if I come here to make you. HOBSON. Are you coming? MAGGIE. I don't know yet. I haven't asked my husband. HOBSON. You ask Will Mossop! Maggie, I'd better thoughts of you. Making an excuse like that to me. If you want to come you'll come so what Will Mossop says and well you know it. MAGGIE. I don't want to come, father. I expect no holiday existence here with you to keep in health. But if Will tells me it's my duty I shall come. (_Sits_ R. _of table_.)