An’ ’ow did ’e get it? ’E’s a tyrant. ’E stole it off some nigger. Now it’s come to me. It’s mine. It’s mine as much as anyone’s. It’s come like a miracle. MISS PERKINS But you can’t keep it. MR PERKINS Y’r ma amazes me. MRS PERKINS First thing in the mornin’ y’ll get a list o’ them ships sailin’ for South America. MISS PERKINS Oh, Ma! Ma! MR PERKINS She’s off ’er chump. MRS PERKINS I’ll go alone if y’ like. MR PERKINS It’s dangerous. It’s dangerous. There may be a revolver levelled at y’ now. MRS PERKINS I don’t care. MR PERKINS I never knew she was like this. MISS PERKINS South America? Where? MRS PERKINS Y’ shall ’ave jewels and dresses no end, Polly. MISS PERKINS Don’t, Ma. MR PERKINS South America! Like that chap Jabez Balfour. MISS PERKINS He was brought back, wasn’t he? MR PERKINS I object to be put along of ’im, any’ow. MRS PERKINS We’d manage better than that. Riches! Livin’ at ease. Motors an’ champagne. We’ve never ’ad a chanct! MR PERKINS It can’t be done. It’s all nonsense. An’ it’s ’orrible to think of. MRS PERKINS Oh! It’s a beautiful thing. I couldn’t bear to break it up. We’ll keep it. We’ll look at it now and then. Every Sunday. MR PERKINS Sunday! MRS PERKINS I could go on settin’ ’ere if I knew it was there all the time. I think I could be ’appy. MISS PERKINS You’d never be safe. MRS PERKINS Safe! I’ve bin too safe. MR PERKINS Oh, missis! Oh, missis! MISS PERKINS It’s strange nobody’s come. MRS PERKINS Nobody’s comin’. It’s a gift. MR PERKINS It may not be--what y’ think. MRS PERKINS (_Fiercely._) It is. MR PERKINS Then they’ll be after us. Police--or worse. MRS PERKINS Let ’em come. [_There is a ring at the door-bell. They all stand tense._ MR PERKINS Now, there. MISS PERKINS Oh, dear! MRS PERKINS You’ll not say a word. You’ll do as I tell you. Mind that. We know nothing. MISS PERKINS There’s the window. MRS PERKINS Leave that to me. MR PERKINS Oh! But, I say---- MRS PERKINS Thomas Perkins, you’ll rue it to your dyin’ day if---- [_The ring again._ MR PERKINS Who’s goin’? MRS PERKINS I am. Remember! [_She goes out._ MISS PERKINS What are we to do, Pa? MR PERKINS Eh! I’m beat. MISS PERKINS Shall we throw it out of the window? MR PERKINS No, no. Best not. Humour her a bit. It may be nothin’. MRS PERKINS (_Outside._) No, you don’t. ’Ere. I tell yer---- STRANGER Excuse me. MRS PERKINS Pa, ’ere’s a man forcin’ ’is way---- MISS PERKINS Oh, dear! MR PERKINS Dash it all! I say! [_Mrs Perkins and a dark Stranger, dressed in black, enter together. She is resisting his advance, but he presses on ruthlessly. As he enters she gives way and changes her tactics._ MRS PERKINS Well, I must say! Pushin’ a lady about like that! What bis’ness ’ave y’ ’ere? STRANGER I’ve told you, madam. MRS PERKINS A fine tale! Y’r boy an’ ’is glass marble! Where is ’e? I tell yer we know nothin’ about it. Do we, Pa?