Well, I must say they are very becoming, those bonnets. I thought of it myself when I was a girl. It was a toss up at one time between that and the skipping-rope. MR. BEN DIXON. Ahem--my dear. MRS. BEN DIXON. Well, everybody here knows all about it--except this young man--I---- (_Looking at Jack._) TED MORRIS. My chum, Jack Medbury--an artist, aunt. MRS. BEN DIXON. An artiste? I--I'm glad to meet you, young man. What's your line? JACK MEDBURY. Oh--oh, I paint, you know, MRS. BEN DIXON. Oh, that! Ah, well, they're all good of their kind. And now when are you young folks coming down to see me? Some country air in your lungs, and some good food in your stomachs won't do either of you any harm, I should say from the look of you. MR. BEN DIXON. Yes, you must come down to us. Come and spend a--an afternoon. MRS. BEN DIXON. An afternoon! Bless the man, I want them for a month. TED MORRIS. It's awfully good of you, aunt, but the exam's in six weeks. I daren't leave my work. MRS. BEN DIXON. Well, bring it with you, can't you? TED MORRIS. No, aunt. You see it isn't only studying. I must attend the hospital. I want practice. MRS. BEN DIXON. Practice! Well, there's all the village for you to practice on. Why it will be just what they'll love. Medicine given away gratis and no questions asked. MR. BEN DIXON. Oh, you must come. I insist upon it, and you know you really owe me something, you young people, for all the terrible anxiety your money affairs have caused me. TED MORRIS. Oh, I'm sorry they've done that. MR. BEN DIXON. Ah, my dear Edward, I can never tell you the agony of mind the loss of that £4,000 has given me. TED MORRIS. Yes, it annoyed us a bit. MR. BEN DIXON. Ah, yes, that was natural. It was _your_ money. But it was no business of mine at all, and yet, ah, how I've suffered. NELLY MORRIS. Ah, well, you meant for the best, uncle. Don't fret about it. MRS. BEN DIXON. We must make it up to them you know, Ben. We must look after them a bit and help them. MR. BEN DIXON. I'm sure I shall always feel it my duty to give them the very best advice in my power. MRS. BEN DIXON. Yes, and I guess we'll supplement that by something a little more useful. Don't you fear about that, young folks. TED MORRIS. It's very good of you, aunt. I know you mean kindly --both of you, but----(_Puts his arm round Nelly,_) Nelly and I have fought the worst of this fight by ourselves, and-- we'll win it or lose it alone. MR. BEN DIXON. (_He shakes Ted by the hand_.) A noble resolution. You are a brave boy. I admire you for it. (_Aside_.) I hope he'll stick to it. MRS. BEN DIXON. Ah, you're your father's boy, Ted--both of you--but while you're sticking up for your independence don't you forget my rights. I _am_ your aunt. I loved your poor dead mother, and I've a right to love her two headstrong young brats, and I'm going to do it. (_There is the slightest suggestion of tears in her voice by this time._) NELLY MORRIS.