Teddy. That's right enough. (_Door l. opens softly and Liza peeps in. She leaves door ajar without entering._) Polly. Then we'll expect yer o' Sunday? Teddy. No. Damned if yer will. Yer shovin' 'er 'at me a sight too last. I'm thinkin' there's somethin' wrong with 'er or yer'd not be so humble abart it. Yer bally well beggin' me to 'ave 'er. I'm 'avin' none of yer bad bargains, with tongues an' tempers an' no good at cookin', thank yer. Yer can't fool me Mrs. Bettesworth. Polly. I'm sorry yer doubts me. Then we mustn't expect yer round never no more? Teddy. No. I've seen through yer this time. Polly. It's very 'ard, very 'ard it is. Wot must I tell Liza? Teddy. It's nothin' to me wot yer tells 'er. I'm goin' 'ome. (_As he reaches the centre door, Andrew opens it and enters._) Andrew (_drawing hack in amazement_). Well, blime! (_Liza steps into the room. Teddy looks at the l. door as if to escape that way, but sees her. Polly moves to Andrew._) Polly. Let 'im go, Andrew. 'E ain't worth wastin' leather on 'im. 'E won't ever come 'ere no more. Andrew'. 'E'll get 'isself done in if 'e does. Clear out. (_Teddy loses no time. Andrew closes door. Liza goes to Polly._) Liza. Mother, do yer really want ter get shut of me? Polly. Oh, bin listenin' at key-'ole 'ave yer? Well, listeners don't 'ear no good o' themselves. Liza. I couldn't go ter bed without knowin'. I'd got ter come dahn ter find out wot yer an' Teddy was savin'. Polly. Yer 'eard 'e'll not come back. Liza. Yus. Polly. Are yer sorry? Liza (_hesitating_). No--no--not if yer don't want ter get rid of me. Yer don't do yer? Father, mother, yer don't want me ter go! Andrew. We don't that. Liza. That's wot 'e said. Polly. 'E said a lot o' foolish things. No Liza we don't want yer to go. Yer the light o' our eyes. That chap---- Liza (_fiercely_). I 'ate 'im. Polly. Ah. See, Liza. (_Takes her to hearth and shows her the motto on a grocer's calendar over it._) See that? "East, West, home's best." Ain't that true? Yer stick to yer 'ome a bit longer. Yer can take wings an' fly from yer nest when time comes. Yer sure yer not sorry 'e's gorn? Liza (_crying on Polly's shoulder_). I want ter stay with yer. Polly (_caressing her_). That's right, Liza. Andrew (_angrily approaching table_). Who's drunk my supper beer? Polly. 'Im. Andrew. I'll break 'is------- Polly. Wasn't it worth it to be rid of 'im? Andrew. Yus. Yer bloomin' old schemer. Yus. Yer plan worked it after all. Polly. It's bin a cure for love. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Scaring Off Of Teddy Dawson, by Harold Brighouse