MRS. HOLROYD (_who, with a little shriek, jerks her legs up on to the sofa, where she was stiffly reclining, now cries in despairing falsetto, stretching forth her arms_) The lamp--mind, the lamp! [_Clara steadies the lamp, and holds her hand to her head._ HOLROYD (_coming from the scullery, a bottle of stout in his hand_) Where is he? CLARA I believe he's gone under the sofa. My, an' he's a thumper, if you like, as big as a rabbit. [_Holroyd advances cautiously toward the sofa._ LAURA (_springing suddenly into life_) Hi, hi, let me go--let me go--Don't touch him--Where is he? (_She flees and scrambles onto Clara's armchair, catching hold of the latter's skirts_) CLARA Hang off--do you want to have a body down--Mind, I tell you. MRS. HOLROYD (_bunched up on the sofa, with crossed hands holding her arms, fascinated, watches her husband as he approaches to stoop and attack the rat; she suddenly screams_) Don't, he'll fly at you! HOLROYD He'll not get a chance. MRS. HOLROYD He will, he will--and they're poisonous! (_She ends on a very high note. Leaning forward on the sofa as far as she dares, she stretches out her arms to keep back her husband, who is about to kneel and search under the sofa for the rat_) HOLROYD Come off, I canna see him. MRS. HOLROYD I won't let you; he'll fly at you. HOLROYD I'll settle him-- MRS. HOLROYD Open the door and let him go. HOLROYD I shonna. I'll settle him. Shut thy claver. He'll non come anigh thee. [_He kneels down and begins to creep to the sofa. With a great bound, Mrs. Holroyd flies to the door and flings it open. Then she rushes back to the couch._ CLARA There he goes! HOLROYD (_simultaneously_) Hi!--Ussza! (_He flings the bottle of stout out of the door_) LAURA (_piteously_) Shut the door, do. [_Holroyd rises, dusting his trousers' knees, and closes the door. Laura heavily descends and drops in the chair._ CLARA Here, come an' help us down, Charlie. Look at her; she's going off. (_Though Laura is still purple red, she sinks back in the chair. Holroyd goes to the table. Clara places her hands on his shoulders and jumps lightly down. Then she pushes Holroyd with her elbow_) Look sharp, get a glass of water. [_She unfastens Laura's collar and pulls off the paper bonnet. Mrs. Holroyd sits up, straightens her clothing, and tries to look cold and contemptuous. Holroyd brings a cup of water. Clara sprinkles her friend's face. Laura sighs and sighs again very deeply, then draws herself up painfully._ CLARA (_tenderly_) Do you feel any better--shall you have a drink of water? (_Laura mournfully shakes her head; Clara turns sharply to Holroyd_) She'll 'ave a drop o' something. (_Holroyd goes out. Clara meanwhile fans her friend with a handkerchief. Holroyd brings stout. She pours out the stout, smells the glass, smells the bottle--then finally the cork_) Eh, mester, it's all of a work--it's had a foisty cork.