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dais MRS。 MEGAN is standing； in her rags； with bare feet and ankles；
her dark hair as if blown about； her lips parted； holding out a
dishevelled bunch of violets。 Before his easel； WELLWYN is painting
her。 Behind him； at a table between the cupboard and the door to the
model's room； TIMSON is washing brushes； with the movements of one
employed upon relief works。 The samovar is hissing on the table by
the stove； the tea things are set out。
WELLWYN。 Open your mouth。
＇MRS。 MEGAN opens her mouth。＇
ANN。 ＇In hat and coat； entering from the house。＇ Daddy！
＇WELLWYN goes to her； and； released from restraint； MRS。 MEGAN
looks round at TIMSON and grimaces。＇
WELLWYN。 Well； my dear？
＇They speak in low voices。
ANN。 ＇Holding out a note。＇ This note from Canon Bentley。 He's going
to bring her husband here this afternoon。 ＇She looks at MRS。 MEGAN。＇
WELLWYN。 Oh！ ＇He also looks at MRS。 MEGAN。＇
ANN。 And I met Sir Thomas Hoxton at church this morning； and spoke
to him about Timson。
WELLWYN。 Um！
＇They look at TIMSON。 Then ANN goes back to the door； and
WELLWYN follows her。＇
ANN。 ＇Turning。＇ I'm going round now； Daddy； to ask Professor Calway
what we're to do with that Ferrand。
WELLWYN。 Oh！ One each！ I wonder if they'll like it。
ANN。 They'll have to lump it。
＇She goes out into the house。＇
WELLWYN。 ＇Back at his easel。＇ You can shut your mouth now。
＇MRS。 MEGAN shuts her mouth； but opens it immediately to smile。＇
WELLWYN。 ＇Spasmodically。＇ Ah！ Now that's what I want。 ＇He dabs
furiously at the canvas。 Then standing back； runs his hands through
his hair and turns a painter's glance towards the skylight。＇ Dash！
Light's gone！ Off you get； childdon't tempt me！
＇MRS。 MEGAN descends。 Passing towards the door of the model's
room she stops； and stealthily looks at the picture。＇
TIMSON。 Ah！ Would yer！
WELLWYN。 ＇Wheeling round。＇ Want to have a look？ Wellcome on！
＇He takes her by the arm； and they stand before the canvas。
After a stolid moment； she giggles。＇
WELLWYN。 Oh！ You think so？
MRS。 MEGAN。 ＇Who has lost her hoarseness。＇ It's not like my picture
that I had on the pier。
WELLWYN。 No…it wouldn't be。
MRS。 MEGAN。 ＇Timidly。＇ If I had an 'at on； I'd look better。
WELLWYN。 With feathers？
MRS。 MEGAN。 Yes。
WELLWYN。 Well； you can't！ I don't like hats； and I don't like
feathers。
＇MRS。 MEGAN timidly tugs his sleeve。 TIMSON； screened as he
thinks by the picture； has drawn from his bulky pocket a bottle
and is taking a stealthy swig。＇
WELLWYN。 ＇To MRS。 MEGAN； affecting not to notice。＇ How much do I owe
you？
MRS。 MEGAN。 ＇A little surprised。＇ You paid me for to…day…all 'cept
a penny。
WELLWYN。 Well！ Here it is。 ＇He gives her a coin。＇ Go and get your
feet on！
MRS。 MEGAN。 You've give me 'arf a crown。
WELLWYN。 Cut away now！
＇MRS。 MEGAN； smiling at the coin； goes towards the model's room。
She looks back at WELLWYN； as if to draw his eyes to her； but he
is gazing at the picture； then； catching old TIMSON'S sour
glance； she grimaces at him； kicking up her feet with a little
squeal。 But when WELLWYN turns to the sound； she is demurely
passing through the doorway。＇
TIMSON。 ＇In his voice of dubious sobriety。＇ I've finished these yer
brushes； sir。 It's not a man's work。 I've been thinkin' if you'd
keep an 'orse； I could give yer satisfaction。
WELLWYN。 Would the horse； Timson？
TIMSON。 ＇Looking him up and down。＇ I knows of one that would just
suit yer。 Reel 'orse； you'd like 'im。
WELLWYN。 ＇Shaking his head。＇ Afraid not； Timson！ Awfully sorry；
though； to have nothing better for you than this； at present。
TIMSON。 ＇Faintly waving the brushes。＇ Of course； if you can't
afford it； I don't press youit's only that I feel I'm not doing
meself justice。 ＇Confidentially。＇ There's just one thing； sir； I
can't bear to see a gen'leman imposed on。 That foreigner'e's not
the sort to 'ave about the place。 Talk？ Oh！ ah！ But 'e'll never
do any good with 'imself。 He's a alien。
WELLWYN。 Terrible misfortune to a fellow； Timson。
TIMSON。 Don't you believe it； sir； it's his fault I says to the
young lady yesterday： Miss Ann； your father's a gen'leman ＇with a
sudden accent of hoarse sincerity＇； and so you areI don't mind
sayin' itbut； I said； he's too easy…goin'。
WELLWYN。 Indeed！
TIMSON。 Well； see that girl now！ ＇He shakes his head。＇ I never did
believe in goin' behind a person's backI'm an Englishmanbut
＇lowering his voice＇ she's a bad hat； sir。 Why； look at the street
she comes from！
WELLWYN。 Oh！ you know it。
TIMSON。 Lived there meself larst three years。 See the difference a
few days' corn's made in her。 She's that saucy you can't touch 'er
head。
WELLWYN。 Is there any necessity； Timson？
TIMSON。 Artful too。 Full o' vice； I call'er。 Where's 'er 'usband？
WELLWYN。 ＇Gravely。＇ Come； Timson！ You wouldn't like her to
TIMSON。 ＇With dignity； so that the bottle in his pocket is plainly
visible。＇ I'm a man as always beared inspection。
WELLWYN。 ＇With a well…directed smile。＇ So I see。
TIMSON。 ＇Curving himself round the bottle。＇ It's not for me to say
nothingbut I can tell a gen'leman as quick as ever I can tell an
'orse。
WELLWYN。 ＇Painting。＇ I find it safest to assume that every man is a
gentleman； and every woman a lady。 Saves no end of self…contempt。
Give me the little brush。
TIMSON。 ＇Handing him the brushafter a considerable introspective
pause。＇ Would yer like me to stay and wash it for yer again？ ＇With
great resolution。＇ I willI'll do it for younever grudged workin'
for a gen'leman。
WELLWYN。 ＇With sincerity。＇ Thank you； Timsonvery good of you； I'm
sure。 ＇He hands him back the brush。＇ Just lend us a hand with this。
＇Assisted by TIMSON he pushes back the dais。＇ Let's see！ What do I
owe you？
TIMSON。 ＇Reluctantly。＇ It so 'appens； you advanced me to…day's
yesterday。
WELLWYN。 Then I suppose you want to…morrow's？
TIMSON。 Well； I 'ad to spend it； lookin' for a permanent job。 When
you've got to do with 'orses； you can't neglect the publics； or you
might as well be dead。
WELLWYN。 Quite so！
TIMSON。 It mounts up in the course o' the year。
WELLWYN。 It would。 ＇Passing him a coin。＇ This is for an exceptional
purposeTimsonsee。 Not
TIMSON。 ＇Touching his forehead。＇ Certainly； sir。 I quite
understand。 I'm not that sort； as I think I've proved to yer； comin'
here regular day after day； all the week。 There's one thing； I ought
to warn you perhapsI might 'ave to give this job up any day。
＇He makes a faint demonstration with the little brush； then puts
it； absent…mindedly； into his pocket。＇
WELLWYN。 ＇Gravely。＇ I'd never stand in the way of your bettering
yourself； Timson。 And； by the way； my daughter spoke to a friend
about you to…day。 I think something may come of it。
TIMSON。 Oh！ Oh！ She did！ Well； it might do me a bit o' good。 ＇He
makes for the outer door； but stops。＇ That foreigner！ 'E sticks in
my gizzard。 It's not as if there wasn't pl