. Apart from manners--
Which have their own importance--blasphemy
(And I regard the phrase as blasphemous)
Cannot--
MRS. HAVERTON (_uneasily_): Oh, very well!...
Oh, very well!
(_Exploding in her turn_.)
Upon my soul, you are intolerable!
(_She jumps up and makes for the door. Before she gets to
it there is a knock and_ MATILDA _enters_.)
MATILDA: Please, m'm, it's only Mrs. Cobley's daughter
To say the washing shall be sent to-morrow,
And would you check the list again and see,
Because she thinks she never had two collars
Of what you sent, but only five, because
You marked it seven; and Mrs. Cobley says
There must be some mistake.
REV. A. HAVERTON (_pompously_): I will attend to it.
MRS. HAVERTON (_whispering angrily_): How can
you, Archibald! You haven't got
The ghost of an idea about the washing!
Sit down. (_He does so_.) (_To Matilda_) Send the
Girl in here.
MRS. HAVERTON _sits down in a fume_.
REV. A. HAVERTON: I think....
MRS. HAVERTON (_snapping_): I don't care what you think!
(_Groans_.) Oh, dear!
I'm nearly off my head!
_Enter_ MISS COBLEY. (_She bobs_.)
Good evening, m'm.
MRS. HAVERTON (_by way of reply_):
Now, then! What's all this fuss about the washing?
MISS COBLEY: Please, m'm, the seven collars, what you sent--
I mean the seven what was marked--was wrong,
And mother says as you'd have had the washing
Only there weren't but five, and would you mind.
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