Pygmalion

HIGGINS [brusquely, recognizing her with unconcealed disappointment,

and at once, baby-like, making an intolerable grievance of it] Why,

this is the girl I jotted down last night. She's no use: I've got all

the records I want of the Lisson Grove lingo; and I'm not going to

waste another cylinder on it. [To the girl] Be off with you: I don't

want you.

THE FLOWER GIRL. Don't you be so saucy. You ain't heard what I come for

yet. [To Mrs. Pearce, who is waiting at the door for further

instruction] Did you tell him I come in a taxi?

MRS. PEARCE. Nonsense, girl! what do you think a gentleman like Mr.

Higgins cares what you came in?

THE FLOWER GIRL. Oh, we are proud! He ain't above giving lessons, not

him: I heard him say so. Well, I ain't come here to ask for any

compliment; and if my money's not good enough I can go elsewhere.

HIGGINS. Good enough for what?

THE FLOWER GIRL. Good enough for ye--oo. Now you know, don't you? I'm

come to have lessons, I am. And to pay for em too: make no mistake.

HIGGINS [stupent] WELL!!! [Recovering his breath with a gasp] What do

you expect me to say to you?

THE FLOWER GIRL. Well, if you was a gentleman, you might ask me to sit

down, I think. Don't I tell you I'm bringing you business?

HIGGINS. Pickering: shall we ask this baggage to sit down or shall we

throw her out of the window?

THE FLOWER GIRL [running away in terror to the piano, where she turns

at bay] Ah--ah--ah--ow--ow--ow--oo! [Wounded and whimpering] I won't be

called a baggage when I've offered to pay like any lady.

Motionless, the two men stare at her from the other side of the room,

amazed.

PICKERING [gently] What is it you want, my girl?

THE FLOWER GIRL. I want to be a lady in a flower shop stead of selling

at the corner of Tottenham Court Road. But they won't take me unless I

can talk more genteel. He said he could teach me. Well, here I am ready

to pay him--not asking any favor--and he treats me as if I was dirt.

MRS. PEARCE. How can you be such a foolish ignorant girl as to think

you could afford to pay Mr. Higgins?

THE FLOWER GIRL. Why shouldn't I? I know what lessons cost as well as

you do; and I'm ready to pay.

HIGGINS. How much?

THE FLOWER GIRL [coming back to him, triumphant] Now you're talking! I

thought you'd come off it when you saw a chance of getting back a bit

of what you chucked at me last night. [Confidentially] You'd had a drop

in, hadn't you?