NIO. (_returns_) I will bring the children and show how much they love me.
DUNN. (R. C.) No, no! They're not allowed in here.
DUNN. Yes, but I never attempt to prejudice them in my favour, I'll explain to you another time, when I'm not so busy; I have to telegraph the real governess, to stop away, or we are ruined.
NIO. I don't know Telegraph--what is it, Petramos?
DUNN. Why--oh--it's a machine--er--on which you tick, tick, tick, tick at one end, and the same tick ticks are heard at the other end, and the tick ticks tell whatever you are thinking, to the party you're tick, tick, ticking to.
NIO. Oh Petramos! you treat me like a child. Am I so foolish that you mock my ignorance?
_Weeps and falls on DUNN'S shoulder, embracing him; CARRIE and HELEN enter at back C._
DUNN. She's at it again. Don't cry--there's no money in it. I wasn't fooling you. Cheer up! there's a darling. (_stroking her hair_) Poor little woman! (_CARRIE down R.; DUNN sees her, pretends not to see her_) My dear young lady, you shall be treated with every kindness, my wife is gentleness itself. I'm sure if my wife were here--oh, you _are_ there, Caroline.
DUNN. Come to this poor girl, she's homesick.
HEL. (_coming down L._) And needs consolation, I observe.
_At the sound of HELEN'S voice NIOBE recoils, back centre._
NIO. Not at _your_ bidding! If he, the _Master_, bids me go, I go--not else. I wait his orders.
HEL. (_crossing R. C. to CARRIE_) You'll find _mine_ are the orders that are observed in this household, and you must obey them if you wish to stay with us.
NIO. You can't suppose I wish to stay with _you._ (_DUNN has gone up and is now L.--to DUNN_) You Pet--the Master--is the ruler here.
CAR. (_in great tribulation; to HELEN_) She called him pet.
DUNN. (_crossing back of NIOBE R. C._) Yes! yes! but I never interfere in domestic matters. Mrs. Dunn's sister manages everything. (_aside as he goes back L._) Don't forget what I told you; be obsequious.
NIO. Ah, that's well remembered. (_to HELEN_) I had forgotten; I am to be obsequious to you; Yes Ma'am--and cringe to you--"Yes Ma'am!" It was the master's wish--agree with the old cat in all things, yes Ma'am!
_NIOBE backing up stage with speech, turns and exits C. and R._