"
He has learnt nothing from it except a habit of evading it by deceit._
_He gets up to ring the bell; then resumes his crouch. Juggins
answers the bell._
BOBBY. Juggins.
JUGGINS. Sir?
BOBBY. [morosely sarcastic] Sir be blowed!
JUGGINS. [cheerfully] Not at all, sir.
BOBBY. I'm a gaol-bird: youre a respectable man.
JUGGINS. That doesnt matter, sir. Your father pays me to call you
sir; and as I take the money, I keep my part of the bargain.
BOBBY. Would you call me sir if you wernt paid to do it?
JUGGINS. No, sir.
BOBBY. Ive been talking to Dora about you.
JUGGINS. Indeed, sir?
BOBBY. Yes. Dora says your name cant be Juggins, and that you have
the manners of a gentleman. I always thought you hadnt any manners.
Anyhow, your manners are different from the manners of a gentleman in
my set.
JUGGINS. They would be, sir.
BOBBY. You dont feel disposed to be communicative on the subject of
Dora's notion, I suppose.
JUGGINS. No, sir.
BOBBY. [throwing his paper on the floor and lifting his knees over
the arm of the chair so as to turn towards the footman] It was part
of your bargain that you were to valet me a bit, wasnt it?
JUGGINS. Yes, sir.
BOBBY. Well, can you tell me the proper way to get out of an
engagement to a girl without getting into a row for breach of promise
or behaving like a regular cad?
JUGGINS. No, sir. You cant get out of an engagement without behaving
like a cad if the lady wishes to hold you to it.
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