Thank  you.  (In  spite  of  the  biscuit  complexion
she  has  not  the  slightest  foreign  accent.)

THE  DENTIST  (putting  it  down  on  the  ledge  of  his
cabinet  of  instruments) .  That  was  my  first  tooth.
THE  YOUNG  LADY  (aghast).  Your  first!  Do  you
mean  to  say  that  you  began  practising  on  me  ?

THE  DENTIST.  Every  dentist  has  to  begin  on
somebody.
THE  YOUNG  LADY.  Yes :  somebody  in  a
hospital,  not  people  who  pay.
THE  DENTIST  (laughing).  Oh,  the  hospital
doesn't  count.  I  only  meant  my  first  tooth
in  private  practice.  Why  didn't  you  let  me
give  you  gas?

THE  YOUNG  LADY.  Because  you  said  it
would  be  five  shillings  extra.
THE  DENTIST  (shocked).  Oh,  don't  say  that.
It  makes  me  feel  as  if  I  had  hurt  you  for  the
sake  of  five  shillings.
REHEARSING  39

THE  YOUNG  LADY  (with  cool  insolence).  Well,
so  you  have!  (She  gets  up.)  Why  shouldn't
you?  it's  your  business  to  hurt  people.  (It
amuses  him  to  be  treated  in  this  fashion;  he
chuckles  secretly  as  he  proceeds  to  clean  and  re-
place  his  instruments.  She  shakes  her  dress  into
order,  looks  inquisitively  about  her;  and  goes  to  the
window.)  You  have  a  good  view  of  the  sea  from
these  rooms !  Are  they  expensive  ?

THE   DENTIST.      YeS.
THE  YOUNG  LADY.  You  don't  own  the  whole
house,  do  you?

THE   DENTIST.      No.
THE  YOUNG  LADY  (takihg  the  chair  which
stands  at  the  writing  table  and  looking  critically
at  it  as  she  spins  it  round  on  one  leg).  Your
furniture  isn't  quite  the  latest  thing,  is  it?

THE  DENTIST.     It's  my  landlord's.
THE  YOUNG  LADY.  Does  he  own  that  nice
comfortable  Bath  chair  ?  (pointing  to  the  operat-
ing chair).
THE  DENTIST.  No :  I  have  that  on  the  hire-
purchase  system.
