RICHARD (on the threshold, taking off his hat). Ladies and
gentlemen: your servant, your very humble servant. (With
this comprehensive insult, he throws his hat to Christy with a
suddenness that makes him jump like a negligent wicket keeper,
and comes into the middle of the room, where he turns and
deliberately surveys the company.) How happy you all look!
how glad to see me! (He turns towards Mrs. Dudgeon's chair;
and his lip rolls up horribly from his dog tooth as he meets her
look of undisguised hatred.) Well, mother: keeping up appearances
as usual? that's right, that's right. (Judith pointedly moves
away from his neighborhood to the other side of the kitchen,
holding her skirt instinctively as if to save it from
contamination. Uncle Titus promptly marks his approval of her
action by rising from the sofa, and placing a chair for her to
sit down upon.) What! Uncle William! I haven't seen you
since you gave up drinking. (Poor Uncle William, shamed,
would protest; but Richard claps him heartily on his shoulder,
adding) you have given it up, haven't you? (releasing him with a
playful push) of course you have: quite right too; you overdid
it. (He turns away from Uncle William and makes for the sofa.)
And now, where is that upright horsedealer Uncle Titus? Uncle
Titus: come forth. (He comes upon him holding the chair as Judith
sits down.) As usual, looking after the ladies.

UNCLE TITUS (indignantly). Be ashamed of yourself, sir--

RICHARD (interrupting him and shaking his hand in spite of him).
I am: I am; but I am proud of my uncle--proud of all my relatives
(again surveying them) who could look at them and not be proud
and joyful? (Uncle Titus, overborne, resumes his seat on the