was bright, and a little beyond myself; and--I'll confess it--I wanted
to shew off before Bobby, because he was a bit taken by a woman on the
stage; and she was pretending to be game for anything. You see youve
brought Bobby up too strict; and when he gets loose theres no holding
him. He does enjoy life more than any lad I ever met.

GILBEY. Never you mind how hes been brought up: thats my business.
Tell me how hes been brought down: thats yours.

MRS GILBEY. Oh, dont be rude to the lady, Rob.

DORA. I'm coming to it, old dear: dont you be so headstrong. Well,
it was a beautiful moonlight night; and we couldnt get a cab on the
nod; so we started to walk, very jolly, you know: arm in arm, and
dancing along, singing and all that. When we came into Jamaica
Square, there was a young copper on point duty at the corner. I says
to Bob: "Dearie boy: is it a bargain about the squiffer if I make Joe
sprint for you?" "Anything you like, darling," says he: "I love
you." I put on my best company manners and stepped up to the copper.
"If you please, sir," says I, "can you direct me to Carrickmines
Square?" I was so genteel, and talked so sweet, that he fell to it
like a bird. "I never heard of any such Square in these parts," he
says. "Then," says I, "what a very silly little officer you must
be!"; and I gave his helmet a chuck behind that knocked it over his
eyes, and did a bunk.

MRS GILBEY. Did a what?

DORA. A bunk. Holy Joe did one too all right: he sprinted faster
than he ever did in college, I bet, the old dear. He got clean off,