HOBSON'S CHOICE

ACT 1

_The_ SCENE _represents the interior of_ HOBSON'S
_Boot Shop in Chapel Street, Bedford. The shop windows and
entrance from street occupy the left side. Facing the audience is
the counter, with exhibits of boots and slippers, behind which
the wall is fitted with racks containing boot boxes. Cane chairs
in front of counter. There is a desk down L. with a chair. A door
R. leads up to the house. In the centre of the stage is a trap
leading to the cellar where work is done. There are no elaborate
fittings. Gas brackets in the windows and walls. The business is
prosperous, but to prosper in Salford in 1880 you did not require
the elaborate accessories of a later day. A very important
customer goes for fitting into_ HOBSON'S _sitting-room. The
rank and file use the cane chairs in the shop, which is dingy but
business-like. The windows exhibit little stock, and amongst what
there is clogs figure prominently. Through the windows comes the
bright light of noon.

Sitting behind the counter are_ HOBSON'S _two younger
daughters,_ ALICE, R., _who is twenty-three, and_
VICTORIA, L., _who is twenty-one, and very pretty_. ALICE
_is knitting and_ VICTORIA _is reading. They are in black,
with neat black aprons. The door_ R. _opens, and_ MAGGIE
_enters. She is_ HOBSON'S _eldest daughter, thirty_.