JACK. There's no more praise for me in this town, mother. I'm not popular. They've lost a lot of money on this match.
MRS. METHERELL. Was that your fault?
JACK. I played for Birchester. The bets were made on Blackton before they knew I was transferred.
MRS. METHERELL (indignantly). They're blaming you for that?
AUSTIN. Fair weather sportsmen!
JACK. There's no denying I won the match for Birchester.
MRS. METHERELL (indignantly). Whose fault was it you played for Birchester? Yours? No. There stands the man you have to thank for that.
AUSTIN (taken aback). Really, Mrs. Metherell, I was hardly prepared——
MRS. METHERELL (accusingly). You've made my Jack unpopular. That's what you've done. (Looking at Jack proudly, while he expresses blank astonishment.) There never was a favourite like Jack. Not a man in the whole of Blackton but looked up to Jack, nor a woman but envied me my son.
JACK. But, mother, I didn't know you cared. You've always——