Mrs. Dot: A Farce

by W. Somerset Maugham

Five hundred pounds. Oh, you are a ripper! But why on earth do you give me that?

Mrs. Dot.

It may be useful to you. Suppose you had an idea of getting married, for instance, it would be very convenient to have a sum like that in your pocket.

Freddie.

But I’m not thinking of getting married.

Mrs. Dot.

Aren’t you? I suppose you know that when you do, I’m proposing to give you two thousand a year.

Freddie.

I say, that’s awfully good of you.

[He takes the cheque and gloats over it. Mrs. Dot quickly takes a special licence out of the drawer and puts it on the table.