DAISY _comes down the steps and sits on one of the lower ones_. _She is dreadfully bored._
AMAH. What is the matter with my pletty one?
AMAH. [_With a snigger._] Hi, hi. Old amah got velly good eyes in her head.
DAISY. [_As though talking to herself._] I've got a husband who adores me and a nice house to live in. I've got a position and as much money as I want. I'm safe. I'm respectable. I ought to be happy.
AMAH. I say, Harry no good, what for you wanchee marry? You say, I wanchee marry, I wanchee marry? Well, you married. What you want now?
DAISY. They say life is short. Good God, how long the days are.
AMAH. You want pony--Harry give you pony. You want jade ring--Harry give you jade ring. You want sable coat--Harry give you sable coat. Why you not happy?
DAISY. If you laugh like that I'll kill you.
AMAH. You no kill old amah. You want old amah. I got something velly pletty for my little Daisy flower.
DAISY. Don't be an old fool. I'm not a child any more. [_Desperately._] I'm growing older, older, older. And every day is just like every other day. I might as well be dead.
AMAH. Look this pletty present old amah have got.
[_She takes a jade necklace out of her sleeve and puts it, smiling, into_ DAISY'S _hand_.
DAISY. [_With sudden vivacity,_] Oh, what a lovely chain. It's beautiful jade. How much do they want for it?
AMAH. It's a present for my little Daisy.
DAISY. For me? It must have cost five hundred dollars. Who is it from?
AMAH. To-day is my little Daisy's wedding-day. She have married one year. Perhaps old amah want to give her little flower present.
DAISY. YOU! Have you ever given me anything but a beating?
AMAH. Lee Tai Cheng pay me necklace and say you give to Daisy.
DAISY. You old hag. [_She flings the necklace away violently._]
AMAH. You silly. Worth plenty money. You no wanchee, I sell rich Amelican.
[_She is just going after the necklace, when_ DAISY _catches her violently by the arm_.
DAISY. How dare you? How dare you? I told you that you were never to let Lee Tai speak to you again.
AMAH. You very angry, Daisy. You very angry before, but you go back to Lee Tai; he think perhaps you go back again.
DAISY. Tell him that I loathe the sight of him. Tell him that if I were starving I wouldn't take a penny from him. Tell him that if he dares to come round here I'll have him beaten till he screams.