"Well, go on, girl," Mrs Pearce broke in, "Tell him what you've come for." Eliza turned her weary head towards the maid and stared at her helplessly. Mrs Pearce gave a nod.
"Well – I... I..." Eliza stopped. The Professor responded as little as to bat an eyelid. The colonel walked over to her and looked at her face. He touched her cheek briefly and joined her at her side. "I – thank you Pickering – I was – I mean..." Higgins interrupted.
"It could be assumed that you are trying to give an apology, but you appear to be having a little trouble." Higgins spoke calmly, "Am I right?" Eliza felt a tear welling inside her.
"I suppose you expect me to answer 'yes' and give you the glory of another victory? Besides, what else could I answer; how else can I answer; why else should I answer?" She cried, defeatedly. Higgins smiled and rose from his chair. He walked slowly towards her.
"If I had the heart, I'd mention that you share the same gift of rhetoric as your father: what else could you answer; how else could you answer and why else could you answer."
"You obviously do, then," she retorted.
"Indeed, I do not," Corrected Higgins, "Hence why the most adequate answer to give me was 'no' as opposed to 'yes'." Eliza frowned in disbelief. Suddenly, she broke off.
"Then why am I here? What have you sent me for?" she winced. The Professor, however, retired to his chair.
"Higgins, do be reasonable. Do you not think that some form of apology is due?" Pickering explained earnestly.
"Eliza, an apology on your part would be graciously accepted." He spoke calmly, oblivious to Pickering, "I refuse to see what could have possibly provoked you to do such a thing, however Eliza, if an undeserved apology from myself is what is required to improve our terms socially, then so be it." The professor said in a raised voice. A smile crept upon Eliza's face and she chuckled at her own victory. She glanced at Pickering, who smiled back. She wiped the tears from her face as she worded her reply carefully.
"Then as undeserving as I am, I accept your apology gracefully, if that will return us to being on good terms once again."
"Good. Now, about these etiquette lessons..." Eliza's heart warmed, and another glance in the Colonel's direction told her that he was as relieved as she was. Higgins' burbling seemed to flow over her head. She laughed inwardly at his boyish arrogance – he was so determined not to lose face, as always. It would be just like the good old days, as she knew that he'd forget all about it.Henry Higgins was not one to hold grudges, and shewas certain of it.She began to wonder if he even realised that he'd lost. Typical. Suddenly, the Professor's voice was back again. "...will walk together. Go on," he instructed. Eliza did not move. "Eliza, if you wish to become a lady, you will do as you are told. You are to walk into the Dining Room under Pickering's arm, as if walking into a fine restaurant. Do it now, Eliza." Pickering took Eliza's arm as they walked through the door. "No – no, stop!" Called Higgins, pacing after them, shaking his head. The two returned to the hall, to face the Professor. "Walk with a little grace, Eliza. And for heaven's sake, take that ridiculous grin from your face. Ladies do not grin, they smile politely." Eliza chuckled again as she proceeded with Pickering.
The tablecloth covered the legs of the table, and seemed whiter than usual; even the wood of the chairs had an extra shine in the light. The room had been cleaned from top to bottom. All papers from the shelves had been removed. "How kind of you to let me come," Eliza beamed as Pickering pulled the chair out for her to sit down.
"Eliza, the phrase you are searching for this time is "How kind of you to invite me to join you tonight."," the Professor corrected. "Pickering is not merely allowing you to come, but requested that you come. Say it."
"How kind of you to invite me to join you tonight," Eliza enunciated perfectly.
"Not bad," Higgins commented as a sharply dressed servant entered with the starter dishes. Eliza took her knife and fork and began to saw into the food on the plate to her right. Higgins stopped her. "Eliza, it is common courtesy to wait for your fellow diners to begin before you do. Your plate is the one to your left, and use the utensils furthest from the centre of your place." Eliza waited before picking up the smaller knife and fork. She took a mouthful of food.
"UGHHH, this is disgusting!Youtry it - I've never tasted anything like this in my life." She exclaimed in horror at the Professor. Pickering looked away.
"Eliza, you do not make such comments, neither do you offer the food to anyone else. You merely leave the plate where it is, and place your utensils together across it, like so." Higgins sighed and placed his utensils neatly on his place as Eliza copied his every move. "You should also know not to speak with your mouth full," he informed.
"Garn! I'm not a lady yet, you know!" Eliza laughed incredulously as she swallowed her mouth full of food.
"And the poor excuses for words such as 'garn' should not be uttered, either; neither at the table or anywhere else for that matter."
"Why not?" She remarked.
"Eliza, they are insults to the majesty of the English language – Eliza I need to show you. Tomorrow, if in the course of tonight's meal you follow my every instruction, you will find yourself dining in the seaside town of Brighton." Eliza's eyes opened wide.
"In a big restaurant?" She stared in awe at the Professor. He smiled back at her.
"By George Eliza – whisked away in a taxi, you shall be dining in the largest and finest restaurant overlooking the Brighton Pier; beautifully dressed. Eliza, you will be impeccable."