The next morning, Professor Higgins and Colonel Pickering were distressed to find Eliza missing. They had no idea why she left or where she could be, so they headed to Mrs. Higgins' house and even called the police.
A maid informed Mrs. Higgins about two men wanting to see her. Mrs. Higgins asked the maid to tell Miss Doolittle not to come down until she sent for her.
Higgins rushed in, upset, and told his mother that Eliza had disappeared. Mrs. Higgins calmly suggested that maybe Eliza had been scared. Higgins, impatient, insisted that she simply left and asked what he should do. Mrs. Higgins replied he couldn’t do anything, as Eliza had the right to leave.
In desperation, Higgins complained that he couldn’t find her or remember his meetings, just as Pickering entered to say the police situation was complicated. Mrs. Higgins was surprised they called the police over Eliza, comparing it to losing an umbrella.
At that moment, the maid returned to announce that a Mr. Doolittle had arrived. Higgins queried if he meant the dustman, but the maid clarified that this Mr. Doolittle was a gentleman. Alfred Doolittle then entered, looking well-dressed and approached Higgins angrily, accusing him of ruining his life by making him conform to middle-class morality.
Higgins was taken aback, having only given him five pounds. Doolittle claimed that he had recently inherited three thousand pounds a year, which made him the greatest moralist ever.
Higgins expressed disbelief, while Mrs. Higgins noted this could mean Doolittle could support Eliza. Higgins argued that Doolittle had no claim to her since he had paid for her. Mrs. Higgins then revealed that Eliza was upstairs, prompting Higgins to head for the door, but Mrs. Higgins called out for him to listen carefully before he left.