Part 26 (1/2)

DR. (_rises; looks at d.i.c.k, who turns away_) These interruptions are distracting. (_sits_)

MRS. D. (_wakes_) Silence! (_goes to sleep again_)

SIR H. Please go on.

ALMA. He is at work upon a play, in which a faithless lover is a leading character.

NED. That is _my_ play!

d.i.c.k. Of course it is! I knew Blake couldn't be original.

ALMA. The lover writes to tell his second love how much better he likes her than his first, and the sheet of paper on which the letter is written, the author, in the old untidy way, leaves lying about the house.

d.i.c.k. It's all been done! Wife finds the letter--thinks it's genuine--and leaves home to slow music.

ALMA. End of Act the first.

d.i.c.k. (_rises_) And a nice fine old crusted situation that is to ring down on.

DR. (_rises_) It is a drawback to interpolations that they interrupt the argument and distract the attention. (_business with d.i.c.k repeat; sits_)

SIR H. Never mind Mr. d.i.c.k. Come to the second act. (_NED listens eagerly_)

ALMA. The wife goes on the stage.

d.i.c.k. What manager would take her?

ALMA. Probably some old curmudgeon who'd just refused his leading lady a few pounds. (_d.i.c.k turns from her; meets DR. DOZEY looking at him on the other side, then back again_)

d.i.c.k. Go on--go on--we're waiting.

ALMA. Well, in course of time, a certain part is given her; and in the part she finds the letter she'd misunderstood.

TOM. It is her husband's play!

NED. (_much excited_) _My_ play!

SIR H. Yours! (_beginning to understand_)

ALMA. (_rises_) Act the third. (_turns to SUSAN_) Prompter, you'd better call the heroine. (_rises. SUSAN opens door, R._)

NED. (_rising_) Go on!

ALMA. One day she meets a certain actress----

NED. You!

ALMA. Who lives in the same house----

d.i.c.k. (_rises; gets down, R.C._) Hallo! here's something new.