Rose.
[Rising.] Yes, 'Vonia, it does! We are only dolls, partly human, with mechanical limbs that will fall into stagey postures, and heads stuffed with sayings out of rubbishy plays. It isn't the world we live in, merely a world—such a queer little one! I was less than a month in Cavendish Square, and very few people came there; but they were real people—real! For a month I lost the smell of gas and oranges, and the hurry and noise, and the dirt and the slang, and the clownish joking, at the "Wells." I didn't realize at the time the change that was going on in me; I didn't realize it till I came back. And then, by degrees, I discovered what had happened——
[Tom is now near her. She takes his hand and drops her head upon Avonia's shoulder. Wearily.]
Oh, Tom! oh, 'Vonia———[From the next room comes the sound of the throwing about of heavy objects, and of Gadd's voice uttering loud imprecations. Alarmed.] Oh——!