Mrs. Mossop.
[Dusting the ornaments on the mantelpiece.] Bless your heart, you're very gay this morning!
Avonia.
It's the pantomime. I'm always stark mad as the pantomime approaches. I don't grudge letting the rest of the company have their fling at other times—but with the panto comes my turn. [Throwing herself full length upon the sofa gleefully.]Ha, ha, ha! the turn of Avonia Bunn! [__With a change of tone.__] I hope Miss Trelawny won't take a walk up to Highbury, or anywhere, after rehearsal. I want to borrow her gilt belt. My dress has arrived.
Mrs. Mossop.
[Much interested.] No! has it?
Avonia.
Yes, Mrs. Burroughs is coming down from the theatre at twelve-thirty to see me in it. [Singing. "Any kind of villainy cometh natural to me. So it endeth with a combat and a one, two, three——!"] *
Mrs. Mossop.
[Surveying the room.] Well, that's as cheerful as I can make things look, poor dear!