"Why do Miss Chaffinch and her girl-friends talk of nothing, think of nothing apparently, but marriage? Ought a woman to make marriage the great object of life? can there be no other? I wonder——"

[She goes off, the wool trailing after her, and disappears into the Green-room. The ball of wool remains in the center of the stage.]

Tom.

[Reading from his manuscript.] "The piano is heard; and Peggy's voice singing. Gerald enters——"

Imogen.

[Clutching Tom's arm.] There——!

Tom.

Ah, yes, here is Mr. Gordon.

[Arthur appears, in a traveling coat. Tom and Imogen hasten to him and shake hands with him vigorously.]

Tom.