[She pauses, and laughs lightly and humorously at herself, and]

THE CURTAIN FALLS


SCENE IV

A room at the Barley Sheaf, by candlelight, in the late evening of the same day.

Seated round a table are Lord Muir and Baliol White, a young spark of fashion; Sam Ogilvie, a flash but unprosperous ‘sport’; Neil Simpson, a drab and dissolute little schoolmaster; ‘Shy’ Duncan, a speculative gentleman of finance, at present half asleep, and Burns.

Their cups are frequently replenished from a large punch-bowl in the middle of the table.

Burns (to full chorus, is singing),

O, Willie brew’d a peck o’ maut,

And Rob and Allan cam’ to see;