"Are you feeling it hot in here?"
"Yes—it's very close."
He did not offer to take her out—it did not strike him that she could want to leave.
"You haven't sucked your orange—that'll freshen you a bit."
Ellen looked at her orange.
"Let me peel it for you," said Alce, noticing her gloved hands.
"Thanks very much—but I can't eat it here; there's nowhere to put the skin and pips."
"What about the floor? Reckon they sweep out the sawdust after each performance."
"I'm sure I hope they do," said Ellen, whose next-door neighbour had spat at intervals between his knees, "but really, I'd rather keep the orange till I get home."
At that moment the ring-master came in to start the second half of the entertainment, and Alce turned away from Ellen. He was unconscious of her till the band played "God Save the King," and there was a great scraping of feet as the audience turned to go out.