On the right, a smart verandah, attached to Dr. Herdal's dwelling-house, and communicating with the Drawing-room and Dispensary by glass-doors. On the left a tumble-down rockery, with a headless plaster Mercury. In front, a lawn, with a large silvered glass globe on a stand. Chairs and tables. All the furniture is of galvanised iron. A sunset is seen going on among the trees.
Dr. Herdal (comes out of Dispensary-door cautiously, and whispers). Hilda, are you in there?
[Taps with fingers on Drawing-room door.
Hilda (comes out with a half-teasing smile). Well—and how is the Rainbow-powder getting on, Dr. Herdal?
Dr. Herd. (with enthusiasm). It is getting on simply splendidly. I sent the new Assistant out to take a little walk, so that he should not be in the way. There is Arsenic in the powder, Hilda, and Digitalis too, and Strychnine, and the best Beetle-killer!
Hilda (with happy, wondering eyes). Lots of Beetle-killer? And you will give some of it to her, to make her free and buoyant. I think one really has the right—when people happen to stand in the way——!
Dr. Herd. Yes, you may well say so, Hilda. Still—(dubiously)—it does occur to me that such doings may perhaps be misunderstood—by the narrow-minded and conventional.
[They go on the lawn, and sit down.
Hilda (with an outburst). Oh, that all seems to me so foolish—so irrelevant! As if the whole thing wasn't intended as an Allegory!
Dr. Herd. (relieved). Ah, so long as it is merely allegorical of course—— But what is it an allegory of, Hilda?