[FLEETWAY melts out and TOONE is precipitated.] Mr Toone, I was very pleased with your Professor--quite a character-study. [TOONE bows and murmurs] Yes, sir! I thought it fine. [His eye grows bald] Who plays the goat? MISS HOPK. [Appearing suddenly between the windows] I play the faun, Mr Frost. FORESON. [Introducing] Miss Maude 'Opkins. FRUST. Miss Hopkins, I guess your fawn was fine. MISS HOPK. Oh! Thank you, Mr Frost. How nice of you to say so. I do so enjoy playing him. FRUST. [His eye growing bald] Mr Foreson, I thought the way you fixed that tree was very cunning; I certainly did. Got a match? [He takes a match from FORESON, and lighting a very long cigar, walks up Stage through the French windows followed by FORESON, and examines the apple-tree.] [The two Actors depart, but Miss HELLGROVE runs from where she has been lingering, by the curtain, to VANE, Stage Right.] MISS H. Oh! Mr Vane--do you think? He seemed quite--Oh! Mr Vane [ecstatically] If only---- VANE. [Pleased and happy] Yes, yes. All right--you were splendid. He liked it. He quite---- MISS H. [Clasping her hand] How wonderful Oh, Mr Vane, thank you! [She clasps his hands; but suddenly, seeing that FRUST is coming back, fits across into the curtain and vanishes.] [The Stage, in the crude light, as empty now save for FRUST, who, in the French windows, Centre, is mumbling his cigar; and VANE, Stage Right, who is looking up into the wings, Stage Left.] VANE. [Calling up] That lighting's just right now, Miller. Got it marked carefully? ELECTRICS. Yes, Mr Vane. VANE. Good. [To FRUST who as coming down] Well, sir? So glad---- FRUST. Mr Vane, we got little Miggs on contract? VANE. Yes. FRUST. Well, I liked that little pocket piece fine. But I'm blamed if I know what it's all about. VANE. [A little staggered] Why! Of course it's a little allegory. The tragedy of civilization--all real feeling for Beauty and Nature kept out, or pent up even in the cultured. FRUST. Ye-ep. [Meditatively] Little Miggs'd be fine in "Pop goes the Weasel." VANE. Yes, he'd be all right, but---- FRUST. Get him on the 'phone, and put it into rehearsal right now. VANE. What! But this piece--I--I----! FRUST. Guess we can't take liberties with our public, Mr Vane. They want pep. VANE. [Distressed] But it'll break that girl's heart. I--really--I can't---- FRUST. Give her the part of the 'tweeny in "Pop goes". VANE. Mr Frust, I--I beg. I've taken a lot of trouble with this little play. It's good. It's that girl's chance--and I---- FRUST. We-ell! I certainly thought she was fine. Now, you 'phone up Miggs, and get right along with it. I've only one rule, sir! Give the Public what it wants; and what the Public wants is punch and go. They've got no use for Beauty, Allegory, all that high-brow racket. I know 'em as I know my hand.