STAGE MANAGER, _standing _CENTER _with his back to the footlights. Close behind him, perched in a high chair, the_ LEADER OF THE BAND _solus, representing the orchestra with a fiddle. Two or three groups of artists, chatting at the wings. THE HEAVY MAN facing up and down at the back, conning his part in an undertone, and occasionally stopping to suit the action to the word. LOW COMEDY AND WALKING GENT., going through scene by themselves in L. 3. E. SINGING CHAMBERMAID, flirting with JUVENILES (only one of them), R. 2. E. PROPERTY MAN, behind, making a veal and ham pie out of an old piece of canvas and a handful of shavings. COUPLE OF CARPENTERS, in white jackets, hovering about with hammers in their hands and mischief in their eyes, evidently on the look-out for an excuse to make a noise. CALL BOY all over the place, and always in the way--except when wanted._ OUR FIRST OLD MAN (_standing R. C., and reading part by the aid of a large pair of specs_). “‘Er-er--wind howls--er-er-er--night as this, fifteen years ago--er--sweet child--er-r-r--stolen away--er-r-r--baby prattle--er-ears--er-r--shall I never hear her voice again?” _He looks up, and finding that nobody makes any sign of caring a hang whether he does or not, he repeats the question louder._ STAGE MANAGER (_severely, as if this was a question that really must be answered_). “’ Shall I never hear her voice again?’ Oh! that’s a music cue, Mr. P. Have you got it down? Miss --------” (_stage name of the manager’s wife_) “sings a song there, without.” MR. P. “No, I’ll put it down now. What is it--’ hear her voice again?’” (_Writes on some loose slips of paper, lying before him on the stage._) “Have you the music?” STAGE MAN. “Oh, anything dismal does. No matter what, so long as it gives ‘em the hump. What will you have, my dear?” MANAGER’S WIFE (_who has just finished a social bottle of Bass with another lady_). “Oh, the old thing, you know. ‘Home, sweet home.’” JUVENILES (_in a whisper to_ LOW COM.). “Is _she_ going to _sing?_” LOW COM. “Yes, always does it.” JUVENILES. “Oh, my----!” MAN. WIFE _and_ THE FIDDLE _do first verse of “Home, sweet home.”_ FIRST OLD MAN. “‘Ah, that voice--er-er--echo of old memories--er-er-er--houseless wanderer-dry herself’” (_crossing and opening an imaginary door_). “Poor child--er-er-er--I’m an old man--er--my wife’s out--return and--er--the homeless orphan.’” MAN. WIFE. “Will there be any lime-light on here?” FIRST OLD WOMAN (_sotto voce_). “Oh, let her have some lime-light. She wants to let her back hair down.” STAGE MAN. “Certainly, my dear. There’ll be a fire-place in this corner, and red lime-light from it.” MAN. WIFE. “Oh, all right; I only wanted to know. Now, what was it--‘homeless orphan.’ Oh, that’s my long speech, you know: ‘Is this a dream that I have dreamt before--played here when a child.’” FIRST O. M. “‘Sweet child--your face recalls strange memories of er-er-er--been just your age.’”