TOBY: All right, only let me get out of this bloody house. [_She disappears into the bedroom ... he is staring into the fire when there is a timid knock at the door ... it is repeated._ JOHN (_hurrying to the door_): ... Hullo? Who’s there? [_The door opens before he reaches it and GWEN comes in._ Hullo, Gwen. GWEN: I say, did I put my foot in it downstairs with father? I’m sorry. JOHN: Oh, that’s all right. GWEN: I thought you wouldn’t mind me coming up--father told me you were alone. JOHN: _Did_ he? GWEN: Can Frankie come up? JOHN: _Frankie!_ GWEN: She’s staying the night ... she telephoned home. JOHN: Where is she? FRANKIE (_just outside_): Here I am! GWEN: It’s all right ... he’s all alone. FRANKIE (_her head in at the door_): Can I come in? [_JOHN gives a glance at the bedroom door which is shut ... and FRANKIE comes in._ John ... can I speak to you? GWEN (_tactful_): I’ll be in my room.... I shan’t go to bed; I wish you’d give me a call later. [_She is gone._ FRANKIE: I couldn’t go home without seeing you. [_From the bedroom comes TOBY’S voice._ TOBY’S VOICE: John!... _John!_ FRANKIE (_going to the other door and calling_): Gwen!! GWEN’S VOICE (_half-way down the attic stairs_): Hullo! FRANKIE: Come back, please. TOBY’S VOICE: I’m sorry I was cross ... it wasn’t your fault. I’ve got something to show you ... wait a sec.... [_GWEN comes back...._ GWEN: What is it? [_Silence.... Then:----TOBY comes leaping into the room in JOHN’S pyjamas and strikes an attitude._ TOBY: TA--RA!!!! [_Again she is struck still and dumb by these two strangers; after a moment’s silence, with a real big explosive angry “Damn,” she goes back into the bedroom.... JOHN follows her._ GWEN: I think it would be better if we went downstairs. FRANKIE: I’m going to stay here ... have you ever seen her before? GWEN: No. FRANKIE: Do you know who she is? GWEN: No. FRANKIE: She’s common, isn’t she? GWEN: I didn’t notice.... Frankie, I’m sure we’d better go downstairs. FRANKIE: I’m not going. [_JOHN comes in and begins hunting about._ GWEN: What is it? JOHN: Have you seen a dress about? FRANKIE: A dress! What sort of a dress? JOHN: A little blue one. FRANKIE (_holding it out at arm’s length_): This? JOHN: Yes. Thank you. [_He takes it from her and retires again with it.... GWEN hovers miserably. FRANKIE is rock-like._ GWEN (_by the door--persuasively_): Come on. [_The other shakes her head.... JOHN comes back, shutting the door after him._ JOHN: ... I’d rather you didn’t say anything about it till she’s gone, please. [_No answer. TOBY comes in dressed again._ TOBY: Show me down to the front door, please. (_She crosses at once to the other door; JOHN following._) JOHN (_low to her_): I can’t come with you at once. TOBY: I don’t want you to ... I don’t want you to come any more--ever. JOHN: Toby!