ALICE. He only thinks he's serious because he reads books all day long. And she married him, and he's turned out to be most awfully dull. And I'm most awfully sorry for her. He treats her like a bit of furniture. Isn't it funny the way the soul will fall in love ... and with the most unaccountable people; and you know how you say "I can't think what she sees in the man...." But a god can see ... and an artist. And Harlequin's a bit of both. So when he comes along ... Uncle, the rest of it isn't a very nice story. Will they mind? UNCLE EDWARD. They? They'll like it all the better. ALICE. Well, you see the husband being so dull, she wants somebody to take her out and show her things and be attentive. And there's the Man of the World. And things are getting rather serious. For Cousin Clown and Uncle Pantaloon aren't any use. They're just stupid and friendly and nice, like all one's country cousins. But just in time comes Harlequin-Mercury. He has no wings left to his feet, because you wear off wings rather soon if you wander about the world. And his wand hasn't any snakes left. It's just painted white wood. And it's a good thing we've come to the jokes about the sausages, because, now Harlequin's only a strolling player, he's sometimes awfully hungry. UNCLE EDWARD. Very true. Are they ready? ALICE. I'll see. [So she turns and sticks her head through the curtains. Yes. UNCLE EDWARD. Music. [And the music begins again. Some are all for a bell, and again others are for a gong, but ... [He wields his trusty mallet for three hard whacks on the floor. And then the two of them draw back the curtains on the second scene. * * * * * A line of dark cypress trees; a blue sky and an Italian landscape. A path to a house. A young man lying on the ground reading. His name is Gelsomino. The music tells him that he hears Columbine. He stirs, looks round, frowns, and goes back to his book. Columbine flies out of the house. ALICE. [Radiant and proud.] This is Columbine. [And what should Columbine be like? Well, she is just like what you'd most like her to be. She has a rose in her hand. She stops as she sees her husband, then shyly puts out her arms to him, but he cannot see that, for his back is turned. She creeps up to him and drops the rose on his book. He brushes the rose away and waves her away too. He's not really angry, but you see he's married to her, and he can't bear being interrupted. [Columbine stands looking--deliberately looking her prettiest; wistful, appealing. I think that's been her mistake. If she'd ... UNCLE EDWARD. Sh! ALICE. Sorry! [Mechanically he has put the rose in the book for a marker, and is moving away. But now we see--or if we don't see, we hear in the music--the Man of the World on his way. The Man of the World. I told you!