e pauses a moment, and then with a sudden passionate movement flings
herself into his arms_.) Take me away, Arthur. I can't bear this life any
longer. Larkspur bit me again this morning for the _third_ time. I want
to get away from it all. [_Swoons_.]

The subsequent scene may be so pathetic that on the hundredth night it is
still bringing tears to the eyes of the fireman, but you must not expect
to be treated as a serious dramatist. You will see this for yourself if
you consider the passage as it should properly have been written:--

_Enter_ Lord Arthur Fluffinose. Lady Larkspur _looks at him with
amazement_.

_Lady Larkspur_. Arthur, what are _you_ doing here?

_Lord Arthur_. I caught the 2.3 from town. It gets in at 3.37, and I
walked over from the station. It's only a mile. _(At this point he looks
at the grandfather clock in the corner, and the audience, following his
eyes, sees that it is seven minutes to four, which appears delightfully
natural.)_ I came to tell Larkspur to sell Bungoes. They are going
down.

_Lady Larkspur (folding her hands over her chest and gazing broodingly at
the footlights)_. Larkspur!

_Lord Arthur (anxiously)_. What is it? _(Suddenly.)_ Has he been
ill-treating you again?

_Lady Larkspur (flinging herself into his arms)_. Oh, Arthur, Arthur,
take me away!

And so on.

But it may well be that Lord Larkspur has an intrigue of his own with his
secretary, Miss Devereux, and, if their big scene is to take place on the
stage too, the hall has got to be cleared for them in some way. Your
natural instinct will be to say, "_Exeunt_ Fluffinose _and_ Lady
Larkspur, _R. Enter_ Lord Larkspur _and_ Miss Devereux, _L_." This is
very immature, even if you are quite clear as to which side of the stage
is L. and which is R. You _must_ make the evolutions seem natural.
Thus:--

_Enter from the left_ Miss Devereux. _She stops in surprise at seeing_
Lord Arthur _and holds out her hand_.

_Miss D_. Why, Lord Arthur! Whatever--

_Lord A_. How d'you do? I've just run down to tell Lord Larkspur to--

_Miss D_. He's in the library. At least he--

_Lord A. (taking out his watch_.) Ah, then perhaps I'd better--

[_Exit by door on left._]

_Miss D._ (_to_ Lady L.). Have you seen "The Times" about here? There is
a set of verses in the Financial Supplement which Lord Larkspur wanted
to--(_She wanders vaguely round the room. Enter_ Lord Larkspur _by door
at back._) Why, here you are! I've just sent