shelter into the market and under the portico of St. Paul's Church, where there are already several people, among them a lady and her daughter in evening dress. They are all peering out gloomily at the rain, except one man with his back turned to the rest, who seems wholly preoccupied with a notebook in which he is writing busily.

The church clock strikes the first quarter.

THE DAUGHTER

[in the space between the central pillars, close to the one on her left] I'm getting chilled to the bone. What can Freddy be doing all this time? Hes been gone twenty minutes.

THE MOTHER

[On her daughter's right] Not so long. But he ought to have got us a cab by this.

A BYSTANDER

[on the lady's right] He wont get no cab not until half-past eleven, missus, when they come back after dropping their theatre fares.

THE MOTHER

But we must have a cab. We cant stand here until half-past eleven. It's too bad.

THE BYSTANDER

Well, it aint my fault, missus.

THE DAUGHTER