persons inside reluctantly tearing themselves away from their
telephones. As the door opens, there is a frantic rush to get
places._

_An Attendant_ (_soothingly_). Don't crush, Ladies and
Gentlemen--plenty of room for all. Take your time!

[_The crowd stream in, and pounce eagerly on chairs and
telephones; the usual Fussy Family waste precious minutes
in trying to get seats together, and get separated in the
end. Undecided persons flit from one side to another.
Gradually they all settle down, and stop their ears with
the telephone-tubes, the prevailing expression being one of
anxiety, combined with conscious and apologetic imbecility.
Nervous people catch the eye of complete strangers across the
table, and are seized with suppressed giggles. An Irritable
Person finds himself between the Comic Man and a Chatty
Old Gentleman.

_The Comic Man_ (_to his Fiancée, putting the tube to his ear_). Can't
get _my_ telephone to tork yet! (_Shakes it._) _I'll_ wake 'em up!
(_Puts the other tube to his mouth._) Hallo--hallo! are you there?
Look alive with that Show o' yours, Guv'nor--we ain't got long to
stop! (_Pretends to listen, and reply._) If you give me any of your
cheek, I'll come down and punch your 'ead! (_Applies a tube to his
eye._) All right, POLLY, they've _begun_--I can see the 'ero's legs!

_Polly_. Be quiet, can't you? I can't hold the tubes steady if you
will keep making me laugh so. (_Listening._) Oh, ALF, I can hear
singing--can't you? Isn't it lovely!