(_The silence can almost be felt_. _She moves to the table_, _takes up
the paper_. _It contains but a few lines of writing_. _Having read
it_, _she holds out her hand for the pen_. PEEKIN _puts it in her
hand_. _With a firm hand she signs_, _folds the paper_, _and returns
it to him_. _She remains standing by the table_. _With the removal of
the tension there comes a rustle_, _a breaking of the silence_.)
MISS RICKETTS. (_She seizes_ ANNYS’S _hand_, _hanging listlessly by her
side_, _and_, _stooping_, _kisses it_.)
MISS BORLASSE. That is all, isn’t it?
PEEKIN. We thank you, Mrs. Chilvers. Good afternoon.
ANNYS. (_The natural reaction is asserting itself_. _She pulls herself
together sufficiently to murmur her answer_.) Good afternoon.
MRS. PEEKIN. (_The_ DEPUTATION _is moving away_; _she takes from her
waist a small bunch of flowers_, _and_, _turning_, _places them in_
ANNYS’S _hand_.)
ANNYS. (_She smiles_, _remains standing silent_, _the flowers in her
hand_.)
(“_Good afternoons_” _are exchanged with some of the others_.
_Finally_:)
PEEKIN. Good afternoon, Mr. Chilvers.
GEOFFREY. (_Who has moved away_.) Good afternoon.
(_The_ DEPUTATION _joins_ SIGSBY _by the door_. _He leads them out_.)
ELIZABETH. (_To_ PHOEBE.) Are you going my way?
PHOEBE. (_She glances round at_ ANNYS.) Yes, I’ll come with you.
ST. HERBERT. I will put you into a bus, if you will let me. We don’t
sport many cabs in East Poplar. (_He is helping_ ELIZABETH _with her
cloak_.)
ELIZABETH. Thank you.
LAMB. I’ve got to go up West. (_To_ GEOFFREY.) Will you be at the
House this evening?
GEOFFREY. (_He is standing by the desk pretending to look at some
papers_.) I shall look in about ten o’clock.
LAMB. One or two things I want to say to you. Goodbye for the present.
GEOFFREY. Goodbye!