JOAN has come in.

JOAN. Look here, Dot; about the baby in this scene. I'm sure I
ought to make more of it.

DOT. Romantic little beast! [She plucks the footstool out by one
ear, and holds it forth] Let's see you try!

JOAN. [Recoiling] But, Dot, what are we really going to have for
the baby? I can't rehearse with that thing. Can't you suggest
something, Freda?

FREDA. Borrow a real one, Miss Joan. There are some that don't
count much.

JOAN. Freda, how horrible!

DOT. [Dropping the footstool back into the basket] You'll just put
up with what you're given.

Then as CHRISTINE and MABEL LANFARNE Come in, FREDA turns
abruptly and goes out.

DOT. Buck up! Where are Bill and Harold? [To JOAN] Go and find
them, mouse-cat.

But BILL and HAROLD, followed by LATTER, are already in the
doorway. They come in, and LATTER, stumbling over the
waste-paper basket, takes it up to improve its position.