Belle. But, Dolly——­

Dolly (stamping her foot). Tell him!

Belle (feebly). All right, I’ll come.

Dolly. Now then—­come home. (Lifts her by the arm and starts to street.)

Belle. Good-bye, Jack.

Jack. You’re going off like that?  You won’t even let me help you home?

Belle. Thank you, Jack.  I’ll get along. (Jack starts towards her, but she continues to the door.  When almost there she staggers.)

Dolly (trying to hold her). Belle!  What’s the matter?

Jack (leaps to help her). There!  You see!  You’ll have to let me help her!  She can’t walk, I tell you!  See now, I’m strong, I can almost carry her.  This way, Belle—­now we’ll go all right.  And you’ll have a good rest and get well and then come back——­(Exit with Belle and Dolly.)

Schmidt. Und they go out und don’t tell me who is coming back in der morning!  Und dey leave me to shut up mine restaurant by mineself! (Shakes fist.) All right!  Ven you come back to-morrow I send you up to Schnitzelman on der next block!  I don’t have you come by my restaurant und eat double orders of beef stew und coffee!  No, sir!  I run mine little restaurant for mineself a while!  I got so many debts, und I don’t get no customers, I don’t make no money by mine liddle place!  When you come back here you don’t find no job—­you go up to Schnitzelman for your double orders! (Loud fire alarm heard.  Play-play fades.)

Will. What’s that?

Bill (at window Right). It’s a fire!

Will. What?

Bill. Look!  It’s right down the street! (Sounds of fire-bells and shouts heard in Real-play.) Fire!  Fire!

Peggy (sharply). Don’t lean out! (Runs to him.)

Bill (beside himself with excitement). Oh!  It’s right down the street!  It’s the restaurant!  That little restaurant down the street!  Fire!  Fire! (Turns to Peggy and Will.) Come, quick!  Where’s my cap? (Rushes and gets cap, starts to door.) The restaurant’s on fire!

Peggy. Wait, Bill!

Bill. But I want to see it!

Peggy. You can’t go alone.

Bill. Then come with me!  Come with me!  I’ve got to see it! (Dancing with excitement.) Come on!  Come on!  Perhaps we can get some of those charlotte russes in the window!

Will (rising resignedly). We’ll have to stop work.

Bill. Oh, I hear the engine coming!  Hurry!  Hurry!  They’ll have it all out! (Rushes to window.) Oh, look!  Look!  There’s the engine! (Peggy holding him.) Look, Peggy!  See the firemen!  The engine’s stopping!  See all the smoke!  There’s flames—­don’t you see?  Out of the window of the little restaurant!  Oh, gee!  Look how the firemen run!  They’ve got axes!  Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  They’re smashing in the windows!  Look, they’re running out the hose!  See them—­they’re going into the restaurant!  One after another—­into the smoke!  Look at that, Peggy!  Hurrah!  Hurrah!  Charlotte russes to burn!