‘Septimus holding Plautus’.
Gus comes forward, startling Hannah.
HANNAH Oh!—you made me jump. Gus looks resplendent. He is carrying an old and somewhat tattered stiff-backed folio fastened with a tape tied in a bow. He comes to Hannah and thrusts this present at her. Oh . . .
She lays the folio down on the table and starts to open it. It consists only of two boards hinged, containing Thomasina’s drawing.
‘Septimus holding Plautus’. (To Gus) I was looking for that. Thank you.
Gus nods several times. Then, rather awkwardly, he bows to her. A Regency bow, an invitation to dance.
Oh, dear, I don’t really . . .
After a moment’s hesitation, she gets up and they hold each other, keeping a decorous distance between them, and start to dance, rather awkwardly. Septimus and Thomasina continue to dance, fluently, to the piano.
END
