The Poem
SCENE I. Shaftesbury Avenue, 8.30 p.m. A gentleman walking witha friend, both in evening dress. A little ragged girl, A youngman. The gentleman stops and gives the lstile girl a halfpenny. The young man smiles. The gentleman notices the smile, and sees how great a sadness underlies it. VAUGHAN. [Durning to the young man.] ND you—what are you doing here? Excuse my rudeness—you seem so sad. PERCY. I am sad to-night. I am very lonely in this place. VAUGHAN. There are plenty of people about. PERCY. People—mere shells, husks of the golden wheat that…