The Blue Bird Part 20

TYLTYL (_pointing to_ LIGHT, _who, discreetly, has drawn a little to one side_) She brought me....

MATERNAL LOVE Who is she?...

TYLTYL Light....

MATERNAL LOVE I have never seen her.... I was told that she was very fond of you both and very kind.... But why does she hide herself?... Does she never show her face?...

TYLTYL Oh, yes, but she is afraid that the Joys might be frightened if they saw too clearly....

MATERNAL LOVE But doesn't she know that we are waiting only for her! (_Calling the other_ GREAT JOYS) Come, come, sisters! Come quickly, all of you! Light has come to visit us at last!...

(_A stir among the_ GREAT JOYS, _who draw nearer, with cries of "Light is here!... Light! Light!_...")

THE JOY OF UNDERSTANDING (_thrusting all the others aside, to come and embrace_ LIGHT) You are Light and we did not know it!... And we have been waiting for you for years and years and years!... Do you recognise me?... I am the Joy of Understanding, who have been seeking you for so long!... We are very happy, but we cannot see beyond ourselves....

THE JOY OF BEING JUST (_embracing_ LIGHT _in her turn_) Do you recognise me?... I am the Joy of Being Just, who have besought you so long.... We are very happy, but we cannot see beyond our shadows.

THE JOY OF SEEING WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL (_also embracing_ LIGHT) Do you recognise me?... I am the Joy of Seeing what is Beautiful, who have loved you so dearly.... We are very happy, but we cannot see beyond our dreams....

THE JOY OF UNDERSTANDING Come, sister, come, do not keep us waiting any longer.... We are strong enough, we are pure enough.... Put aside those veils which still conceal from us the last truths and the last happinesses.... See, all my sisters are kneeling at your feet.... You are our queen and our reward.

LIGHT (_drawing her veils closer_) Sisters, my beautiful sisters, I am obeying my Master.... The hour is not yet come; it will strike, perhaps, and I shall return without fear and without shadow.... Farewell, rise and let us kiss once more, like sisters lost and found, while waiting for the day that will soon appear....

MATERNAL LOVE (_embracing_ LIGHT) You have been very good to my poor little ones....

LIGHT I shall always be good to those who love one another....

THE JOY OF UNDERSTANDING (_going up to_ LIGHT) Let the last kiss be laid upon my forehead....

(_They exchange a long kiss; and, when they separate and raise their heads, tears are seen to stand in their eyes_.)

TYLTYL (_surprised_) Why are you crying?... (_Looking at the other_ JOYS) I say! You're crying too!... But why have all of you tears in your eyes?...

LIGHT Hush, dear....

CURTAIN

ACT V

SCENE I.--_Before the Curtain_.

_Enter_ TYLTYL, MYTYL, LIGHT, _the_ DOG, _the_ CAT, BREAD, FIRE, SUGAR, WATER _and_ MILK.

LIGHT I have received a note from the Fairy Berylune telling me that the Blue Bird is probably here.

TYLTYL Where?...

LIGHT Here, in the graveyard behind that wall.... It appears that one of the dead in the graveyard is hiding it in his tomb.... We must find out which one it is.... We shall have to pa.s.s them under review....

TYLTYL Under review?... How is that done?...

LIGHT It is very simple: at midnight, so as not to disturb them too greatly, you will turn the diamond. We shall see them come out of the ground; or else we shall see those who do not come out lying in their tombs....

TYLTYL Will they not be angry?...

LIGHT Not at all; they will not even know.... They do not like being disturbed, but, as it is their custom, in any case, to come out at midnight, that will not inconvenience them....

TYLTYL Why are Bread, Sugar and Milk so pale and why do they say nothing?...

MILK (_staggering_) I feel I am going to turn....

LIGHT (_aside to TYLTYL_) Do not mind them.... They are afraid of the dead....

FIRE (_frisking about_) I'm not afraid of them!... I am used to burning them.... Time was when I burnt them all; that was much more amusing than nowadays ...

TYLTYL And why Is Tylo trembling?... Is he afraid, too?...

THE DOG I?... I'm not trembling!... I am never afraid; but if you went away, I should go too....

TYLTYL And has the Cat nothing to say?...

THE CAT (_mysteriously_) I know what's what....

TYLTYL (_to LIGHT_) Are you coming with us?...

LIGHT No; it is better that I should remain at the gate of the graveyard with the Things and the Animals.... Some of them would be too frightened and I fear that the others would misbehave.... Fire, in particular, would want to burn the dead, as of old; and that is no longer done.... I shall leave you alone with Mytyl....

TYLTYL And may not Tylo stay with us?...

THE DOG Yes, yes, I shall stay; I shall stay here I... I want to stay with my little G.o.d!...

LIGHT It is impossible.... The Fairy gave formal orders; besides, there is nothing to fear....

THE DOG Very well, very well, it makes no difference. If they are vicious, my little G.o.d, all you have to do Is this ... (_he whistles_) and you shall see.... It will be just as in the forest: Wow! Wow! Wow!...

LIGHT Come, good-bye, dear children ... I shall not be far away.... (_She kisses the_ CHILDREN.) Those who love me and whom I love always find me again.... (_To the_ THINGS _and the_ ANIMALS) This way, all of you....

(_She goes out with the_ THINGS _and the_ ANIMALS. _The_ CHILDREN _remain alone in the middle of the stage. The curtain, opens and discloses the next scene_.)