The Betrothal Part 24

ANOTHER

No, no one has seen him since this morning.... It's strange, for he is always with his little sisters.

TYLTYL

(_Looking at the throng of_ CHILDREN _filling the halls_.) How many there are!

ONE OF THE BIG CHILDREN

It's only one part of the family.

A CHILD

(_Which has been following the progress of_ THE FIVE CHILDREN _with his eyes_.) They are stopping at the third door.

TYLTYL

Who?

THE CHILD

The five little ones.

ANOTHER CHILD

They seem to be looking for something.

THE FIRST CHILD

Let us go and see what they're doing. They know what they know.

OTHER CHILDREN

Yes, yes, let us all go.... They know, they know!

(_A great stir in the crowd of_ CHILDREN. _They all run in the same direction and go out on the left. In a moment the hall is emptied of all except_ TYLTYL, LIGHT, THE SIX GIRLS _and_ DESTINY.)

TYLTYL

Let us go after them too!

(_He goes out, followed by LIGHT and_ THE SIX GIRLS, _with_ DESTINY _bringing up the rear. The only occupant of the stage is_ THE WHITE PHANTOM, _whom everybody has overlooked and who has never left the column on the right against which she has been leaning. The stage remains empty for a moment and then, from the back of the halls, comes a_ CHILD _even smaller than the youngest of the_ FIVE LITTLE ONES. _He walks with resolute step; on reaching the columns in the foreground, he appears to take his bearings, turns his head to right and left and then, suddenly, goes straight to_ THE WHITE PHANTOM, _in front of whom he stops and takes up his stand, contemplating her at length, gravely and silently, with his finger in his mouth. At last he puts out one hand and takes_ THE PHANTOM _by the hem of her dress_.)

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

Is it ... really you?

THE PHANTOM

(_Speaking for the first time and struggling to find her voice, which seems to come from far away and to stick in her throat_.) Yes.

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

I knew it. Come....

THE PHANTOM

Where to?

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

Over here.... I'm going to tell the others....

THE PHANTOM

Not yet.... I can't yet....

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Still dragging her by her dress towards a marble bench which stands between the columns in the foreground_.) Come.... (_He makes her sit down, settles her on the bench, caresses her and kisses her_.) Come ...

it's you.... I knew it.... I'm kissing you.... Don't you know how to kiss yet? (THE PHANTOM _shakes her head_.) No?... Like this.... I'll teach you.... (_He kisses and caresses her slowly and deliberately_.) You're no longer cold?

THE PHANTOM

(_Smiling at last_.) No.

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Still kissing her_.) You see, that's better already.

(_Under_ THE CHILD'S _kisses and caresses_, THE STATUE _has gradually taken life: the eyes open, the lips flutter, the face begins to colour, the body loses its terrible stiffness, the arms become supple and circle round the_ THE CHILD'S _neck_.)

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Nestling against her_.) You're better, aren't you?... Not sleepy any more?... How good it is, being together!... They're still looking for you, you know.... And it's I who found you!... I knew, I knew....

THE PHANTOM

So did I, so did I.... I was waiting....

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

It's splendid, isn't it?... (_Nestling more closely_.) Oh, such fun!...

Do you like it too?

THE PHANTOM

Yes.... Yes, I am happy.