The Betrothal Part 25

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

Why aren't you laughing?

THE PHANTOM

Because I am too happy.

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

So am I, so am I!... Don't look: I'm going to cry a little, but it doesn't mean anything....

THE PHANTOM

(_Beginning to return his kisses and caresses_.) I'm going to cry too.

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Intoxicated with rapture_.) You're kissing me!... Mummy!... Then it's true, then it's true, it is you!... Again, again!... No, not any more: I can't bear it!... Will they understand, will they be able to understand?

THE PHANTOM

Call them, it is time.

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

Don't cover your face: they wouldn't see it and they wouldn't believe me.... (_Drawing aside the veils_.) Oh, mummy, how lovely you are!...

(_Her hair spreads all over her shoulders_.) Oh, mummy, your hair!...

What lots of it!... There, that's much better, I can kiss you better so.... (_Listening_.) Listen, they're coming back! They're here!

(THE FIVE LITTLE ONES _come rus.h.i.+ng headlong into the hall_.)

THE FIVE LITTLE ONES

Where is she?... Where is she?... Where is she?...

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Standing up on the bench, beside his_ MOTHER, _showing her to the others and dancing with delight_.) Here! Here!... She's here, she's here!... I found her!...

(THE MOTHER _tries to rise and take them in her arms, but they do not give her time. They fling themselves upon her, load her with kisses and caresses, make her sit down again and clamber on her knees, swarming and scrambling over her and all speaking together_.)

THE FIVE LITTLE ONES

It's she!... It's she!... It's mummy!... Where was she?... Did you know her?... I should think so! I should think so!... You too? Yes, I too, I too!... You're taking up all the room!... You're kissing her all the time!... It's not fair, it's my turn!... She's my mummy too!... We looked for you so hard!... We waited for you so long!... She is lovely, isn't she?... She's the loveliest of them all!... There's no one like her!... Tell us, tell us!... What?... I love you! Do you love me?...

Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!... What sweet things mummies are!... How delicious it is to kiss!... To think one didn't know!... All for us, all for us!... The only happiness!... You're everything in the world to us, we're everything in the world to you!... I dote on you!... I say, do you know me? I shall be the second.... And I the third.... And I the last!... Kiss me first, I shall have the longest to wait!... She's laughing!... She's happy too!... Answer us, speak to us!... Your arm, I want to feel your arm round my neck!... Mine too, mine too!... Don't go away, whatever you do!... We don't know where we are, we're mad with delight!... We can't wait any longer!...

(_While they are thus kissing and talking, the other_, BIGGER CHILDREN, _those of the future generations, gradually return and fill the halls again. The first arrivals stop behind the group formed by_ THE MOTHER _and_ THE SIX LITTLE ONES; _and whispers are heard and rise from the growing crowd_: "They've found her!...

They've found her!.... It's she!... How happy they are!... How beautiful she is!... How kind she looks!... Can we kiss her?...

Wait, wait, it's their turn now!... Ours will come!..." TYLTYL, _followed by_ LIGHT, THE SIX GIRLS _and_ DESTINY, _now enters the hall_. THE CHILDREN _fall back to let him pa.s.s_. THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL _sees him first, goes to him and, taking him by the hand, leads him to_ THE MOTHER.)

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Gravely_.) It is she.... I found her....

(THE MOTHER _rises and stands in front of_ TYLTYL.)

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

Do you recognize her?

(TYLTYL _hesitates, pa.s.ses his hand over his forehead, vainly searches his memory_.)

TYLTYL

Not yet.... She's beautiful!

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

Kiss her; it's she.

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

There is no other.

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

We want no other.

TYLTYL

(_Taking_ THE MOTHER'S _hand_.) Where do you come from?... Who are you?... Where have I seen you before?... I can't remember....

(THE MOTHER _does not reply. Her colour comes and goes, her eyes open and shut, her life fluctuates with the ebb and flow of the memory which she strives to awaken_.)

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

Take care! You're hurting her!

(THE OTHER LITTLE ONES _form a line in front of her as though to defend her_.)

A LITTLE ONE

Go away!

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

Go away! You sha'n't have her until you know her!