The Betrothal Part 26

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

You sha'n't have any other!

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

Go away! She shall stay with us till you know!

ANOTHER LITTLE ONE

Go away! We'll wait for you; we shall all be down there!

THE FIRST LITTLE ONE

Go away, go away!... You're hurting her dreadfully!

THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL

(_Embracing his_ MOTHER.) Come, mummy, come!... He doesn't know yet!...

(_They all gather and press closely round their_ MOTHER, _hurrying and dragging her along and waving good-bye to_ TYLTYL: "See you soon! See you soon again!... Down there, down there!... See you soon!" ...THE MOTHER _turns and gazes fixedly at_ TYLTYL; _then the outlines of the hall darken, lose their colour and distinctness, dissolve and disappear. Only_ TYLTYL, LIGHT, DESTINY _and_ THE SIX GIRLS _remain in front of the Curtain representing the Milky Way_.)

TYLTYL

Well, I'm in a nice mess!... What am I to do?... Is it my fault if I can't remember?...

LIGHT

Don't be afraid. They know what they are saying. You will find her again.... Let us go, quickly!... I am sure that she is waiting for you where you least expect her.

TYLTYL

(_Dreamily_.) She really is beautiful!... I believe they are right.... I believe it's really she....

(_They all go out_.)

CURTAIN

ACT V

SCENE X

_Before the Curtain representing the Edge of a Forest_

(_Enter_ TYLTYL _and_ LIGHT.)

LIGHT

Here we are at last.

TYLTYL

Where?

LIGHT

Why, near your home!... Don't you recognize your forest?

TYLTYL

My forest, my forest?... (_Looking around him_.) Why, so it is!... I've seen those beeches before, somewhere.

LIGHT

That's more than likely, as they're close to the house in which you were born.

TYLTYL

Well, it's about time I did get home. I am tired out.

LIGHT

It has been a fatiguing journey, but not without results.

TYLTYL

Results?... Where?... When we started I was in love with six girls; now we've returned, I love only one; and she's just the one who hasn't come back with me.... But where are those six others and what are they doing?

And Destiny too? He was looking very ill....

LIGHT

Here they are.

(_Enter_ THE SIX GIRLS. _The last_, JALLINE, _carries_ DESTINY, _who still wears his cloak and sombrero, but who has shrunk to the dimensions of quite a small child and appears very tired_.)

JALLINE

(_Pa.s.sing_ DESTINY _to_ MILETTE.) Will you take him for a moment? He's not very big, but dreadfully heavy.

MILETTE

(_Taking him from_ JALLINE'S _arms_.) Come to me, my little Tiny, come; there, don't cry....

DESTINY