Part 2
(_Meanwhile, the saucepans on the shelves spin round like tops; the linen-press throws open its folding-doors and unrolls a magnificent display of moon-coloured and sun-coloured stuffs, with which mingles a no less splendid array of rags and tatters that come down the ladder from the loft. But, suddenly, three loud knocks are heard on the door at the right_.)
TYLTYL (_alarmed_) That's daddy!... He's heard us!...
THE FAIRY Turn the diamond!... From left to right!...
(TYLTYL _turns the diamond quickly_.) Not so quick!... Heavens! It's too late!... You turned it too briskly; they will not have time to resume their places and we shall have a lot of annoyance....
(_The FAIRY becomes an old woman again, the walls of the cottage lose their splendour. The Hours go back into the clock, the spinning-wheel stops, etc. But, in the general hurry and confusion, while_ FIRE _runs madly round the room, looking for the chimney, one of the loaves of bread, who has been unable to squeeze into the pan, bursts into sobs and utters roars of fright_.)
THE FAIRY What's the matter?...
BREAD (_in tears_) There's no room in the pan!...
THE FAIRY (_stooping over the pan_) Yes, there is; yes, there is.... (_Pushing the other loaves, which have resumed their original places_.) Come, quick, make room there....
(_The knocking at the door is renewed_.)
BREAD (_utterly scared, vainly struggling to enter the pan_) I can't get in!... He'll eat me first!...
THE DOG (_frisking round_ TYLTYL) My little god!... I am still here!... I can still talk!... I can still kiss you!... Once more! Once more! Once more!...
THE FAIRY What, you too?... Are you there still?...
THE DOG What luck!... I was too late to return to silence; the trap closed too quickly....
THE CAT So did mine.... What is going to happen?... Is there any danger?...
THE FAIRY Well, I'm bound to tell you the truth: all those who accompany the two children will die at the end of the journey....
THE CAT (_to the_ DOG) Come, let us get back into the trap....
THE DOG No, no!... I won't!... I want to go with the little god!... I want to talk to him all the time!...
THE CAT Idiot!...
(_More knocking at the door_)
BREAD (_shedding bitter tears_) I don't want to die at the end of the journey!... I want to get back at once into my pan!...
FIRE (_who has done nothing but run madly round the room, hissing with anguish_) I can't find my chimney!...
WATER (_vainly trying to get into the tap_) I can't get into the tap!...
SUGAR (_hovering round his paper wrapper_) I've burst my packing-paper!...
MILK (_lymphatically and bashfully_) Somebody's broken my little jug!...
THE FAIRY Goodness me, what fools they are!... Fools and cowards too!... So you would rather go on living in your ugly boxes, in your traps and taps, than accompany the children in search of the bird?...
ALL (_excepting the_ DOG _and_ LIGHT) Yes, yes! Now, at once!... My tap!... My pan!... My chimney!... My trap!...
THE FAIRY (_to_ LIGHT, _who is dreamily gazing at the wreckage of her lamp_) And you, Light, what do you say?
LIGHT I will go with the children....
THE DOG (_yelling with delight_) I too!... I too!...
THE FAIRY That's right.... Besides, it's too late to go back; you have no choice now, you must all start with us.... But you, Fire, don't come near anybody; you, Dog, don't tease the Cat; and you, Water, hold yourself up and try not to run all over the place....
(_A violent knocking is again heard at the door on the right_.)
TYLTYL (_listening_) There's daddy again!... He's getting up this time; I can hear him walking....
THE FAIRY Let us go out by the window.... You shall all come to my house, where I will dress the Animals and the Things properly.... (_To_ BREAD) You, Bread, take the cage in which to put the Blue Bird.... It will be in your charge.... Quick, quick, let us waste no time....
(_The window suddenly lengthens downwards, like a door. They all go out; after which the window resumes its primitive shape and closes quite innocently. The room has become dark again and the two cots are steeped in shadow. The door on the right opens ajar and in the aperture appear the heads of_ DADDY _and_ MUMMY TYL.)
DADDY TYL It was nothing.... It's the cricket chirping....
MUMMY TYL Can you see them?...
DADDY TYL I can.... They are sleeping quite quietly....
MUMMY TYL I can hear their breathing....
(_The door closes again_)
CURTAIN
## ACT II.
## SCENE I.--_At the_ FAIRY'S.
_A magnificent entrance-hall in the palace of the_ FAIRY BÉRYLUNE. _Columns of gleaming marble with gold and silver capitals, staircases, porticoes, balustrades, etc_.
_Enter from the back, on the right, sumptuously clad, the_ CAT, SUGAR _and_ FIRE. _They come from a room which emits rays of light; it is the_ FAIRY'S _wardrobe. The_ CAT _has donned the classic costume of Puss-in-boots_; SUGAR, _a silk dress, half white and half pale-blue; and_ FIRE _wears a number of many-coloured aigrettes and a long vermilion mantle lined with gold. They cross the whole length of the hall to the front of the stage, where the_ CAT _draws them up under a portico on the right_.
THE CAT This way, I know every inch of this palace. It was left to the Fairy Bérylune by Bluebeard.... Let us make the most of our last minute of liberty, while the children and Light pay their visit to the Fairy's little daughter.... I have brought you here in order to discuss the position in which we are placed.... Are we all here?...
SUGAR I see the Dog coming out of the Fairy's wardrobe....
FIRE What on earth has he got on?...
THE CAT He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella's coach.... It was just the thing for him.... He has the soul of a flunkey.... But let us hide behind the balustrade.... It's strange how I mistrust him.... He had better not hear what I have to say to you....
SUGAR It is too late.... He has discovered us.... Look, here is Water also coming out of the wardrobe.... Goodness me, how fine she is!...
(_The_ DOG _and_ WATER _join the first group_.)
THE DOG (_frisking about_) There! There!... Aren't we fine I.... Just look at these laces and this embroidery!... It's real gold and no mistake!...
THE CAT (_to_ WATER) Is that Catskin's "colour-of-time" dress?... I seem to recognise it....
WATER Yes, it's the one that suited me best....
FIRE (_between his teeth_) She's not brought her umbrella....
WATER What's that?...
FIRE Nothing, nothing....
WATER I thought you might be speaking of a great red I saw the other day....
THE CAT Come, don't let as quarrel; we have more important things to do.... We are only waiting for Bread; where is he?
THE DOG He was making an endless fuss about choosing his dress....
FIRE Worth while, isn't it, for a fellow who looks a fool and carries an enormous stomach?...
THE DOG At last, he decided in favour of a Turkish robe, adorned with gems, a scimitar and a turban....
THE CAT There he is!... He has put on Bluebeard's finest dress...
_Enter_ BREAD, _in the costume described above. The silk robe is crossed tightly over his huge stomach. In one hand he holds the hilt of a scimitar passed through his sash and in the other the cage intended for the Blue Bird_.
BREAD (_waddling conceitedly_) Well?... What do you think of this?
THE DOG (_frisking round the_ LOAF) How nice he looks! What a fool he looks! How nice he looks! How nice he looks!...
THE CAT (_to the_ LOAF) Are the children dressed?...
BREAD Yes, Master Tyltyl has put on Hop-o'-my-Thumb's blue jacket and red breeches; and Miss Mytyl has Gretel's frock and Cinderella's slippers.... But the great thing was the dressing of Light!...
THE CAT Why?...
BREAD The Fairy thought her so lovely that she did not want to dress her at all!... Thereupon I protested in the name of our dignity as essential and eminently respectable elements; and I ended by declaring that, under those conditions, I should refuse to be seen with her....
FIRE They ought to have bought her a lampshade!...
THE CAT And what answer did the Fairy make?...
THE LOAF She hit me with her stick on my head and stomach....
THE CAT And then?...
BREAD I allowed myself to be convinced; but, at the last moment, Light decided on the moonbeam dress at the bottom of the chest with Catskin's treasures....
THE CAT Come, stop chattering, time presses.... Our future is at stake.... You have heard--the Fairy has just said so--that the end of this journey will, at the same time, mark the end of our lives.... It is our business, therefore, to prolong it as much as possible and by every possible means.... But there is another thing: we must think of the fate of our race and the destiny of our children....
BREAD Hear, hear!... The Cat is right!...
THE CAT Listen to me!... All of us here present, Animals, Things and Elements, possess a soul which man does not yet know. That is why we retain a remnant of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know all, he will see all and we shall be completely at his mercy.... This is what I have just learned from my old friend, Night, who is also the guardian of the mysteries of Life.... It is to our interest, therefore, at all costs to prevent the finding of that bird, even if we have to go so far as to endanger the lives of the children themselves....
THE DOG (_indignantly_) What's the fellow saying?... Just say that again, will you, to see if I heard right?...
BREAD Order! Order!... It's not your turn to speak!... I'm in the chair at this meeting....
FIRE Who made you chairman?...
WATER (_to_ FIRE) Hold your tongue!... What are you interfering with?...
FIRE I shall interfere where I choose.... And I want none of your remarks....
SUGAR (_concilatorily_) Excuse me.... Do not let us quarrel.... This is a serious moment.... We must, above all things, decide what measures to adopt....
BREAD I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat....
THE DOG This is ridiculous!... There is Man and that's all!... We have to obey him and do as he tells us!... That is the one and only fact!... I recognise no one but him!... Hurrah for Man!... Man for ever!... In life or death, all for Man!... Man is God!...
BREAD I quite agree with the Dog.
THE CAT (_to the_ DOG) But at least give your reasons....
THE DOG There are no reasons!... I love Man and that's enough!... If you do anything against him, I will throttle you first and I will go and tell him everything....
SUGAR (_intervening sweetly_) Excuse me.... Let us not embitter the discussion.... From a certain point of view, you are both of you right.... There is something to be said on both sides....
BREAD I quite agree with SUGAR!...
THE CAT Are we not, all of us, Water, Fire you yourselves, Bread and the Dog, the victims of a nameless tyranny?... Do you remember the time when, before the coming of the despot, we wandered at liberty upon the face of the earth?... Fire and Water were the sole masters of the world; and see what they have come to!... As for us puny descendants of the great wild animals.... Look out!... Pretend to be doing nothing!... I see the Fairy and Light coming.... Light has taken sides with Man; she is our worst enemy.... Here they are....
_Enter, on the right, the_ FAIRY, _in the shape of an old woman, and_ LIGHT, _followed by_ TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL.
THE FAIRY Well?... What is it?... What are you doing in that corner?... You look like conspirators.... It is time to start.... I have decided that Light shall be your leader.... You will obey her as you would me and I am giving her my wand.... The children will pay a visit to their late grandparents this evening.... You will remain behind; that is more discreet.... They will spend the evening in the bosom of their dead family.... Meanwhile, you will be getting ready all that is wanted for to-morrow's journey, which will be a long one.... Come, up, be off and every one to his post!...
THE CAT (_hypocritically_) That is just what I was saying to them, madam.... I was encouraging them to do their duty bravely and conscientiously; unfortunately, the Dog, who kept on interrupting me....
THE DOG What's that?... Just wait a bit I...
(_He is about to leap upon the_ CAT, _but_ TYLTYL _foreseeing his intention, stops with a threatening gesture_.)
TYLTYL Down, Tylô!... Take care; and, if ever I catch you again...
THE DOG My little god, you don't know, it was he who...
TYLTYL (_threatening him_) Be quiet!...
THE FAIRY Come, that will do.... Let Bread hand the cage for this evening to Tyltyl.... It is just possible that the Blue Bird may be hidden In the Past, at the grandparents'.... In any case, it Is a chance which we must not neglect.... Well, Bread, the cage?
BREAD (_solemnly_) One moment, if you please, Mrs. Fairy.... (_Like an orator making a speech_) I call upon all of you to bear witness that this silver cage, which was entrusted to my care by....
THE FAIRY (_interrupting him_) Enough!... No speeches!... We will go out this way and the children that....
TYLTYL (_rather anxiously_) Are we to go all alone?...
MYTYL I feel hungry!...
TYLTYL I, too!...
THE FAIRY (_to_ BREAD) Open your Turkish robe and give them a slice of your good stomach....
(BREAD _opens his robe, draws his scimitar and cuts two slices out of his stomach and hands them to the_ CHILDREN.)
SUGAR (_approaching the_ CHILDREN) Allow me at the same time to offer you a few sugar-sticks.... (_He breaks off the five fingers of his left hand, one by one, and presents them to the_ CHILDREN.)
MYTYL What is he doing?... He is breaking all his fingers!...
SUGAR (_engagingly_) Taste them, they are capital... They're made of real barley-sugar....
MYTYL (_tasting one of the fingers_) Oh, how good they are!... Have you many of them?...
SUGAR (_modestly_) Yes; as many as I want....
MYTYL Does that hurt you much, when you break them off?...
SUGAR Not at all.... On the contrary, it's a great advantage; they grow again at once and so I always have new, clean fingers....
THE FAIRY Come, children, don't eat too much sugar.... Don't forget that you are to have supper presently with your grandpapa and grandmamma....
TYLTYL Are they here?...
THE FAIRY You shall see them at once....
TYLTYL How can we see them, when they are dead?...
THE FAIRY How can they be dead, when they live in your memory?... Men do not know this secret, because they know so little; whereas you, thanks to the diamond, are about to see that the dead who are remembered live as happily as though they were not dead....
TYLTYL Is Light coming with us?
THE FAIRY No, it is more proper that this visit should be confined to the family.... I will wait near here, so as not to appear indiscreet.... They did not invite me....
TYLTYL Which way are we to go?...
THE FAIRY Over there.... You are on the threshold of the Land of Memory.... As soon as you have turned the diamond, you will see a big tree with a board on it, which will show you that you are there.... But don't forget that you are to be back, both of you, by a quarter to nine.... It is extremely important.... Now mind and be punctual, for all would be lost if you were late.... Good-bye for the present!... (_Calling the_ CAT, _the_ DOG, LIGHT, _etc_.) This way.... And the little ones that way....
(_She goes out to the right, with_ LIGHT, _the_ ANIMALS, _etc., while the_ CHILDREN _go out to the left_.)
CURTAIN
## SCENE 2.--_The Land of Memory_.
_A thick fog, from which stands out, on the right, close to the footlights, the trunk of a large oak, with a board nailed to it. A vague, milky, impenetrable light prevails_. TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _are at the foot of the oak_.
TYLTYL Here Is the tree!...
MYTYL There's the board!...
TYLTYL I can't read it.... Wait, I will climb up on this root.... That's it.... It says, "Land of Memory."
MYTYL Is this where it begins?...
TYLTYL Yes, there's an arrow....
MYTYL Well, where are grandad and granny?...
TYLTYL Behind the fog.... We shall see....
MYTYL I can see nothing at all!... I can't see my feet or my hands.... (_Whimpering_) I'm cold!... I don't want to travel any more.... I want to go home....
TYLTYL Come, don't keep on crying, just like Water.... You ought to be ashamed of yourself.... A great big little girl like you.... Look, the fog is lifting already.... We shall see what's behind it....
(_The mist begins to move; It grows thinner and lighter, disperses, evaporates. Soon, in a more and more transparent light, appears, under a leafy vault, a cheerful little peasant's cottage, covered with creepers. The door and windows are open. There are bee-hives under a shed, flower-pots on the window-sills, a cage with a sleeping blackbird. Beside the door is a bench, on which an old peasant and his wife_, TYLTYL'S _grandfather and grandmother, are seated, both sound asleep_.)
TYLTYL (_suddenly recognising them_) It's grandad and granny!...
MYTYL (_clapping her hands_) Yes! Yes!... So it is! So it is!...
TYLTYL (_still a little distrustful_) Take care!... We don't know yet if they can stir.... Let's keep behind the tree....
(GRANNY TYL _opens her eyes, raises her head, stretches herself, gives a sigh and looks at_ GAFFER TYL, _who also wakes slowly from his sleep_.)
GRANNY TYL I have a notion that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming to see us today....
GAFFER TYL They are certainly thinking of as, for I feel anyhow and I have pins and needles in my legs....
GRANNY TYL I think they must be quite near, for I see tears of joy dancing before my eyes....
GAFFER TYL No, no, they are a long way off.... I still feel weak....
GRANNY TYL I tell you they are here; I am quite strong....
TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL (_rushing up from behind the oak_) Here we are!... Here we are!... Gaffer! Granny!... It's we!... It's we!...
GAFFER TYL There!... You see?... What did I tell you?... I was sure they would come to-day....
GRANNY TYL Tyltyl!... Mytyl!... It's you!... It's she!... (_Trying to run to meet them_) I can't run!... I've still got the rheumatics!...
GAFFER TYL (_hobbling along as fast as he can_) No more can I.... That's because of my wooden leg, which I still wear instead of the one I broke when I fell off the big oak....
(_The_ GRANDPARENTS _and the_ CHILDREN _exchange frantic embraces_.)
GRANNY TYL How tall and strong you've grown, Tyltyl!
GAFFER TYL (_stroking_ MYTYL'S _hair_) And Mytyl!... Just look at her.... What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!...
GRANNY TYL Come and kiss me again!... Come on to my lap....
GAFFER TYL And what about me?...
GRANNY TYL No, no.... Come to me first.... How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?...
TYLTYL Quite well, granny.... They were asleep when we went out....
GRANNY TYL (_gazing at them and covering them with caresses_) Lord, how pretty they are and how nice and clean!... Was it mummy who washed you?... And there are no holes in your stockings!... I used to darn them once, you know.... Why don't you come to see us oftener?... It makes us so happy!... It is months and months now that you've forgotten us and that we have seen nobody....
TYLTYL We couldn't, granny; and to-day its only because of the Fairy....
GRANNY TYL We are always here, waiting for a visit from those who are alive.... They come so seldom!... The last time you were here, let me see, when was it?... It was on All-hallows, when the church-bells were ringing....
TYLTYL All-hallows?... We didn't go out that day, for we both had very bad colds....
GRANNY TYL No; but you thought of us....
TYLTYL Yes....
GRANNY TYL Well, every time you think of us, we wake up and see you again....
TYLTYL What, is it enough to...
GRANNY TYL But come, you know that....
TYLTYL No, I didn't know....
GRANNY TYL (_to_ GAFFER TYL) It's astonishing, up there.... They don't know yet.... Do they never learn anything?...
GAFFER TYL It's as in our own time.... The Living are so stupid when they speak of the Others....
TYLTYL Do you sleep all the time?...
GAFFER TYL Yes, we get plenty of sleep, while waiting for a thought of the Living to come and wake us.... Ah, it is good to sleep when life is done.... But it is pleasant also to wake up from time to time....
TYLTYL So you are not really dead?...
GAFFER TYL What do you say?... What is he saying?... Now he's using words we don't understand.... Is it a new word, a new invention?...
TYLTYL The word "dead"?...
GAFFER TYL Yes, that was the word.... What does it mean?...
TYLTYL Why, it means that one's no longer alive....
GAFFER TYL How silly they are, up there!...
TYLTYL Is it nice here?...
GAFFER TYL Oh, yes; not bad, not bad; and, if one could just have a smoke....
TYLTYL Aren't you allowed to smoke?...
GAFFER TYL Yes, it's allowed; but I've broken my pipe....
GRANNY TYL Yes, yes, all would be well, if only you would come and see us oftener.... Do you remember, Tyltyl?... The last time I baked you a lovely apple-tart.... You ate such a lot of it that you made yourself ill....
TYLTYL But I haven't eaten any apple-tart since last year.... There were no apples this year....
GRANNY TYL Don't talk nonsense.... Here, we have them always....
TYLTYL That's different....
GRANNY TYL What? That's different?... Why, nothing's different when we're able to kiss each other....
TYLTYL (_looking first at his_ GRANDMOTHER _and then at his_ GRANDFATHER) You haven't changed, grandad, not a bit, not a bit.... And granny hasn't changed a bit either.... But you're better-looking....
GAFFER TYL Well, we feel all right.... We have stopped growing older.... But you, how tall you're growing!... Yes, you're shooting up finely.... Look, over there, on the door, is the mark of the last time.... That was on All-hallows.... Now then, stand up straight.... (TYLTYL _stands up against the door_.) Four fingers taller!... That's immense!... (MYTYL _also stands up against the door_.) And Mytyl, four and a half!... Aha, ill weeds grow apace!... How they've grown, oh, how they've grown!...
TYLTYL (_looking around him with delight_) Nothing is changed, everything is in its old place!... Only everything is prettier!... There is the clock with the big hand which I broke the point off....
GAFFER TYL And here is the soup-tureen you chipped a corner off....
TYLTYL And here is the hole which I made in the door, the day I found the gimlet....
GAFFER TYL Yes, you've done some damage in your time!... And here is the plum-tree in which you were so fond of climbing, when I wasn't looking.... It still has its fine red plums....
TYLTYL But they are finer than ever!...
MYTYL And here is the old blackbird!... Does he still sing?...
(_The blackbird wakes and begins to sing at the top of his voice_.)
GRANNY TYL You see.... As soon as one thinks of him....