The Blue Bird: A Fairy Play in Six Acts
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Maurice Maeterlinck >> The Blue Bird: A Fairy Play in Six Acts
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THE BLUE BIRD
_A Fairy Play in Six Acts_
BY
MAURICE MAETERLINCK
_Translated by_
ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS
CHARACTERS
TYLTYL
MYTYL
LIGHT
THE FAIRY BERYLUNE
NEIGHBOUR BERLINGOT
DADDY TYL
MUMMY TYL
GAFFER TYL (Dead)
GRANNY TYL (Dead)
TYLTYL'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS (Dead)
TIME
NIGHT
NEIGHBOUR BERLINGOT'S LITTLE DAUGHTER
TYLO, THE DOG
TYLETTE, THE CAT
BREAD
SUGAR
FIRE
WATER
MILK
THE WOLF
THE PIG
THE OX
THE COW
THE BULL
THE SHEEP
THE COCK
THE RABBIT
THE HORSE
THE ASS
THE OAK
THE ELM
THE BEECH
THE LIME-TREE
THE FIR-TREE
THE CYPRESS
THE BIRCH
THE CHESTNUT-TREE
THE IVY
THE POPLAR
THE WILLOW
STARS, SICKNESSES, SHADES, LUXURIES, HAPPINESSES, JOYS, ETC.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
A new act appears for the first time in this edition and is inserted as
Act IV--_Palace of Happiness_. It has been specially written for the
Christmas revival of _The Blue Bird_ at the Haymarket Theatre, where
it will take the place of the Forest Scene (Act III., Scene 2). In the
printed version, however, the Forest Scene is retained; and in this and all
later editions the play will consist of six acts instead of five.
ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS.
CHELSEA, 14 _November_, 1910.
COSTUMES
TYLTYL wears the dress of Hop o' my Thumb in Perrault's Tales. Scarlet
knickerbockers, pale-blue jacket, white stockings, tan shoes.
MYTYL is dressed like Gretel or Little Red Riding-hood.
LIGHT.--The "moon-coloured" dress in Perrault's _Peau d'ane;_ that is
to say, pale gold shot with silver, shimmering gauzes, forming a sort of
rays, etc. Neo-Grecian or Anglo-Grecian (_a la_ Walter Crane) or even
more or less Empire style: a high waist, bare arms, etc. Head-dress: a sort
of diadem or even a light crown.
THE FAIRY BERYLUNE and NEIGHBOUR BERLINGOT.--The traditional dress of the
poor women in fairy-tales. If desired, the transformation of the Fairy into
a princess in Act I may be omitted.
DADDY TYL, MUMMY TYL, GAFFER TYL and GRANNY TYL.--The traditional costume
of the German wood-cutters and peasants in Grimm's Tales.
TYLTYL'S BROTHERS AND SISTERS.--Different forms of the Hop-o'-my-Thumb
costume.
TIME.--Traditional dress of Time: a wide black or dark-blue cloak, a
streaming white beard, scythe and hour-glass.
NIGHT.--Ample black garments, covered with mysterious stars and "shot" with
reddish-brown reflections. Veils, dark poppies, etc.
THE NEIGHBOUR'S LITTLE GIRL.--Bright fair hair; a long white frock.
THE DOG,--Red dress-coat, white breeches, top-boots, a shiny hat. The
costume suggests that of John Bull.
THE CAT.--The costume of Puss In Boots: powdered wig, three-cornered hat,
violet or sky-blue coat, dress-sword, etc.
N.B.--The heads of the DOG and the CAT should be only discreetly
animalised.
THE LUXURIES.--Before the transformation: wide, heavy mantles in red
and yellow brocade; enormous fat jewels, etc. After the transformation:
chocolate or coffee-coloured tights, giving the impression of unadorned
dancing-jacks.
THE HAPPINESSES OF THE HOME.--Dresses of various colours, or, if preferred,
costumes of peasants, shepherds, wood-cutters and so on, but idealised and
interpreted fairy-fashion.
THE GREAT JOYS.--As stated in the text, shimmering dresses in soft and
subtle shades: rose-awakening, water's-smile, amber-dew, blue-of-dawn, etc.
MATERNAL LOVE.--Dress very similar to the dress worn by Light, that is to
say, supple and almost transparent veils, as of a Greek statue, and, in so
far as possible, white. Pearls and other stones as rich and numerous as may
be desired, provided that they do not break the pure and candid harmony of
the whole.
BREAD.--A rich pasha's dress. An ample crimson silk or velvet gown. A huge
turban. A scimitar. An enormous stomach, red and puffed-out cheeks.
SUGAR.--A silk gown, cut like that of a eunuch in a seraglio, half blue
and half white, to suggest the paper wrapper of a sugar-loaf. Eunuch's
headdress.
FIRE.--Red tights, a vermilion cloak, with changing reflections, lined with
gold. An aigrette of iridescent flames.
WATER.--A pale-blue or bluish-green dress, with transparent reflections and
effects of rippling or trickling gauze, Neo-Grecian or Anglo-Grecian style.
but fuller and more voluminous than that of LIGHT. Head-dress of aquatic
flowers and seaweed.
THE ANIMALS.--Popular or peasant costumes.
THE TREES.--Dresses of different shades of green or the colour of the
trunks of trees. Distinctive attributes in the shape of leaves or branches
by which they can be recognised.
SCENES
ACT I.--The Wood-cutter's Cottage.
ACT II., Scene 1--At the Fairy's.
Scene 2--The Land of Memory.
ACT III., Scene 1--The Palace of Night.
Scene 2--The Forest.
ACT IV., Scene 1--Before the Curtain.
Scene 2--The Palace of Happiness.
ACT V., Scene 1--Before the Curtain.
Scene 2--The Graveyard.
Scene 3--The Kingdom of the Future.
ACT VI., Scene 1--The Leave-taking.
Scene 2--The Awakening.
The Blue Bird
ACT I
_The Wood-cutter's Cottage
The stage represents the interior of a wood-cutter's cottage, simple and
rustic in appearance, but in no way poverty-stricken. A recessed fireplace
containing the dying embers of a wood-fire. Kitchen utensils, a cupboard, a
bread-pan, a grandfather's clock, a spinning-wheel, a water-tap, etc. On a
table, a lighted lamp. At the foot of the cupboard, on either side, a_
DOG _and a_ CAT _lie sleeping, rolled up, each with his nose in his
tail. Between them stands a large blue-and-white sugar-loaf. On the wall
hangs a round cage containing a turtle-dove. At the back, two windows, with
closed inside shutters. Under one of the windows, a stool. On the left
is the front door, with a big latch to it. On the right, another door. A
ladder leads up to a loft. On the right also are two little children's
cots, at the head of which are two chains, with clothes carefully folded
on them. When the curtain rises_, TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _are sound
asleep in their cots_, MUMMY TYL _tucks them in, leans over them,
watches them for a moment as they sleep and beckons to_ DADDY TYL,
_who thrusts his head through the half-open door_. MUMMY TYL _lays
a finger on her lips, to impose silence upon him, and then goes out to the
right, on tiptoe, after first putting out the lamp. The scene remains in
darkness for a moment. Then a light, gradually increasing in intensity,
filters in through the shutters. The lamp on the table lights again of
itself, but its light is of a different colour than when_ MUMMY TYL
_extinguished it. The two_ CHILDREN _appear to wake and sit up in
bed_.
TYLTYL
Mytyl?
MYTYL
Tyltyl?
TYLTYL
Are you asleep?
MYTYL
Are you?...
TYLTYL
No; how can I be asleep when I'm talking to you?
MYTYL
Say, is this Christmas Day?...
TYLTYL
Not yet; not till to-morrow. But Father Christmas won't bring us anything
this year....
MYTYL
Why not?
TYLTYL
I heard mummy say that she couldn't go to town to tell him ... But he will
come next year....
MYTYL
Is next year far off?...
TYLTYL
A good long while.... But he will come to the rich children to-night....
MYTYL
Really?...
TYLTYL
Hullo!... Mummy's forgotten to put out the lamp!... I've an idea!...
MYTYL
What?...
TYLTYL
Let's get up....
MYTYL
But we mustn't....
TYLTYL
Why, there's no one about.... Do you see the shutters?...
MYTYL
Oh, how bright they are!...
TYLTYL
It's the lights of the party.
MYTYL
What party?...
TYLTYL
The rich children opposite. It's the Christmas-tree. Let's open the
shutters....
MYTYL
Can we?...
TYLTYL
Of course; there's no one to stop us.... Do you hear the music?... Let us
get up....
(_The two_ CHILDREN _get up, run to one of the windows, climb on
to the stool and throw back the shutters. A bright light fills the room.
The_ CHILDREN _look out greedily_.)
TYLTYL
We can see everything!...
MYTYL (_who can hardly find room on the stool_)
I can't....
TYLTYL
It's snowing!... There's two carriages, with six horses each!...
MYTYL
There are twelve little boys getting out!...
TYLTYL
How silly you are!... They're little girls....
MYTYL
They've got knickerbockers....
TYLTYL
What do you know?... Don't push so!...
MYTYL
I never touched you.
TYLTYL (_who is taking up the whole stool_)
You're taking up all the room...
MYTYL
Why, I have no room at all!...
TYLTYL
Do be quiet! I see the tree!...
MYTYL
What tree?...
TYLTYL
Why, the Christmas-tree!... You're looking at the wall!...
MYTYL
I'm looking at the wall because I've got no room....
TYLTYL (_giving her a miserly little place on the stool_)
There!... Will that do?... Now you're better off than I!... I say, what
lots and lots of lights!...
MYTYL
What are those people doing who are making such a noise?...
TYLTYL
They're the musicians.
MYTYL
Are they angry?...
TYLTYL
No; but it's hard work.
MYTYL
Another carriage with white horses!...
TYLTYL
Be quiet!... And look!...
MYTYL
What are those gold things there, hanging from the branches?
TYLTYL
Why, toys, to be sure!... Swords, guns, soldiers, cannons....
MYTYL
And dolls; say, are there any dolls?...
TYLTYL
Dolls?... That's too silly; there's no fun in dolls....
MYTYL
And what's that all round the table?....
TYLTYL
Cakes and fruit and tarts....
MYTYL
I had some once when I was little....
TYLTYL
So did I; it's nicer than bread, but they don't give you enough....
MYTYL
They've got plenty over there.... The whole table's full.... Are they going
to eat them?...
TYLTYL
Of course; what else would they do with them?...
MYTYL
Why don't they eat them at once?...
TYLTYL
Because they're not hungry....
MYTYL (_stupefied with astonishment_)
Not hungry?... Why not?...
TYLTYL
Well, they eat whenever they want to....
MYTYL (_incredulously_)
Every day?...
TYLTYL
They say so....
MYTYL
Will they eat them all?... Will they give any away?...
TYLTYL
To whom?...
MYTYL
To us....
TYLTYL
They don't know us....
MYTYL
Suppose we asked them....
TYLTYL
We mustn't.
MYTYL
Why not?...
TYLTYL
Because it's not right.
MYTYL (_clapping her hands_)
Oh, how pretty they are!...
TYLTYL (_rapturously_)
And how they're laughing and laughing!...
MYTYL
And the little ones dancing!...
TYLTYL
Yes, yes; let's dance too!... (_They stamp their feet for joy on the
stool_.)
MYTYL
Oh, what fun!...
TYLTYL
They're getting the cakes!... They can touch them!... They're eating,
they're eating, they're eating!...
MYTYL
The tiny ones, too!... They've got two, three, four apiece!...
TYLTYL (_drunk with delight_)
Oh, how lovely!... Oh, how lovely, how lovely!...
MYTYL (_counting imaginary cakes_)
I've got twelve!...
TYLTYL
And I four times twelve!... But I'll give you some....
(_A knock at the door of the cottage_.)
TYLTYL (_suddenly quieted and frightened_)
What's that?...
MYTYL (_scared_)
It's Daddy!...
(_As they hesitate before opening the door, the big latch is seen to rise
of itself, with a grating noise; the door half opens to admit a little old
woman dressed in green with a red hood on her head. She is humpbacked and
lame and near-sighted; her nose and chin meet; and she walks bent on a
stick. She is obviously a fairy_.)
THE FAIRY
Have you the grass here that sings or the bird that is blue?...
TYLTYL
We have some grass, but it can't sing....
MYTYL
Tyltyl has a bird.
TYLTYL
But I can't give it away....
THE FAIRY
Why not?...
TYLTYL
Because it's mine.
THE FAIRY
That's a reason, no doubt. Where is the bird?...
TYLTYL (_pointing to the cage_)
In the cage....
THE FAIRY (_putting on her glasses to examine the bird_)
I don't want it; it's not blue enough. You will have to go and find me the
one I want.
TYLTYL
But I don't know where it is....
THE FAIRY
No more do I. That's why you must look for it. I can do without the grass
that sings, at a pinch; but I must absolutely have the blue bird. It's for
my little girl, who is very ill.
TYLTYL
What's the matter with her?...
THE FAIRY
We don't quite know; she wants to be happy....
TYLTYL
Really?...
THE FAIRY
Do you know who I am?...
TYLTYL
You're rather like our neighbour, Madame Berlingot....
THE FAIRY (_growing suddenly angry_)
Not a bit!... There's not the least likeness!... This is intolerable!... I
am the Fairy Berylune....
TYLTYL
Oh! Very well....
THE FAIRY
You will have to start at once.
TYLTYL
Are you coming with us?
THE FAIRY
I can't, because I put on the soup this morning and it always boils over
if I leave it for more than an hour.... (_Pointing successively to the
ceiling, the chimney and the window_) Will you go out this way, or that
way, or that way?...
TYLTYL (_pointing timidly to the door_)
I would rather go out that way....
THE FAIRY (_growing suddenly angry again_)
That's quite impossible; and it's a shocking habit!... (_Pointing to the
window_) We'll go out this way.... Well?... What are you waiting for?...
Get dressed at once.... (_The_ CHILDREN _do as they are told and
dress quickly_.) I'll help Mytyl....
TYLTYL
We have no shoes....
THE FAIRY
That doesn't matter. I will give you a little magic hat. Where are your
father and mother?....
TYLTYL (_pointing to the door on the right_)
They're asleep in there....
THE FAIRY
And your grandpapa and grandmamma?...
TYLTYL
They're dead....
THE FAIRY
And your little brothers and sisters.... Have you any?...
TYLTYL
Oh, yes; three little brothers....
MYTYL
And four little sisters....
THE FAIRY
Where are they?...
TYLTYL
They are dead, too....
THE FAIRY
Would you like to see them again?...
TYLTYL
Oh, yes!... At once!... Show them to us!...
THE FAIRY
I haven't got them in my pocket.... But this is very lucky; you will see
them when you go through the Land of Memory.... It's on the way to the Blue
Bird, just on the left, past the third turning.... What were you doing when
I knocked?...
TYLTYL
We were playing at eating cakes?...
THE FAIRY
Have you any cakes?... Where are they?...
TYLTYL
In the house of the rich children.... Come and look, it's so lovely. (_He
drags the_ FAIRY _to the window_.)
THE FAIRY (_at the window_)
But it's the others who are eating them!...
TYLTYL
Yes; but we can see them eat....
THE FAIRY
Aren't you cross with them?...
TYLTYL
What for?...
THE FAIRY
For eating all the cakes.... I think it's very wrong of them not to give
you some....
TYLTYL
Not at all; they're rich.... I say, isn't it beautiful over there?...
THE FAIRY
It's no more beautiful there than here.
TYLTYL
Ugh!... It's darker here and smaller and there are no cakes....
THE FAIRY
It's exactly the same, only you can't see....
TYLTYL
Yes, I can; and I have very good eyes. I can see the time on the church
clock and daddy can't...
THE FAIRY (_suddenly angry_)
I tell you that you can't see!... How do you see me?... What do I look
like?... (_An awkward silence from_ TYLTYL.) Well, answer me, will
you? I want to know if you can see!... Am I pretty or ugly?... (_The
silence grows more and more uncomfortable_.) Won't you answer?... Am I
young or old?... Are my cheeks pink or yellow?... Perhaps you'll say I have
a hump?...
TYLTYL (_in a conciliatory tone_)
No, no; It's not a big one....
THE FAIRY
Oh, yes, to look at you, any one would think it enormous.... Have I a hook
nose and have I lost one of my eyes?...
TYLTYL
Oh, no, I don't say that.... Who put it out?...
THE FAIRY (_growing more and more irritated_).
But it's not out!... You wretched, impudent boy!... It's much finer than
the other; it's bigger and brighter and blue as the sky.... And my hair,
do you see that?... It's fair as the corn in the fields, it's like virgin
gold!... And I've such heaps and heaps of it that it weighs my head
down.... It escapes on every side.... Do you see it on my hands? (_She
holds out two lean wisps of grey hair_.)
TYLTYL
Yes, I see a little....
THE FAIRY (_indignantly_)
A little!... Sheaves! Armfuls! Clusters! Waves of gold!... I know there are
people who say that they don't see any; but you're not one of those wicked,
blind people, I should hope?...
TYLTYL
Oh, no; I can see all that isn't hidden....
THE FAIRY
But you ought to see the rest with as little doubt!... Human beings are
very odd!... Since the death of the fairies, they see nothing at all and
they never suspect it.... Luckily, I always carry with me all that is
wanted to give new light to dimmed eyes.... What am I taking out of my
bag?...
TYLTYL
Oh, what a dear little green hat!... What's that shining in the cockade?...
THE FAIRY
That's the big diamond that makes people see....
TYLTYL
Really?...
THE FAIRY
Yes; when you've got the hat on your head, you turn the diamond a little;
from right to left, for instance, like this; do you see?... Then it presses
a bump which nobody knows of and which opens your eyes....
TYLTYL
Doesn't it hurt?...
THE FAIRY
On the contrary, it's enchanted.... You at once see even the inside of
things: the soul of bread, of wine, of pepper, for instance....
MYTYL
Can you see the soul of sugar, too?...
THE FAIRY (_suddenly cross_)
Of course you can!... I hate unnecessary questions.... The soul of sugar
is no more interesting than the soul of pepper.... There, I give you all I
have to help you in your search for the Blue Bird. I know that the flying
carpet or the ring which makes its wearer invisible would be more useful to
you.... But I have lost the key of the cupboard in which I locked them....
Oh, I was almost forgetting!... (_Pointing to the diamond_) When you
hold it like this, do you see?... One little turn more and you behold the
past.... Another little turn and you behold the future.... It's curious and
practical and it's quite noiseless....
TYLTYL
Daddy will take it from me....
THE FAIRY
He won't see it; no one can see it as long as it's on your head....
Will you try it?... (_She puts the little green hat on_ TYLTYL'S
_head_.) Now, turn the diamond.... One turn and then....
(TYLTYL _has no sooner turned the diamond than a sudden and wonderful
change comes over everything. The old_ FAIRY _alters then and there
into a princess of marvellous beauty; the flints of which the cottage walls
are built light up, turn blue as sapphires, become transparent and gleam
and sparkle like the most precious stones. The humble furniture takes life
and becomes resplendent; the deal table assumes as grave and noble an air
as a table made of marble; the face of the clock winks its eye and smiles
genially, while the door that contains the pendulum opens and releases the
Hours, which, holding one another by the hand and laughing merrily, begin
to dance to the sound of delicious music_.)
TYLTYL (_displaying a legitimate bewilderment and pointing to the Hours_)
Who are all those pretty ladies?...
THE FAIRY
Don't be afraid; they are the hours of your life and they are glad to be
free and visible for a moment....
TYLTYL
And why are the walls so bright?... Are they made of sugar or of precious
stones?...
THE FAIRY
All stones are alike, all stones are precious; but man sees only a few of
them....
(_While they are speaking, the scene of enchantment continues and is
completed. The souls of the Quartern-loaves, in the form of little men in
crust-coloured tights, flurried and all powdered with flour, scramble out
of the bread-pan and frisk round the table, where they are caught up by_
FIRE, _who, springing from the hearth in yellow and vermilion tights,
writhes with laughter as he chases the loaves_.)
TYLTYL
Who are those ugly little men?...
THE FAIRY
Oh, they're nothing; they are merely the souls of the Quartern-loaves, who
are taking advantage of the reign of truth to leave the pan in which they
were too tightly packed....
TYLTYL
And the big red fellow, with the nasty smell?...
THE FAIRY
Hush!... Don't speak too loud; that's Fire.... He's dangerous. (_This
dialogue does not interrupt the enchantment. The_ DOG _and the_
CAT, _lying rolled up at the foot of the cupboard, utter a loud and
simultaneous cry and disappear down a trap; and in their places rise two
persons, one of whom has the face of a bull-dog, the other that of a
tom-cat. Forthwith, the little man with the bull-dog face, whom we will
henceforward call the_ DOG, _rushes upon_ TYLTYL, _kisses him
violently and overwhelms him with noisy and impetuous caresses; while the
little man with the face of a tom-cat, whom we will simply call the_
CAT, _combs his hair, washes his hands and strokes his whiskers before
going up to_ MYTYL.)
THE DOG (_yelling, jumping about, knocking up against everything,
unbearable_)
My little god!... Good-morning, good-morning, my dear little god!... At
last, at last we can talk!... I had so much to tell you!... Bark and wag
my tail as I might, you never understood!... But now!... Good-morning,
good-morning!... I love you!... Shall I do some of my tricks?... Shall
I beg?... Would you like to see me walk on my front paws or dance on my
hind-legs?...
TYLTYL (_to the_ FAIRY)
Who is this gentleman with the dog's head?....
THE FAIRY
Don't you see? It's the soul of TYLO whom you have set free....
THE CAT (_going up to_ MYTYL _and putting out his hand to her, with
much ceremony and circumspection_)
Good-morning, Miss.... How well you look this morning!...
MYTYL
Good-morning, sir.... (_To the_ FAIRY) Who is it?...
THE FAIRY
Why, don't you see? Its the soul of Tylette offering you his hand.... Kiss
him....
THE DOG (_hustling the_ CAT)
Me, too!... I've kissed the little god!... I've kissed the little girl!...
I've kissed everybody!... Oh, grand!... What fun we shall have!... I'm
going to frighten Tylette I Bow, wow, wow!...
THE CAT
Sir, I don't know you....
THE FAIRY (_threatening the_ DOG _with her stick_)
Keep still, will you, or else you'll go back into silence until the end of
time....
(_Meanwhile, the enchantment has pursued its course: the spinning-wheel
has begun to turn madly in its corner and to spin brilliant rays of light;
the tap, in another corner, begins to sing in a very high voice and,
turning into a luminous fountain, floods the sink with sheets of pearls and
emeralds, through which darts the soul of_ WATER, _like a young
girl, streaming, dishevelled and tearful, who immediately begins to fight
with_ FIRE.)
TYLTYL
And who is that wet lady?...
THE FAIRY
Don't be afraid. It's Water just come from the tap....
(_The milk-jug upsets, falls from the table and smashes on the floor; and
from the spilt milk there rises a tall, white, bashful figure who seems to
be afraid of everything_.)
TYLTYL
And the frightened lady in her nightgown?...
THE FAIRY
That's Milk; she has broken her jug....
(_The sugar-loaf, at the foot of the cupboard, grows taller and wider and
splits its paper wrapper, whence issues a mawkish and hypocritical being,
dressed in a long coat half blue and half white, who goes up to_ MYTYL
_with a sanctimonious smile_.)
MYTYL (_greatly alarmed_)
What does he want?...
THE FAIRY
Why, he is the soul of Sugar!...
MYTYL (_reassured_)
Has he any barley-sugar?...
THE FAIRY
His pockets are full of it and each of his fingers is a sugar-stick....
(_The lamp falls from the table and, at the same moment, its flame
springs up again and turns into a luminous maid of incomparable beauty. She
is dressed in long transparent and dazzling veils and stands motionless in
a sort of ecstasy_.)
TYLTYL
It's the Queen!...
MYTYL
It's the Blessed Virgin!...
THE FAIRY
No, my children; it's Light....
(_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....
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