Chapter III: 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....

TYLTYL (_observing with amazement that the blackbird is quite blue_) But he's blue!... Why, that's the bird, the Blue Bird which I am to take back to the Fairy.... And you never told us that you had him here!... Oh, he's blue, blue, blue as a blue glass marble!... (_Entreatingly_) Grandad, granny, will you give him to me?...

GAFFER TYL Yes, perhaps, perhaps.... What do you think, granny?...

GRANNY TYL Certainly, certainly.... What use is he to us?... He does nothing but sleep.... We never hear him sing....

TYLTYL I will put him in my cage.... I say, where is my cage?... Oh, I know, I left it behind the big tree.... (_He runs to the tree, fetches the cage and puts the blackbird into it_.) So, really, you've really given him to me?... How pleased the Fairy will be!... And Light too!...

GAFFER TYL Mind you, I won't answer for the bird.... I'm afraid that he will never get used again to the restless life up there and that he'll come back here by the first wind that blows this way.... However, we shall see.... Leave him there, for the present, and come and look at the cow....

TYLTYL (_noticing the hives_) And how are the bees getting on?

GAFFER TYL Oh, pretty well.... They are no longer alive, as you call it up there; but they work hard....

TYLTYL (_going up to the hives_) Oh, yes!... I can smell the honey!... How heavy the hives must be!... All the flowers are so beautiful!... And my little dead sisters, are they here too?...

MYTYL And where are my three little brothers who were buried?...

(_At these words, seven little_ CHILDREN, _of different sizes, like a set of Pan's pipes, come out of the cottage, one by one_.)

GRANNY TYL Here they are, here they are!... As soon as you think of them, as soon as you speak of them, they are there, the darlings!...

(TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _run to meet the_ CHILDREN. _They hustle and hug one another and dance and whirl about and utter screams of joy_.)

TYLTYL Hullo, Pierrot!... (_They clutch each other by the hair_.) Ah, so we're going to fight again, as in the old days.... And Robert!... I say, Jean, what's become of your top?... Madeleine and Pierette and Pauline!... And here's Riquette!...

MYTYL Oh, Riquette, Riquette!... She's still crawling on all fours!...

GRANNY TYL Yes, she has stopped growing.

TYLTYL (_noticing the little_ DOG _yelping around them_) There's Kiki, whose tail I cut off with Pauline's scissors.... He hasn't changed either....

GAFFER TYL (_sententiously_) No, nothing changes here....

TYLTYL And Pauline still has a pimple on her nose....

GRANNY TYL Yes, it won't go away; there's nothing to be done for it....

TYLTYL Oh, how well they look, how fat and glossy they are!... What jolly cheeks they have!... They look well fed....

GRANNY TYL They have been much better since they ceased living.... There's nothing more to fear, nobody is ever ill, one has no anxiety....

(_The clock inside the cottage strikes eight_.)

GRANNY TYL (_amazed_) What's that?...

GAFFER TYL I don't know, I'm sure.... It must be the clock....

GRANNY TYL It can't be.... It never strikes....

GAFFER TYL Because we no longer think of the time.... Was any one thinking of the time?...

TYLTYL Yes, I was.... What is the time?...

GAFFER TYL I'm sure I can't tell.... I've forgotten how.... It struck eight times, so I suppose it's what they call eight o'clock up there....

TYLTYL Light expects me at a quarter to nine.... It's because of the Fairy.... It's extremely important.... I'm off!...

GRANNY TYL Don't leave us like that, just as supper's ready!... Quick, quick, let's lay the table outside.... I've got some capital cabbage-soup and a beautiful plum-tart....

(_They get out the table, dishes, plates, etc., and lay for supper outside the door, all helping_.)

TYLTYL Well, as I've got the Blue Bird.... And then it's so long since I tasted cabbage-soup.... Ever since I've been, travelling.... They don't have it at the hotels....

GRANNY TYL There!... That didn't take long!... Sit down, children.... Don't let us lose time, if you're in a hurry....

(_They have lit the lamp and served the soup. The_ GRANDPARENTS _and the_ CHILDREN _sit down round the table, jostling and elbowing one another and laughing and screaming with pleasure_.)

TYLTYL (_eating like a glutton_) How good it is!... Oh, how good it is!...I want some more! More!...

(_He brandishes his wooden spoon and noisily hits his plate with it_.)

GAFFER TYL Come, come, a little more quiet.... You're just as ill-behaved as ever; and you'll break your plate....

TYLTYL (_half-raising himself on his stool_) I want more, more!... (_He seizes the tureen, drags it toward him and upsets it and the soup, which trickles over the table and down over their knees and scalds them. Yells and screams of pain_.)

GRANNY TYL There!... I told you so!...

GAFFER TYL (_giving TYLTYL a loud box on the ear_) That's one for you!...

TYLTYL (_staggered for a moment, next puts his hand to his cheek with an expression of rapture_) Oh, that's just like the slaps you used to give me when you were alive?... Grandad, how nice it was and how good it makes one feel!... I must give you a kiss!...

GAFFER TYL Very well; there's more where that came from, if you like them....

(_The clock strikes half-past eight_)

TYLTYL (_starting up_) Half-past eight!... (_He flings down his spoon_.) Mytyl, we've only just got time!...

GRANNY TYL Oh, I say!... Just a few minutes more!... Your house isn't on fire!... We see you so seldom....

TYLTYL No, we can't possibly.... Light is so kind.... And I promised her.... Come, Mytyl, come!...

GAFFER TYL Goodness gracious, how tiresome the Living are with all their business and excitement!...

TYLTYL (_taking his cage and hurriedly kissing everybody all round_) Good-bye, grandad.... Good-bye, granny.... Good-bye, brothers and sisters, Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette and you, too, Kiki.... I feel we mustn't stay.... Don't cry, granny; we will come back often....

GRANNY TYL Come back every day!...

TYLTYL Yes, yes; we will come back as often as we can....

GRANNY TYL It's our only pleasure and it's such a treat for us when your thoughts visit us!...

GAFFER TYL We have no other amusements....

TYLTYL Quick, quick!... My cage!... My bird!...

GAFFER TYL (_handing him the cage_) Here they are!... You know, I don't warrant him; and if he's not the right colour...

TYLTYL Good-bye! Good-bye!...

THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS TYL Good-bye, Tyltyl! Good-bye, Mytyl!... Remember the barley-sugar!... Good-bye!... Come again!... Come again!...

(_They all wave their handkerchiefs while_ TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _slowly move away. But already, during the last sentences, the fog of the beginning of the scene has been gradually re-forming, so that, at the end, all has disappeared in the mist and, at the fall of the curtain_, TYLTYL _and_ MYTYL _are again alone visible under the big oak_.)

TYLTYL It's this way, Mytyl....

MYTYL Where is Light?...

TYLTYL I don't know.... (_Looking at the bird in the cage_.) But the bird is no longer blue!... He has turned black!...

MYTYL Give me your hand, little brother.... I feel so frightened and so cold....

CURTAIN