Part 17 (1/2)

Ah! how do I know?

It keeps me searching. 'T is so glad and sad And strange to find out, What-Will-Happen-Next!

And mark you this: the strangest miracle. . .

BARBARA Yes!--

PIPER Stranger than the Devil or thy Judgment; Stranger than piping,--even when _I_ pipe!

Stranger than charming mice--or even men--

BARBARA [with tense expectancy]

What is it? What?

PIPER [watching her]

Why,--what may come to pa.s.s Here in the heart. There is one very charm--

BARBARA Oh!

PIPER Are you brave?

BARBARA [awe-struck]

Oh!

PIPER [slowly]

Will you drink the philter?

BARBARA 'Tis. . . some enchantment?

PIPER [mysteriously]

'T is a love philter.

BARBARA Oh, tell me first--

PIPER Why, sooth, the only charm In it, is Love. It is clear well-water.

BARBARA [disappointed]

Only well-water?

PIPER Love is only Love.

It must be philters, then?

[He comes down smiling and beckons to MICHAEL, who draws near, bewildered.

This lady thirsts For magic!

[He ties a long green scarf that he has over his shoulder, to a water-jar, and lowers it down the old well; while BARBARA watches, awe-struck. He continues to sing softly.

_Mind your eyes_, _Tune your tongue_; _Let it never he said_, _But sung,--but sung_!--

MICHAEL [to BARBARA, timidly]

I am glad at least, fair lady, To think how my poor show did give you pleasure That day--that day when--

BARBARA Ah! that day of doom!

MICHAEL What is your will?

BARBARA [pa.s.sionately]