Part 21 (1/2)

PIPER Now you know.

VERONIKA I know.

His dearest home it was, to keep my heart Alone and beautiful, and clear and still; And to keep all the gladness in my heart, That bubbled from nowhere!--for him to drink;-- And to be houseless of all other things, Even as the Lonely Man.

[The PIPER starts]

Where is the child?

PIPER No; that I will not tell. Only thus much: I love thy child. Trust me,--I love them, all.

They are the brightest miracle I know.

Wherever I go, I search the eyes of men To find such clearness;--and it is not there.

Lies, greed and cruelty, and dreadful dark!

And all that makes Him sad these thousand years, And keeps His forehead bleeding.--Ah, you know!

VERONIKA Whom do you think on?

PIPER Why, the Lonely Man,-- But now I have the children safe with me; And men shall never teach them what men know;-- Those radiant things that have no wish at all Save for what is all-beautiful!--the Rainbow, The running Water, and the Moon, the Moon!

The only things worth having!

VERONIKA --Oh, you will not Give him to me?

PIPER How give you yours again, And not the others? What a life for him!

[She hides her face]

And Kurt the Syndic, left without his sons?

Bah, do not dream of it! What would Kurt do?-- And hearken here! Should any hunt me down, Take care. Who then could bring the children back?

VERONIKA _Jan_! _Jan_!

PIPER He loves me. He is happy.

VERONIKA [pa.s.sionately ]

_No_!

Without me?--No.

PIPER He has not even once Called you.

VERONIKA [staggering]

Ah, ah! how cruel! 'Tis the spell, The spell.

PIPER [touching his heart]

--You hurt me, here. What makes it, Woman?-- Would you not have him happy?

VERONIKA O my G.o.d!

PIPER [offering her water]

Drink here. Take heart. O Woman, they must stay!

'T is better so. No, no, I mock thee not.

Thou foldest all about me like the Dark That holds the stars. I would I were thy child.

VERONIKA But I will find him. I will find him--