Part 8 (1/2)

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 n.o.body....

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 astonis.h.i.+ng, 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”?...