Part 27 (1/2)

TYLTYL Well, no, Light, because I don't know....

LIGHT Don't you recognise that wall and that little door?...

TYLTYL It is a red wall and a little green door.

LIGHT And doesn't that remind you of anything?...

TYLTYL It reminds me that Time shewed us the door....

LIGHT How odd people are when they dream.... They do not recognise their own hands....

TYLTYL Who is dreaming?... Am I?...

LIGHT Perhaps it's myself.... Who can tell?... However, this wall contains a house which you have seen more than once since you were born....

TYLTYL A house which I have seen more than once since I was born?...

LIGHT Why yes, sleepy-head!... It is the house which we left one evening, just a year ago, to a day....

TYLTYL Just a year ago?... Why, then....

LIGHT Come, come!... Don't open great eyes like sapphire caves.... It's the dear old house of your father and mother....

TYLTYL (_going up to the door_) But I think.... Yes, really.... It seems to me.... This little door.... I recognise the wooden pin.... Are they in there?... Are we near mummy?... I want to go in at once.... I want to kiss her at once!...

LIGHT One moment.... They are sound asleep; you must not wake them with a start.... Besides, the door will not open till the hour strikes....

TYLTYL What hour?... Is there long to wait?...

LIGHT Alas, no!... A few poor minutes....

TYLTYL Aren't you glad to be back?... What is it, Light?... You are quite pale, you look ill....

LIGHT It's nothing, child.... I feel a little sad, because I am leaving you....

TYLTYL Leaving us?...

LIGHT I must.... I have nothing more to do here; the year is over, the Fairy is coming back to ask you for the Blue Bird....

TYLTYL But I haven't got the Blue Bird!... The one of the Land of Memory turned quite black, the one of the Future turned quite pink, the Night's are dead and I could not catch the one in the Forest.... Is it my fault if they change colour, or die, or escape?... Will the Fairy be angry and what will she say?...

LIGHT We have done what we could.... It seems likely that the Blue Bird does not exist or that he changes colour when he is caged....

TYLTYL Where is the cage?...

BREAD Here, master.... It was entrusted to my diligent care during our long journey; to-day, now that my mission is drawing to an end, I restore it to your hands, untouched and carefully closed, as I received it.... (_Like an orator making a speech_) And now, in the name of all, I crave permission to add a few words....

FIRE He has not been called upon to speak!...

WATER Order!...