Part 29 (1/2)

tilly-tilly, polly-polly....

CONSUELO

Please don't, HE darling---- I am so sad, anyway ... tilly-tilly, polly-polly ... [_Silence. HE looks at_ CONSUELO.]

HE

You were crying, my little Consuelo?

CONSUELO

Yes, a little. Alfred made me nervous. But tell me, is it my fault that I can't do anything to-day? I tried to, but I couldn't.

HE

Why?

CONSUELO

Ah, I don't know. There is something here. [_Presses her hand against her heart._] I don't know. HE, I must be sick. What is sickness? Does it hurt very much?

HE

It is not sickness. It is the charm of the far off stars, Consuelo. It is the voice of your fate, my little Queen.

CONSUELO

Don't talk nonsense, please. What should the stars care about me? I am so small. Nonsense, HE! Tell me rather another tale which you know: about the blue sea and those G.o.ds, you know ... who are so beautiful.

Did they all die?

HE

They are all alive, but they hide themselves, my G.o.ddess.

CONSUELO

In the woods or mountains? Can one come across them? Ah, imagine HE ...

I come across a G.o.d, and he suddenly takes a look at me! I'd run away.

[_Laughs._] This morning when I went without breakfast, I became so sad, so disgusted, and I thought: if a G.o.d should come, and give me something to eat! And as I thought it, I suddenly heard, honestly it's true, I heard: ”Consuelo, somebody's calling you.” [_Angrily._] Don't you dare laugh!

HE

Am I laughing?

CONSUELO

Honestly, it's true. Ah, HE, but he didn't come. He only called me and disappeared, and how can you find him? It hurt me so much, and hurts even now. Why did you remind me of my childhood? I'd forgotten it entirely. There was the sea ... and something ... many, many [_closes her eyes, smiling._]

HE