THE GUINEA-HEN [_Jumping up in the air toward the_ DRONE.] How do you do? How do you do? [_She follows his flight with excited leaps and hops._]
THE BLACKBIRD [_Touching his brow with his wing._] She is dotty!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_At the back, with shrill_ GUINEA-HEN _cries._] It's my last day! How do you do? My last day until August! Mondays in August, don't forget!
A HEN [_Seeing cherries dropping around her._] Oh, cherries, look!
THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Looking upward._] It is the Breeze!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Fluttering forward again, excited as ever._] I have the Breeze, who now and then shakes down a cherry! I never ask her. She comes unasked.
What's-his-name is here! And What's-her-name is here, and--[_To the back tumultuously._]
THE BLACKBIRD And Thingumbob, and Stick-in-the-mud! [_He has arrived without appearance of design beneath the tree where the_ CAT _is lying, and asks rapidly, under breath._] Cat, what about the conspiracy?
THE CAT [_Who from his tree can see beyond the hedge._] It is afoot. I see the interminable file of phenomenal c.o.c.ks approaching, headed by the Peac.o.c.k who comes to present them.
A CRY [_Outside._] Ee--yong! [_The_ CROWD _throngs toward the entrance._]
PATOU [_Grumbling._] That abominable concertina cry--
THE MAGPIE The Peac.o.c.k!
THE PHEASANT-HEN [_To the_ BLACKBIRD.] Have you a fancy name for him?
THE BLACKBIRD [_Imitating the_ PEAc.o.c.k'S _cry._] Our great Accordee-yong!
SCENE SECOND
THE SAME, THE PEAc.o.c.k.
THE GUINEA-HEN [_To the_ PEAc.o.c.k, _who enters slowly, with his head borne very stiff and high._] Master, dear Master, would you be so extremely condescending as to come and stand with your back to these sunflowers? Peac.o.c.k!
Sunflowers! A study for Burne-Jones!
ALL [_Crowding around the_ PEAc.o.c.k.] Master! Master!
A CHICKEN [_Low to the_ DUCK.] A word from him can make one's fortune in society!
ANOTHER CHICKEN [_Who has succeeded in forcing his way to the_ PEAc.o.c.k, _stammering with emotion._] Master, what do you think of my latest "cheep"? [_Suspense.
Religious silence._]
THE PEAc.o.c.k [_Solemnly, letting the word drop slowly from his beak._] Definitive.
[_Sensation._]
A DUCK [_Trembling._] And my "quack"? [_Suspense._]
THE PEAc.o.c.k Ultimate! [_Sensation._]
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Delighted, to the_ HENS.] I may say that it is at my days most especially he throws off these specimens of a verbal art which might fairly be called--
THE PEAc.o.c.k Lapidary.
ALL THE HENS [_Rolling up their eyes._] Wonderful!
A HEN [_Coming forward, faint with emotion._] Master, high priest of taste, what do you think of my dress? [_Suspense._]
THE PEAc.o.c.k [_After a glance._] Affirmative. [_Sensation._]
THE TUFTED HEN [_Same business._] And my bonnet? [_Suspense._]
THE PEAc.o.c.k Absolute. [_Sensation._]
THE GUINEA-HEN [_In a burst of emotion._] Our bonnets are absolute!
THE PHEASANT-HEN [_Affecting exclusive interest in the_ BEES.] Ah, there is the Choir Invisible striking up again!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Presenting the young_ GUINEA-c.o.c.k _to the_ PEAc.o.c.k.] My son!--What do you think of him?
THE PEAc.o.c.k Plausible.
CHORUS OF WASPS _Busily buzzing_--
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Overjoyed, running to the_ PHEASANT-HEN.] Oh, he said he was plausible!
THE PHEASANT-HEN Who was?
THE GUINEA-HEN My son!
CHORUS OF BEES
_When July Too holly glows Seek the shade Inside the rose_!
THE GUINEA-HEN [_Returning to the_ PEAc.o.c.k.] Does not the rhythm of that chorus impress you as--
THE PEAc.o.c.k Asunartetos!
A HEN [_To the_ GUINEA-HEN.] Your guest, my dear, can fit an epithet!
THE GUINEA-HEN Pontiff of the Unexpected Adjective I call him!
THE PEAc.o.c.k [_Distilling his words, in a discordant haughty voice._] True it is that--
THE GUINEA-HEN Ah, this is most pleasant, most pleasant! He is going to talk to us.
THE PEAc.o.c.k --a Ruskin rather more refined, I hope, than the earlier one, with a tact--
THE GUINEA-HEN Very true!