Nearer the fire be seated an instant.

(conducting her to a chair near the tire) A little wine?

MIMI. Thank you.

RUD. (giving her a gla.s.s and pouring out some wine) For you.

MIMI. Not so much, please!

RUD. Like this?

MIMI. Thank you. (she drinks)

RUD. How lovely a maiden.

MIMI. Now please allow me to light my candle, I'm feeling much better.

RUD. What, so quickly?

(RUDOLPH lights the candle and gives it to MIMI.)

MIMI. Thank you. Now, good evening.

RUD. So, good evening.

(Accompanies her to the door, and then returns quickly to his work.)

MIMI. (re-entering, stops on the threshold) Oh! how stupid! How stupid!

The key of my poor chamber, Where can I have left it?

RUD. Come, stand not in the doorway: Your candle is flickering in the wind.

(Mimi's light goes out.)

MIMI. Good gracious! Please light it just once more!

(RUDOLPH runs with his candle, but, as he nears the door, his light, too, is blown out, and the room remains in darkness.)

RUD. Oh, dear! Now there's mine gone out, too!

MIMI. Ah! and the key--where can it be?

(Groping about, she reaches the table and deposits the candlestick.)

RUD. What a nuisance! (He finds himself near the door and fastens it.)

MIMI. I'm so sorry.

RUD. Where can it be?

MIMI. You have an importunate neighbor, Pray, forgive your tiresome little neighbor.

RUD. Nothing, I a.s.sure you.

MIMI. Pray, forgive your tiresome neighbor.

RUD. Do not mention it, I pray you.

MIMI. Look for it.

RUD. I'm looking.

(Looks for the key on the floor; sliding over it, he knocks against the table, deposits his candlestick, and searches for the key with his hands on the floor.)

MIMI. Where can it be?

(Finds the key, lets an exclamation escape, then checks himself and puts the key in his pocket.)

RUD. Ah!

MIMI. Have you found it?

RUD. No.

MIMI. I think so.

RUD. In very truth.

MIMI. Found it?

RUD. Not yet.

(Feigns to search, but guided by Mimi'S voice and movements, approaches her; as Mimi is stooping his hand meets hers, which he clasps.)

MIMI. (rising to her feet, surprised) Ah!

RUD. (holding Mimi's hand, with emotion) Your tiny hand is frozen, Let me warm it into life; Our search is useless, In darkness all is hidden, 'Ere long the light of the moon shall aid us, Yes, in the moonlight our search let us resume.

One moment, pretty maiden, While I tell you in a trice, Who I am, what I do, And how I live. Shall I?

(Mimi is silent.)

I am, I am a poet!

What's my employment? Writing.

Is that a living? Hardly.

I've wit though wealth be wanting, Ladies of rank and fashion All inspire me with pa.s.sion; In dreams and fond illusions, Or castles in the air, Richer is none on earth than I.

Bright eyes as yours, believe me, Steal my priceless jewels, In fancy's store-house cherished, Your roguish eyes have robbed me, Of all my dreams bereft me, Dreams that are fair, yet fleeting.

Fled are my truant fancies, Regrets I do not cherish, For now life's rosy morn is breaking, Now golden love is waking.

Now that I've told my story, Pray tell me yours, too; Tell me frankly, who are you?

Say, will you tell?