AOYAGI

Did she know your songs?

RIKI

Aoyagi! What do you want to know?

AOYAGI

Did she know your song to me--"b.u.t.terfly, b.u.t.terfly, alight upon the willow tree"?

RIKI

Perhaps.--I made that to you years ago--when you were a dream in my heart.

AOYAGI

At Ishiyama?

RIKI

Perhaps.

AOYAGI

Hai!--Obaa-San, my mother!--Oh, my heart--my heart--

RIKI

Aoyagi--what have I done? Let me comfort you!

[_He goes to her._

AOYAGI

You leave me nothing in all the world.

RIKI

I give you all my world.

AOYAGI

Hai! Hai! Hai!

RIKI

Let me go and call the lady bound for Ishiyama.

AOYAGI

Riki!--ah!

RIKI

Little Aoyagi--my love--she will be tender with you.--And when your tears are gone, she'll bear your message on to Obaa-San.

[_He goes to her, but she draws away. For a moment he is uncertain what to do;--then--he speaks._

I'll bring her back to you.

AOYAGI

Riki!--No!--We came up the mountain-path together--side by side.--We--but now, Riki, we go two ways.--I to Obaa-San--you to--

RIKI

What do you mean?

AOYAGI

Go sing your songs at Ishiyama! Go make your poems to the b.u.t.terfly.--I--

RIKI

I have made songs only for you.

AOYAGI

But the songs for me are on every tongue.

RIKI

Ay--I am proud of that.

AOYAGI

The lady at the ferry at Ishiyama--

RIKI

She learned the song to you!

AOYAGI

Ah!

[_Aoyagi rushes upon him and before she realizes what she is doing, she strikes him. He stands petrified a moment, then faces her very calmly._