No, but really, what else is there inside me? I must be a sort of menagerie or Noah's ark! There's no end to it!

LIGHT

That's true: there would be no end if we had the time to go into it all.... But press the sapphire down now and all will be well.

(TYLTYL _presses the sapphire and all his_ DOUBLES _disappear_.)

TYLTYL

My word! A good riddance!... Well, as you say, they may be the least bit like me, but some of them are very ugly. Particularly a big dark one, who kept on tripping me up and very nearly made me fall.

LIGHT

Of course, there are some of all kinds, as in every man. One must learn to choose the best and avoid the worst.... But here come your little friends.

(_Enter first_ THE WHITE PHANTOM.)

TYLTYL

(_Amazed_.) Hullo!... What's the matter with her?... She seems quite in a hurry to-day and moves like an angel.

(_Enter next_ MILETTE, BELLINE, ROSELLE _and_ ROSARELLE, _followed by_ AIMETTE _and_ Jalline, _who are supporting_ DESTINY _between them. He is now a head shorter than_ TYLTYL, _wears the same tragic costume as before, seems very weary and sinks down on a heap of snow_.)

TYLTYL

(_Going to him, with a certain solicitude_.) Are you ill?

DESTINY

I? Not at all: I am always the same, I am unchangeable.... But when you alone are responsible for everything, when you have to manage everything, direct everything and foresee everything and when n.o.body helps you (_casting an aggressive eye on_ LIGHT), you are ent.i.tled to a moment's rest.... I therefore order a halt. It is decided irrevocably: to-day we go no farther.

LIGHT Admirable! And so it shall be, for we have arrived; and with Destiny's permission, we shall find ourselves, without taking another step, among the children who are awaiting us....

(_The curtain parts and opens upon the next scene_.)

SCENE IX

_The Abode of the Children_

_The immense halls, the lofty vaults, the infinite perspectives of arches and columns of the Kingdom of the Future in "The Blue Bird"; but this time, it being the nuptial hour, everything is of a soft, milky white, gleaming and transparent. The radiant shapes of amber-coloured light bathe in unspeakable gladness all the things that they touch; and everywhere are signs of a deep and unfaltering joy. The boundless horizon stretches towards the veiled white of the Milky Way, the ether quivering with myriads of unknown stars_.

(_When the curtain opens_, TYLTYL, LIGHT, DESTINY _and_ THE SIX GIRLS _are in the foreground, on the right, at the foot of one of the alabaster columns supporting the entrance-arch. They take a few steps into the immense deserted hall, while_ THE WHITE PHANTOM _hides timidly behind the column_.)

TYLTYL

(_A little disappointed_.) There's n.o.body here!...

LIGHT

I know why it is. There are several doors; as you were all very tired, I chose the one that was nearest. They are probably waiting for us at the princ.i.p.al entrance.

TYLTYL

How shall we let them know?

LIGHT

The atmosphere will do that: here everything is known immediately and every event happens everywhere at the same moment.

TYLTYL

It's a very fine place, this: splendid large rooms and a very high ceiling; lots of light and air....

LIGHT

And it's still always inside yourself.

TYLTYL

What, this is inside me too?

LIGHT

Why, yes; of course it is.

TYLTYL

Very well, then; that's all right. Please step in: you're very welcome.

Won't you sit down while you wait?

LIGHT

We shall not have long to wait, for I believe they have seen us.

(A CHILD'S _head appears for an instant between two columns and is then briskly withdrawn, exclaiming_, "This way! This way! They're here!" _Soon after, seven or eight_ CHILDREN _of about twelve years of age, in short white tunics, with bare arms, legs and feet, run up from the back of the hall and stop in front of the visitors. The largest holds out his hand to_ TYLTYL.)

THE CHILD

Good-evening, grandpapa!

TYLTYL

Grandpapa?... Who's that?... Where is he?...