TYLTYL Well, no, Light, because I don't know....

LIGHT Don't you recognise that wall and that little door?...

TYLTYL It is a red wall and a little green door.

LIGHT And doesn't that remind you of anything?...

TYLTYL It reminds me that Time shewed us the door....

LIGHT How odd people are when they dream.... They do not recognise their own hands....

TYLTYL Who is dreaming?... Am I?...

LIGHT Perhaps it's myself.... Who can tell?... However, this wall contains a house which you have seen more than once since you were born....

TYLTYL A house which I have seen more than once since I was born?...

LIGHT Why yes, sleepy-head!... It is the house which we left one evening, just a year ago, to a day....

TYLTYL Just a year ago?... Why, then....

LIGHT Come, come!... Don't open great eyes like sapphire caves.... It's the dear old house of your father and mother....

TYLTYL (_going up to the door_) But I think.... Yes, really.... It seems to me.... This little door.... I recognise the wooden pin.... Are they in there?... Are we near mummy?... I want to go in at once.... I want to kiss her at once!...

LIGHT One moment.... They are sound asleep; you must not wake them with a start.... Besides, the door will not open till the hour strikes....

TYLTYL What hour?... Is there long to wait?...

LIGHT Alas, no!... A few poor minutes....

TYLTYL Aren't you glad to be back?... What is it, Light?... You are quite pale, you look ill....

LIGHT It's nothing, child.... I feel a little sad, because I am leaving you....

TYLTYL Leaving us?...

LIGHT I must.... I have nothing more to do here; the year is over, the Fairy is coming back to ask you for the Blue Bird....

TYLTYL But I haven't got the Blue Bird!... The one of the Land of Memory turned quite black, the one of the Future turned quite pink, the Night's are dead and I could not catch the one in the Forest.... Is it my fault if they change colour, or die, or escape?... Will the Fairy be angry and what will she say?...

LIGHT We have done what we could.... It seems likely that the Blue Bird does not exist or that he changes colour when he is caged....

TYLTYL Where is the cage?...

BREAD Here, master.... It was entrusted to my diligent care during our long journey; to-day, now that my mission is drawing to an end, I restore it to your hands, untouched and carefully closed, as I received it.... (_Like an orator making a speech_) And now, in the name of all, I crave permission to add a few words....

FIRE He has not been called upon to speak!...

WATER Order!...

BREAD The malevolent interruptions of a contemptible enemy, of an envious rival....

FIRE An envious rival!... What would you be without me?... A lump of shapeless and indigestible dough....

WATER Order!...

FIRE I won't be shouted down by you! ...

(_They threaten each other and are about to come to blows_.)

LIGHT (_raising her wand_) Enough!...

BREAD The insults and the ridiculous pretensions of an element whose notorious misbehaviour and whose scandalous excesses drive the world to despair....

FIRE You fat pasty-face!

BREAD (_raising his voice_) Will not prevent me from doing my duty to the end.... I wish, therefore, in the name of all...

FIRE Not in mine!... I have a tongue of my own!...

BREAD In the name of all and with a restrained but simple and deep emotion, to take leave of two distinguished children, whose exalted mission ends to-day.... When bidding them farewell, with all the grief and all the fondness which a mutual esteem....

TYLTYL What?... You are bidding us farewell?... Are you leaving us too?...

BREAD Alas, needs must, since the hour when men's eyes are to be opened has not yet come.... I am leaving you, it is true; but the separation will only be apparent, you will no longer hear me speak....

FIRE That will be no loss!...

WATER Order! Silence!...

FIRE I shall keep silence when you cease babbling in the kettles, the wells, the brooks, the waterfalls and the taps....

LIGHT (_threatening them with her wand_) That will do, do you hear?... You are all very quarrelsome; It is the coming separation that sets your nerves on edge like this....

BREAD (_with great dignity_) That does not apply to me.... I was saying, you will no longer hear me speak, no longer see me in my living form.... Your eyes are about to close to the invisible life of the Things; but I shall always be there. In the bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table, beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, with Water and Fire, the most faithful companion, the oldest friend of Man....

FIRE Well, and what about me?...

LIGHT Come, the minutes are pa.s.sing, the hour is at hand which will send us back into silence.... Be quick and kiss the children....

FIRE (_rushing forward_) I first! I first!... (_Violently kissing the_ CHILDREN.) Good-bye, Tyltyl and Mytyl!... Good-bye, my darlings.... Think of me if ever you want any one to set fire to anything....

MYTYL Oh! Oh!... He's burning me!...

TYLTYL Oh! Oh!... He's scorched my nose!...

LIGHT Come, Fire, moderate your transports.... Remember you're not in your chimney....