Page:Pelléas and Melisande.djvu/37

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They never tell you to go and play elsewhere?

No, little-father; they are afraid when I am not there.

They are afraid?… By what do you see that they are afraid?

They always weep in the darkness.

Ah, ah!

That makes one weep also…

Yes, yes…

She is pale, little-father.

Ah, ah!…patience, my God, patience…

What, little-father?

Nothing, nothing, my child.—I saw a wolf pass in the forest.—They embrace each other sometimes—No?

They embrace each other, little father?—No, no.—Ah, yes; once…once that it was raining…

They embraced each other? how, how did they embrace other?—

This way, little-father, this way. (He gives him a kiss on the mouth; laughing.) Ah, ha, your beard, little father! It prickles, it prickles. It is becoming all grey, little-father, and your hair also; all grey, all grey… (The window, under which they sit, lights up at this moment and its reflection falls on them.) Ah, ah. little mother has lighted the lamp. It is light, little-father; it is light.

Yes; it begins to be light…

Let us go there also, little-father…

Where would you go?

Where it is light, little-father.

No, no, my child; let us remain a little in the shadow…one does not know, one does not yet know… I think that Pelléas is mad.

No, little-father, he is not mad, but he is very good.

Do you want to see little-mother?

Yes, yes; I want to see her.

Do not make a noise; I am about to hoist you up to the window. It is too high for me, though I am tall… (He lifts the child.). Do not make the least noise; little-mother would be terribly frightened… Do you see her?—If she in the room?