CAT (interrupting). Only tell me if I be right! 'T will do no harm!
MISS MOUSE (hesitating). Well—then—yes. But 't is put away for our winter stores.
CAT (nodding). Just so! Now, I can't decide where to keep my grease-pot when I have bought one. Won't you give me your advice? You are so wise.
MISS MOUSE. Do you truly think I'm wise?
CAT (nodding). Aye, and if you will tell me where to keep my grease-pot when I have bought it, I'll tell you something more.
MISS MOUSE (greatly pleased). About me?
CAT (nodding). Yes,—what every one says about your being so beautiful. But first I must know where to keep my grease-pot.
MISS MOUSE. Then listen—you must keep it, when you have bought it, in the northwest corner.
[The Cat runs quickly to the northwest corner.]
MISS MOUSE (in alarm). Come away! Come away!
CAT. Why, here is your grease-pot!
MISS MOUSE (as before). Come away, I say!
CAT (looking into the pot). Truly, the fat is kept hard and cool here.
MISS MOUSE. I pray you come away! Mother does not so much as let me look into it. 'T is not yet time, she says.
CAT (looking again into pot). Exactly!
(She leaves the pot and joins Miss Mouse.)
'T is just what I'll tell my kittens about my grease-pot when I have bought it.
MISS MOUSE. Ah, then you have kittens at home?
CAT (nodding). Such beautiful kittens! The eldest is white, with brown marks.
MISS MOUSE. He must be charming!
CAT. I've a mind to tell you his name. First, though, run out to see if your dear mother is not coming.
[Miss Mouse nods and runs out. The Cat quickly creeps to the grease-pot and licks the top off. She crosses to the window just as MISS MOUSE returns.]
MISS MOUSE. Mother is nowhere to be seen. Now what did you name your eldest child?
CAT. Top-off.
MISS MOUSE. Top-off? Why, that is a curious name! Is it common in your family?
CAT. Oh, no! My second child has a white ring around his neck.
MISS MOUSE. Remarkable!
CAT. Very!
MISS MOUSE. What did you name him?
CAT. I gave him an unusual name. I will tell you what it is. First, though, run out to see if your dear mother is coming.
[Miss Mouse nods and runs out. The Cat creeps to the grease-pot and eats half the fat; then crosses to window. MISS MOUSE returns.]
MISS MOUSE. Mother is nowhere to be seen. Now what did you name your second child?
CAT. Half-out.
Miss MOUSE. Half-out? I never heard such a name! 'T is not in the calendar, I'm sure.
CAT. What does that matter, if it pleases me? Now the last child is really a wonder. He is quite black and has little white claws, but not a single white hair on his body.
MISS MOUSE. What have you named him?
CAT. I'm afraid that will please you no better than the others, but still I will tell you. First, though, run to see if your dear mother is not coming.
[Miss Mouse nods and runs out. The Cat creeps to the pot and eats all the fat. She then crosses to the window.]
CAT. What one begins one must needs finish.
[MISS MOUSE returns.]
MISS MOUSE. Mother is nowhere to be seen. Now tell me what you named your youngest child.
CAT. All-out.
MISS MOUSE. All-out? Why, that is more curious than the others. I have never seen it in print.
CAT (glaring at Miss Mouse). You never will!
MISS MOUSE (frightened). What do you mean?
CAT (preparing to spring). I mean to put you down with the fat!
MISS MOUSE. Help! help!
[Enter MOTHER MOUSE just as the Cat clutches her daughter and jumps out of the window with her. Mother Mouse crosses and looks into the empty grease-pot.]
MOTHER MOUSE (sighing sadly). 'T was ever thus! Show your grease-pot, and you'll go with it!
THE GIRL WHO TROD ON THE LOAF
SCENE I
TIME: the day before Christmas.
PLACE: Ingé's Mother's home.
| INGÉ |
| HER MOTHER. |
[The MOTHER stands at the kitchen window, watching for Ingé]
MOTHER. Ah, here she comes at last!
(Short pause. Enter INGÉ)
I have waited long for you, my child. Where have you been?
(Ingé is silent.)
Have you been to the Elf Hill? Tell me.
INGÉ (hesitating). Just for a little while, mother.
MOTHER. Ingé! Ingé! What have I ever told you?
INGÉ I thought I'd go just this once.
MOTHER (showing sorrow). Ah, Ingé, that's what you always say.
INGÉ There's no harm talking with the elves.
MOTHER. And I, your mother, say there is harm.
INGÉ But, mother,—they talk so prettily.
MOTHER (nodding). Aye! and that's the harm. They've put such silly ideas into your head.
INGÉ They say 't is friendship makes them talk as they do.
MOTHER (indignantly). Friendship! 'T is friendship, is it, to tell you not to fetch the wood?
INGÉ They say 't will spoil my hands.
MOTHER. Out upon them and their pretty talk! You shall go there no more. Do you hear me, Ingé?
INGÉ (pouting). I hear.
MOTHER. Now take this loaf of bread to your sick aunt. Say to her 't is her Christmas gift.
INGÉ But, mother, I must cross the muddy road to go there.
MOTHER. Well, you are neither sugar nor salt.
INGÉ I'll spoil my shoes!
MOTHER. You think of your shoes, and your aunt lies ill?
INGÉ Wait till spring and the mud will be gone.
MOTHER. Wait till spring and your aunt will be gone! Here is the loaf—now off with you!
[Ingé takes the loaf and goes, but not willingly.]
SCENE II
TIME: a few minutes later.
PLACE: the muddy road.
| INGÉ | |
| THE WICKED ELF. |
[INGÉ is seen stopping at the muddy road.]
INGÉ 'T is too wide to leap!
[The WICKED ELF suddenly appears on the opposite side of the road.]
WICKED ELF. Good day to you, pretty maid!
INGÉ Good day to you, dear Elf!
WICKED ELF. Wilt cross this muddy road?
INGÉ I must.
WICKED ELF. Then I'll tell you how to do it and not so much as wet your shoe.
INGÉ Oh, thank you, dear Elf!
WICKED ELF. Throw down your loaf and—
INGÉ (showing surprise; interrupting). Throw down the loaf?
WICKED ELF. Why, yes,—to use it for a stepping-stone.
INGÉ But 't will spoil the bread!
WICKED ELF. But 't will save your shoes!
INGÉ Well, that's true—
WICKED ELF. A pretty maid ne'er wears a muddy shoe.
INGÉ That's true, too—
WICKED ELF. Come, then, throw down the loaf!
INGÉ Well, I'll do it!
(She throws the loaf and steps upon it.)
'T is sinking! What shall I do?
WICKED ELF. Why, then, jump off!
INGÉ (trying to jump). I can't! Don't you see I can't?
WICKED ELF. Ha, ha! You're fastened to it!
INGÉ 'T is drawing me down! Help me! Help me!
WICKED ELF. There's no help for you.
INGÉ No help? What do you mean?
WICKED ELF. You must go down with the loaf.
INGÉ I pray you help me! See how I'm sinking! The mud will soon be over my shoes!
WICKED ELF. The mud will soon be over your head!
INGÉ (weeping). Save me! Save me!
WICKED ELF. Will you be saved by magic?
INGÉ Yes, yes!
WICKED ELF. Listen, then—I'll change you into a bird. Are you willing?
INGÉ Yes, yes! Quick now, before I sink deeper!
WICKED ELF (nodding head three times). A sparrow shall you be! Change, now change!
[Ingé changes into a SPARROW, with a tuft of white feathers, just the shape of a loaf of bread, upon its head. The Sparrow flies from the mud.]
SPARROW. Now change me back into Ingé
WICKED ELF. You shall remain as you are.
SPARROW (showing surprise). Remain as I am?
WICKED ELF (nodding). Until you can change yourself back.
SPARROW. And when will that be?
WICKED ELF. When the loaf has gone from your head.
SPARROW. The loaf from my head? What do you mean?
WICKED ELF (going). Fly away to the brook and see! Ha, ha, ha!
(She runs away, calling back.)
Fly away to the brook and see! Ha, ha, ha!
SCENE III
TIME: the day following Christmas Day.
PLACE: an old stone wall by a brook.
| THE SPARROW. | FIRST STONE. |
| THE PEASANT. | SECOND STONE. |
| GRETEL. | THIRD STONE. |
[The SPARROW sits in a hole in the wall.]
FIRST STONE. Come, come, be not so sad, little Sparrow!
SECOND STONE. Come, lift up your head and sing!
THIRD STONE. Come, sing us your Christmas song!
SPARROW. Sing! I have nothing to sing about.
FIRST STONE. Sing of your friends.
SECOND STONE. Sing of their love for you.
THIRD STONE. Sing of their kindness to you.
SPARROW. Talk not to me of friends, or love, or kindness! There's none in the world.
[Enter a PEASANT with his little GRETEL. The Peasant carries two ears of corn.]
PEASANT. Now, my Gretel, we'll place the corn here on the old wall.
GRETEL. Mother thought you brought too much.
PEASANT. Well, 't is true there are only three ears left at home, but the birds must have their Christmas dinner.
[He places the corn on the wall.]
GRETEL. There's none about to see it!
PEASANT. Oh, some bird will soon find it!
GRETEL. But will it call the others?
PEASANT. We'll wait to see. Come, we'll sit there on the log.
[They go to a log near by.]
FIRST STONE. There, little Sparrow, say you now there is no kindness?
SECOND STONE. Or love?
THIRD STONE. Or friendship?
SPARROW. No, no! I can never say that again. The peasant's heart is full of kindness and love and friendship. I will sing of it! 'T will be my Christmas song!
[The Sparrow leaves the hole and flies to the corn.]
GRETEL. Look, father, there is a sparrow! And hear it sing! Just hear it!
PEASANT. It is calling the other birds.
GRETEL. Why, it doesn't even touch the corn!
PEASANT. It's waiting to share it with the others. Is it not a pretty sight? Come, we must go to tell mother.
SCENE IV
TIME: one month later.
PLACE: same as SCENE III.
| OUR SPARROW. |
| THE VERY OLD SPARROW. |
| THE OLD SPARROW. |
| THE YOUNG SPARROW. |
| THE VERY YOUNG SPARROW. |
| THE WICKED ELF. |
[All the SPARROWS except Our Sparrow sit on the stone wall.]
YOUNG SPARROW. I say the stranger should be driven away!
VERY YOUNG SPARROW. So say I!
OLD SPARROW. The stranger is a sparrow, but still not a sparrow.
VERY OLD SPARROW. And yet she is only different by a tuft of white feathers.
YOUNG SPARROW. And such a tuft! For all the world like a loaf of bread!
VERY YOUNG SPARROW. I'd think it shame to carry such on my head!
OLD SPARROW. I fear 't will shame us all to have this stranger about.
VERY OLD SPARROW. And yet we are not ashamed to eat the crumbs this stranger brings.
OLD SPARROW. Well, 't is true she has been most kind.
VERY OLD SPARROW. 'T is a hard winter! Shall we drive away the one who finds food where we find none?
YOUNG SPARROW. And calls us every time!
VERY YOUNG SPARROW. And never eats till we have come!
VERY OLD SPARROW. I've kept in mind the crumbs she has found us. Now, how many do you think?
OLD SPARROW. I cannot say, for I did not think to notice.
VERY OLD SPARROW. There only lacks two or three now of being a loaf.
OTHER SPARROWS (greatly surprised). A loaf?
VERY OLD SPARROW (nodding). A loaf.
VERY YOUNG SPARROW. Here comes the stranger now!
OLD SPARROW. She brings a crust!
[OUR SPARROW flies up with a crust in its bill.]
OUR SPARROW. Come, friends, 't is for all of you!
VERY OLD SPARROW. Do you know, stranger bird, that, with these crumbs, you have brought us in all one loaf?
[Our Sparrow drops the crust for the others. At once it changes into INGÉ The birds fly away frightened.]
INGÉ Ah! Now I understand. The loaf had to be made up, crumb by crumb.
[The WICKED ELF suddenly appears.]
WICKED ELF. Come, pretty maid, come to the Elf Hill!
INGÉ No, no! I will not!
WICKED ELF. But we have such pretty things to tell you!
INGÉ I care not for your pretty things! I go to fetch wood for my mother. I go to walk in the mud if need be. Away with you! I'll have none of you! Away, away, I say!
THE UGLY DUCKLING
SCENE I
TIME: one summer morning.
PLACE: the farmyard of the Moor Farm.
| MADAM DUCK. | TURKEY. |
| FIRST DUCKLING. | GRAY GANDER. |
| SECOND DUCKLING. | WHITE GOOSE. |
| THE UGLY DUCKLING. | PLYMOUTH ROCK HEN. |
| THIRD DUCKLING. | RED ROOSTER. |
[MADAM DUCK enters the farmyard with her new brood of DUCKLINGS. The other fowls approach.]
TURKEY (showing displeasure). A new brood of ducks! Look you all—a new brood of ducks!
GRAY GANDER (also displeased). As if there were not enough of us here already!
WHITE GOOSE (likewise displeased). True enough,—I can scarce find a corner for my afternoon nap!
RED ROOSTER. It seems to me, Madam Duck, that you should not have brought us a new brood this summer.
MADAM DUCK. What is that you are saying?
TURKEY. It seems to all of us, madam, that there is no room here for a new brood.
PLYMOUTH ROCK HEN. Friends, be just. Madam Duck has a perfect right to bring her ducklings here. Besides, the children are quite pretty.
MADAM DUCK. They are beautiful! You shall all see that for yourselves. Come, children, into a row with you!
[The Ducklings form themselves into a row. The Ugly Duckling is last.]
MADAM DUCK. Legs wide apart! Toes out! Now speak prettily to my old friends.
DUCKLINGS (all but the last). Quack! Quack!
MADAM DUCK. There now—are they not charming?
GRAY GANDER (looking down row). Why, yes, they all seem graceful enough—here—wait a moment! Does that last one there belong to you?
[All the fowls look at the last Duckling.]
MADAM DUCK. Oh yes! He is larger than the others and perhaps not so pretty, but—
TURKEY (interrupting). Make no excuses for him, madam. We can see for ourselves what he is.
GRAY GANDER. In all my life I never saw anything so ugly!
WHITE GOOSE. He is neither duck nor goose!
PLYMOUTH ROCK HEN. Nor duck nor chick!
TURKEY. I'd be 'shamed to have a turkey look like that!
RED ROOSTER. I'd allow no hen of mine to claim him!
MADAM DUCK. Come now, come now, friends. The poor child is not pretty, but he is good, and he can swim even better than the others.
TURKEY. That he can swim well is nothing to me!
RED ROOSTER. Nor to me! He should be driven out, I say!
MADAM DUCK. Let him alone; he is not doing any harm.
FIRST DUCKLING. But, mother, no one will look at us if he stays with us!
MADAM Duck (thoughtfully.) Now perhaps it may turn out that way.
SECOND DUCKLING. I'll not walk about with him!
THIRD DUCKLING. Nor I!
MADAM DUCK. Well, well! He must be uglier than I thought!
FIRST DUCKLING. Besides, dear mother, he will not quack.
MADAM DUCK. What is this? Did he not quack but just a moment ago?
SECOND DUCKLING. He turned his toes out, but quack he would not.
THIRD DUCKLING. 'T is true, dear mother.
MADAM DUCK (to the Ugly Duckling). Quack! Quack now—at once!
[The Ugly Duckling tries to quack, but chokes. The fowls laugh and jeer at him.]
GRAY GANDER. Ha, ha! There's a "quack" for you!
WHITE GOOSE. Ha, ha!
PLYMOUTH ROCK HEN. Ha, ha!
RED ROOSTER. Ha, ha!
TURKEY. Ha, ha!
MADAM DUCK (angrily). Once more I tell you—quack!
[The Ugly Duckling tries again; chokes.]
ALL FOWLS. Ha, ha, ha, ha!
UGLY DUCKLING (weeping). I'm sorry—I'd quack if I could.
MADAME DUCK. Ah, if you were only far away!
FIRST DUCKLING. I wish the cat would eat you!
SECOND DUCKLING. I wish the swans would kill you!
WHITE GOOSE. And they will when they see him—you may be sure of that.
GRAY GANDER (nodding). Aye, they'll not suffer such an ugly creature to swim in the brook!
RED ROOSTER. We must drive him off—that's clear!
(Running at the Ugly Duckling.)
Come now, out with you!
PLYMOUTH ROCK HEN (pecking Duckling). Out with you!
UGLY DUCKLING. Mother, save me!
MADAM DUCK. Call not on me!
GRAY GANDER (striking Duckling with his wings). Out with you!
UGLY DUCKLING (running to Ducklings). Brothers, sisters, save me!
FIRST DUCKLING. Come not to us!
SECOND DUCKLING. We'll not save you!
THIRD DUCKLING. Away with you!
TURKEY. At him, hens to peck him! At him, geese to beat him! At him, all of you!
[They all rush upon the Ugly Duckling, who escapes them, running out of the farmyard into the moor.]
SCENE II
TIME: the next winter.
PLACE: the Peasant's cottage.
| THE PEASANT. | THE CAT. |
| HIS WIFE. | THE HEN. |
| ELIZABETH. | THE UGLY DUCKLING. |
[The PEASANT enters the cottage, carrying the UGLY DUCKLING.]
PEASANT. See what I'm bringing you!
WIFE. Why, 't is a duckling—half frozen, too!
PEASANT. I found him frozen in the pond. I had to break the ice to get him out.
ELIZABETH. Give him to me, father. I will put him behind the stove.
PEASANT (giving Duckling to Elizabeth). That's a good child.
WIFE. Handle him tenderly, daughter.
ELIZABETH (taking off her shawl). He shall lie upon my shawl. You poor, dear, ugly little duckling!
[She places the Duckling upon the shawl behind the stove, near the CAT and HEN.]
PEASANT. 'T is the duckling I told you of!
WIFE. The one you saw on the pond yesterday?
PEASANT. Aye, and the day before, and all winter long, for that matter. Yesterday I saw him try to join the wild ducks on the river, but they drove him back to the pond.
ELIZABETH. Poor duckling! The pond was freezing then!
PEASANT (nodding). Then he tried to find a place among the rushes on the moor, but the birds drove him from there.
ELIZABETH. Why did they all treat him so, father?
PEASANT. I do not know, unless it is because he is so ugly.
WIFE. Come now to dinner, father—Elizabeth. By the time we have finished, our duckling will be warmed and awake.
[They go into the kitchen. The Duckling stirs and looks about.]
HEN. Can you lay eggs?
DUCKLING (politely). No, madam.
CAT. Can you set up your back?
DUCKLING. No, dear sir.
CAT. Can you purr?
DUCKLING (frightened). No.
HEN. Then you can't stay here.
DUCKLING. Do not drive me out, I pray you!
CAT. Will you learn to purr?
HEN. And to lay eggs?
DUCKLING (sadly). Alas, I can do nothing but swim.
CAT. Swim! Well, I must say that is very queer.
DUCKLING. Oh, no, dear sir! It is most pleasant when the waters close over your head and you plunge to the bottom.
CAT. Plunge to the bottom, indeed! I'd never think of doing such a silly thing!
HEN. Nor I!
CAT. 'T is clear you can't remain here.
DUCKLING. Where am I to go?
CAT. Go lie in the rushes. The birds flew south this morning.
DUCKLING. I shall starve there.
CAT. It would really be a good thing for you if I should eat you.
DUCKLING. I'd thank you to do so, dear sir.
HEN. Eat him, since he is so willing. He is too ugly to live.
CAT (turning away). I can't, he is too ugly to eat.
(To the Duckling.)
Come, out with you!
HEN (running at him). Yes, yes! Out with you! Out with you!
[They push the Duckling out of the door into the snow.]
DUCKLING. Alas! What shall I do? Where shall I go? Why was I made so ugly that every one despises me!
SCENE III
TIME: the next spring.
PLACE: the brook on the Moor Farm.
| THE UGLY DUCKLING. | THE MOTHER. |
| THE MOLE. | THE CHILDREN. |
| THE FATHER. | THE SWANS. |
[The UGLY DUCKLING sits on the hill of a MOLE near the brook which winds through the Moor Farm.]
MOLE (from the mole hill). Will you please move? I wish to come out.
DUCKLING (rising quickly). Why, 't is a mole hill I've been sitting on!
(The Mole comes out from the hill.)
I'm sorry, friend Mole, I didn't notice your hill.
MOLE. Who are you?
DUCKLING. Madam Duck of this farm is my mother.
MOLE. That can't be! You are no duck.
DUCKLING. Yes, but I am. Only, I am uglier than any duck in the world.
MOLE. You have not the voice of a duck. You do not speak with the quack of which they are so proud. And then, if you are truly a duck, why are you not with your family?
DUCKLING. They drove me out last summer because I was ugly and could not quack.
MOLE. Then why have you come back?
DUCKLING. To let the swans kill me.
MOLE. What! To let them kill you?
DUCKLING. I would rather be killed by those beautiful birds than pecked by the hens, beaten by the geese, or starved with hunger in the winter.
MOLE. Perhaps you are not so ugly now as you were then.
DUCKLING. I have not looked at myself in the water since spring came and took the ice away. But I know well enough how dark and badly formed I am. The swans will kill me if I dare to approach them.
[A noise is heard in the distance.]
MOLE. They are coming! Go, while there is yet time.
DUCKLING. There is no place to go to. All winter long I was driven from moor to moor. I could not make a friend—I no longer wish to live.
[The SWANS are seen swimming down the brook.]
MOLE. They are here! Do not go to them, I pray you!
DUCKLING (shaking head). Farewell!
[He flies to the water and swims toward the Swans. They see him and rush to meet him with outstretched wings.]
DUCKLING. Kill me! Kill me!
FIRST SWAN. Kill you! Why, we have come to welcome you, beautiful stranger.
SECOND SWAN. We saw you from afar, and came to meet you.
THIRD SWAN. We are so happy to have you with us!
[Enter several CHILDREN.]
FIRST CHILD. See, there is a new swan!
SECOND CHILD (calling). Father, mother, come! There is another swan!
[Enter the FATHER and MOTHER.]
FATHER. What were you calling?
THIRD CHILD. A new swan has come! Look!
MOTHER. I see him! He is beautiful!
FATHER. He is very young, but he is the most beautiful of all!
FOURTH CHILD. See how the others stroke him with their beaks!
MOTHER. They are showing him how glad they are to have him with them. See how they swim around him and how gently they touch him!
FATHER. I have never seen anything so pretty. How happy the new swan is! See how he rustles his feathers! See how proudly he curves his slender neck!
FIRST CHILD. And see how he looks at himself in the water!
SECOND CHILD. Let's get bread and cake for him!
THIRD CHILD. Yes, yes!
FOURTH CHILD. Yes, yes!
[The Children run off, followed by the Father and Mother.]
MOLE (going into his hill). 'T was not so bad after all—not to have the family quack!
THE RED SHOES
SCENE I
TIME: one morning.
PLACE: the Shoemaker's shop.
| GRANDMOTHER. |
| KAREN. |
| SHOEMAKER. |
[The GRANDMOTHER and KAREN enter the shop of the SHOEMAKER.]
GRANDMOTHER. This is my little granddaughter Karen, Shoemaker. Please to take her measure for a pair of shoes.
SHOEMAKER. What kind do you wish, madam?
GRANDMOTHER. Morocco, the finest you have, Karen is to wear these shoes to church.
SHOEMAKER. What color do you wish, madam?
GRANDMOTHER. Black.
KAREN (whispering to Shoemaker). Red.
SHOEMAKER (puzzled). Eh?
GRANDMOTHER (louder). Black.
KAREN (whispering to Shoemaker). Red.
SHOEMAKER. Of course, madam, if you say black, black they shall be.
KAREN. The little princess wore red shoes, Grandmother.
SHOEMAKER (nodding). That is true; I saw them myself.
GRANDMOTHER. Red shoes?
KAREN (nodding). Of beautiful red morocco. The queen let the princess stand at a window so every one could see her new shoes.
SHOEMAKER. It is all true, madam.
GRANDMOTHER. No matter; Karen is to have black shoes.
(Taking up a pair of shoes.)
Here, this pair suits me exactly.
SHOEMAKER (surprised). But, madam, those shoes are—
KAREN (interrupting; whispering). Hush, Shoemaker! Do not tell her. She can't see very well.
GRANDMOTHER (giving shoes to Karen). Are they of polished leather? They shine as if they were.
KAREN. Yes; they do shine.
(Trying on the shoes.)
And they just fit me, Grandmother.
GRANDMOTHER. I will take them, Shoemaker.
SHOEMAKER. But, madam—
KAREN (interrupting; whispering). Hush, Shoemaker! She will never know the difference.
GRANDMOTHER. Here is the money, Shoemaker. Come, Karen.
SHOEMAKER. But, madam—
KAREN (interrupting). I am ready, Grandmother.
GRANDMOTHER. Good day, Shoemaker.
SHOEMAKER. But, madam—
KAREN (interrupting). Good day, Shoemaker.
[The Grandmother and Karen go.]
SCENE II
TIME: the next Sunday, after church.
PLACE: the Grandmother's home.
| THE GRANDMOTHER. | |
| KAREN. | |
| First. | |
| Second. | |
| THE NEIGHBORS | Third. |
| Fourth. |
[The NEIGHBORS sit with the GRANDMOTHER in the spare room because it is Sunday.]
FIRST NEIGHBOR. I did not see you at church to-day, Grandmother.
GRANDMOTHER. I could not go, but I sent little Karen.
SECOND NEIGHBOR (mysteriously). Oh, yes; we saw her! Everybody saw her!
GRANDMOTHER (proudly). People do look at her; she is so pretty.
THIRD NEIGHBOR. People didn't look at her face to-day.
GRANDMOTHER (alarmed). What do you mean?
THIRD NEIGHBOR. Ask Karen when she returns. We're not the ones to carry tales.
GRANDMOTHER (looking out window). Here she comes now!
FOURTH NEIGHBOR. Just ask her about the sermon and the hymns!
GRANDMOTHER (proudly). She will tell me almost every word the pastor said. She is a smart girl—that Karen.
[Enter KAREN.]
KAREN. Well, Grandmother, here I am! Good morning, Neighbors.
NEIGHBORS (coldly). Good morning, Karen.
GRANDMOTHER. Now tell me about the sermon, Karen. What was the text?
KAREN (with confusion; stammering). The text? It was—it was—Oh, I will tell you all about it by and by, Grandmother. Our Neighbors want to talk with you now.
FIRST NEIGHBOR. Oh, no! We would rather hear you tell your Grandmother about the sermon and the music.
GRANDMOTHER. What hymns did they sing, Karen?
KAREN (as before). Hymns? They sang—let me see—they sang—
[She stops in confusion.]
GRANDMOTHER. Why, Karen! Are you ill?
SECOND NEIGHBOR. No, Grandmother, Karen is not ill. She is ashamed. She was not thinking of the beautiful music nor of the sermon this morning. Is that not true, Karen?
KAREN (ashamed). Y-e-s—
GRANDMOTHER. What is this?
THIRD NEIGHBOR. Tell your Grandmother what you were thinking about in church, Karen.
KAREN. I was thinking about—about—my new shoes.
GRANDMOTHER. A great thing to think about in church—a pair of plain black shoes!
FOURTH NEIGHBOR. She did not wear her black shoes; she wore red shoes!
GRANDMOTHER (gasping). Red shoes—to church?
FIRST NEIGHBOR (nodding). Every one was terribly shocked!
GRANDMOTHER (still gasping). Red shoes to church!
SECOND NEIGHBOR. Even the pastor looked at her shoes!
GRANDMOTHER (indignantly). Red shoes to church!
THIRD NEIGHBOR. The choir looked! All fixed their eyes on Karen's red shoes.
GRANDMOTHER. It is the most shocking thing I ever heard! Do you hear me, Karen?
KAREN (hanging her head in shame). Yes, Grandmother.
GRANDMOTHER. You must never, never, so long as you live, wear red shoes to church again. It is not at all proper. Do you hear me, Karen?
KAREN (as before). Yes, Grandmother.
FOURTH NEIGHBOR. Do you think she should have her Sunday dinner?
GRANDMOTHER. Not one bite! She shall stay in her room all day. Do you hear me, Karen?
KAREN. Yes, Grandmother.
GRANDMOTHER. Thank you for telling me, Neighbors. To think of it! Red shoes to church!
SCENE III
TIME: the following Sunday, after church.
PLACE: the churchyard.
| THE GRANDMOTHER. |
| KAREN. |
| THE OLD SOLDIER. |
| THE COACHMAN. |
[The GRANDMOTHER and KAREN come from the church. The OLD SOLDIER stands near the church door. He tries to speak to the Grandmother, but she does not hear him.]
KAREN. Wait a moment, Grandmother! The Old Soldier wants to speak with you.
GRANDMOTHER (turning). What do you want, Old Soldier?
OLD SOLDIER. I want to dust your shoes, madam.
GRANDMOTHER. That is very good of you.
(Old Soldier dusts her shoes).
Thank you; now I will go to my carriage while you dust Karen's shoes.
[She goes.]
OLD SOLDIER. Stretch out your foot, little Karen.
(Karen thrusts out her foot.)
What is this? Red shoes for church?
KAREN. I looked at my old black shoes—
OLD SOLDIER (interrupting). And then at your new red ones?
KAREN (nodding). Yes, and then at my black ones again—
OLD SOLDIER (interrupting). And then put on your red ones!
KAREN. Sh-h! Grandmother must not know.
OLD SOLDIER. She can't hear, for I am talking through my long red beard.
KAREN. Why is your beard so red, Old Soldier?
OLD SOLDIER. To make more light for my eyes—that I may see without looking.
KAREN. See without looking?
OLD SOLDIER (nodding). I was not in the church, yet I saw you clearly when you knelt at the altar and raised the golden cup to your lips.
KAREN (surprised). You saw that?
OLD SOLDIER (nodding). And more—I saw your thoughts.
KAREN. You saw my thoughts?
OLD SOLDIER (nodding). It was to you as if your red shoes passed before your eyes in the cup. Am I not right?
KAREN (showing fear). Y-e-s—
OLD SOLDIER. And I saw by the light of my beard that you forgot to sing the hymns; eh, Karen?
KAREN. Y-e-s—
OLD SOLDIER. And that you forgot to say your prayers; eh, Karen?
KAREN. Y-e-s—
OLD SOLDIER. You were thinking of your red shoes all the time.
KAREN. Y-e-s, Old Soldier.
OLD SOLDIER (holding Karen and stooping until his beard covers her shoes). Cover and touch and change, my beard! Cover and touch and change!
KAREN. What are you doing? Let me go!
OLD SOLDIER (holding her firmly). I am turning your red shoes into dancing shoes!
KAREN. I am afraid of you! Let me go!
OLD SOLDIER (slapping soles of her shoes with hand). Now I have made them stick fast to your feet!
KAREN (calling). Grandmother! Grandmother!
OLD SOLDIER. Now you may go! Ha, ha!
KAREN. Why! I am dancing! I can't stop! Grandmother! Grandmother!
GRANDMOTHER. What is this? Mercy on me! She is dancing down the street! Run after her, Coachman! Quick! Stop her!
COACHMAN (running after Karen). Stop, Mistress Karen! I'm after you!
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER (calling after Coachman). There she goes around the corner!
COACHMAN (calling off). I'll get you, Mistress Karen! Just stop a bit!
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER. My poor Karen! My poor Karen!
COACHMAN (returning). I couldn't catch her, madam! She danced right out of the town gate!
GRANDMOTHER. Out of the town gate?
COACHMAN. Yes, madam, and straight for the dark wood.
GRANDMOTHER. We will drive after her!
[Coachman jumps to his seat.]
OLD SOLDIER. Ha, ha, ha! You will never catch her!
GRANDMOTHER. Quick, Coachman, quick! We must catch her before she gets to the dark wood. My poor Karen! My poor Karen!
[The carriage dashes off.]
SCENE IV
TIME: three days later; evening.
PLACE: the dark wood. A hut is seen among the vines.
| THE FORESTER. | THE EXECUTIONER. |
| HIS SON. | THE OLD SOLDIER. |
| KAREN. | THE FAIRY QUEEN. |
| MOON. | |
[The FORESTER and his SON are felling a tree.]
KAREN (heard calling off). Stop me! Stop me!
SON. Heard you that cry?
FORESTER (looking off). Mercy on us! 'T is the dancing girl I told you of!
[Enter KAREN, dancing.]
KAREN. Stop me, Forester!
FORESTER. No, no! I dare not!
KAREN (to Son). Stop me, I pray you! Three days have I danced! I can endure it no longer!
SON (to Forester). Come, let us help her!
FORESTER. Do not touch her! She is bewitched!
KAREN. 'T is my shoes are bewitched—not I!
SON. I say, little maid, pull off your shoes!
KAREN. They will not come off. See!
[She pulls at her shoes.]
SON (starting towards Karen). I'll get them off, bewitched or not bewitched!
FORESTER (seizing Son). Would you get yourself into trouble? Come home with me!
[Forester runs from wood with Son. The MOON arises suddenly in a fir tree.]
KAREN. O Moon, see how I dance below you! Pray tell me how to break this spell!
MOON. Ha, ha, ha!