(_The roll of the_ RABBIT'S _drum is heard, diminishing in the distance. Enter_ TYLTYL, MYTYL _and the_ DOG.)
THE CAT (_obsequiously, eagerly, mealy-mouthed, rushing to meet the_ CHILDREN) Ah, there you are, my little master!... How well you look and how pretty, this evening!.... I went before you to announce your arrival.... All Is going well. We shall have the Blue Bird to-night, I am sure.... I have just sent the Rabbit to beat the troop in order to convoke the principal animals of the country.... You can hear them already among the foliage.... Listen!... They are a little shy and dare not come near.... (_The sounds are heard of different animals, such as cows, pigs, horses, donkeys, etc. The_ CAT, _aside, to_ TYLTYL, _taking him apart_) But why have you brought the Dog?... I have told you he is on the worst terms with everybody, even the trees.... I fear that his odious presence will spoil everything....
TYLTYL I could not get rid of him.... (_To the_ DOG, _threatening him_) Go away, you ugly thing!...
THE DOG Who?... I?... Why?... What have I done?...
TYLTYL I tell you, go away!... We don't want you here and there's an end of it.... You're a nuisance, there!...
THE DOG I sha'n't say a word.... I shall follow you at a distance.... They sha'n't see me.... Shall I beg?...
THE CAT (_aside, to_ TYLTYL) Do you allow this disobedience?... Hit him on the nose with your stick; he is really unbearable!...
TYLTYL (_beating the_ DOG) There, that will teach you to be more obedient!...
THE DOG I must kiss you now you've beaten me!... (_He covers_ TYLTYL _with violent kisses and embraces_.)
TYLTYL Come.... That will do.... That's enough.... Go away!...
MYTYL No, no; I want him to stay.... I am afraid of everything when he is not there....
THE DOG (_leaping up and almost upsetting_ MYTYL, _whom he overwhelms with hurried and enthusiastic kisses_) Oh, the dear little girl!... How beautiful she is!... How good she is!... How beautiful she is, how sweet she is!...I must kiss her!... Once more, once more, once more!...
THE CAT What an idiot!... Well, we shall see!... Let us lose no time.... Turn the diamond....
THE CAT In this moonbeam; you will see better.... There, turn it gently!...
(TYLTYL _turns the Diamond. A long-drawn-out rustling shakes the leaves and branches. The oldest and most stately trunks open to make way for the soul which each of them contains. The appearance of these souls differs according to the appearance and the character of the trees which they represent. The soul of the_ ELM, _for instance, is a sort of pursy, pot-bellied, crabbed gnome; the_ LIME-TREE _is placid, familiar and jovial; the_ BEECH, _elegant and agile; the_ BIRCH, _white, reserved and restless; the_ WILLOW, _stunted, dishevelled and plaintive; the_ FIR-TREE, _tall, lean and taciturn; the_ CYPRESS, _tragic; the_ CHESTNUT-TREE, _pretentious and rather dandified; the_ POPLAR, _sprightly, cumbersome, talkative. Some emerge slowly from their trunks, torpidly stretching themselves, as though they had been imprisoned or asleep for ages; others leap out actively, eagerly; and all come and stand in a circle round the two_ CHILDREN, _while keeping as near as they can to the tree in which they were born_.)