Scene SEVENTH

Cries outside, nearer and nearer, "Ah!——" Enter all the HENS in tumult, preceded by the agitated GUINEA- HEN.

THE BLACKBIRD. [In his cage.] The next course will be Guinea-hen!

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Running to the PHEASANT-HEN.] Ah, my dear, my dear, my dear! — A beauty, a very beauty! — We have come to make your acquaintance, my dear!

[General admiration, "Ah!——" The PHEASANT- HEN is surrounded. Conversation, cries, clucking.]

CHANTECLER. [Watching the PHEASANT-HEN, aside] How well she walks, with free and graceful gait—[He looks at the HENS.] So differently from my Hens![Irritably, to the HENS.] Ladies, you walk as if you had blisters! You walk as if you trod on your own eggs!

PATOU. No mistaking the symptoms! He is very much in love.

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Presenting her son to the PHEASANT-HEN.] The Guinea-cock, my son.

THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK. [Looking admiringly at the PHEASANT-HEN.] What a Jolly shade of blond!

A HEN. [Disparagingly] Like butter!

CHANTECLER. [Turning, drily to the HENS.] It is time you went indoors.

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Amiably] So soon?

CHANTECLER. They retire early.

A HEN. [A little mortified] Yes, we must turn in.

THE PHEASANT-HEN. They go in by a ladder!

THE GUINEA-HEN. [To the PHEASANT-HEN.] Let us be great friends, my dear, shall we?

CHANTECLER. [Looking at the PHEASANT-HEN, aside] Her sumptuous court-dress sets her apart from the rest, and removes her far above. — My Hens are dowdies!

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [To the GUINEA-HEN, excusing herself] I return to my forest home to-night.

THE GUINEA-HEN. [In excessive grief] So soon——?

[A shot in the distance]

PATOU. They are still after game.

THE GUINEA-HEN. You must stay.

CHANTECLER. [Eagerly] That's it! Let us keep her a prisoner among us till to-morrow.

PHEASANT-HEN. But where can I spend the night?

PATOU. [Indicating his kennel] There, in my bachelor's quarters.

PHEASANT-HEN. I? — Sleep beneath a roof?

PATOU. [Insisting.] Go in, I pray.

THE PHEASANT-HEN. But you? What shall you do?

PATOU. I shall do very well!

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Resigning herself.] I will stay then until to-morrow.

THE GUINEA-HEN. [With piercing cries.] Ah! Ah! But to-morrow, my dear! to-morrow——

ALL. [In alarm.] What is it?

THE YOUNG GUINEA-COCK. To-morrow is my mother's day!

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Impetuously.] My dear, would you care to come to-morrow, quite informally, and take a simple snail with us? The Peacock ——

CHANTECLER. [Mounting the ladder, from whence he can inspect the scene] Quiet, if you please! Evening has blown its smoke across the sky—[In a tone of command.] Is every one in his accustomed place?

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Lower, to the PHEASANT-HEN.] The Peacock is coming. We shall hold our little gathering among the currant-bushes.

CHANTECLER. Are the turkeys on their roost?

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Same business.] From five to six.

CHANTECLER. Are the ducks in their pointed house?

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Same business.] The Tortoise has kindly said we may expect her.

PHEASANT-HEN. Indeed?

CHANTECLER. [On the last rung of the ladder] Is every one under cover? — Every chick under a wing?

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Still insisting with the PHEASANT-HEN that she come on the morrow] The Tufted Hen has promised to bring the Cock. —[To CHANTECLER.] Charmed, I am sure.

CHANTECLER. But——

THE TUFTED HEN. [Looking out of the hen-house.] You will come, won't you, dear?

CHANTECLER. No.

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [At the foot of the ladder, looking up at him.] Oh, but you will?

CHANTECLER. Why?

THE PHEASANT-HEN. Because you said "No!" to the other!

CHANTECLER. [Wavering.] Ah!

PATOU. Humph! I beseech you——

CHANTECLER. [Still wavering.] I——

PATOU. Humph! He is weakening. — They will make him pay dear if he yields!.

THE OLD HEN. [Appearing] Make a reed into a pipe and play a tune upon it![The basket-lid drops]

[Night is thickening.]

CHANTECLER. [Still hesitating.] I——

A VOICE. Let us go to sleep——

THE TURKEY. [On his roost, solemnly.] Quandoque dormitat——

THE BLACKBIRD. [In his cage.] Dormittimus!

CHANTECLER. [Very firmly to the PHEASANT-HEN.] I will not go. Good night.

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Slightly offended] Good night![With a curt hop she enters the dog-kennel]

PATOU. [Falling asleep, stretched in front of his kennel] Let us sleep until the sky grows pink — pink as — as — a puppy's tummy——

THE GUINEA-HEN. [Dropping off] From five to six——

THE BLACKBIRD. [Likewise dropping off] Tew— tew——[He nods] tew——

CHANTECLER. [Still at the top of the ladder] All sleeps. —[He spies a CHICK stealing out] Is that a chick I see? —[Springing after him and driving him in] Let me catch you! —[In driving back the CHICK, he finds himself near the kennel. He calls very softly] Pheasant-hen!

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Lost among the straw, sleepily.] What do you want?

CHANTECLER. [After a moment's hesitation.] Nothing.—Nothing![He goes back to the top of his ladder.]

THE PHEASANT-HEN. Shall I be able to sleep, I wonder——

PATOU. [Falling sound asleep.] A puppy's turn——

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [Indistinctly, overcome by slumber.] To sleep under a roof? — I, with my gypsy tastes?

CHANTECLER. I am going in.[He disappears in the hen-house. He is heard saying in a dreamy voice] It is time to shut my— my——

THE PHEASANT-HEN. [In a last effort] ——gyp——sy —— tastes.—[Her head nods and disappears among the straw]

CHANTECLER. [His voice, sleepier and fainter] —— to shut my eyes——

[Silence. He sleeps. Two green eyes are seen suddenly kindling at the top of the wall]

THE CAT. And to open mine!

[Immediately two more yellow eyes shine forth from the darkness above the hay-cock]

A VOICE. And mine!

[Two more yellow eyes on the wall.]

ANOTHER VOICE. And mine!

[Two more yellow eyes.]

ANOTHER VOICE. And mine!