THE GRANDFATHER. Your sister is older than you? THE UNCLE. She is the eldest. THE GRANDFATHER. I do not know what ails me; I feel uneasy. I wish your sister were here. THE UNCLE. She will come; she promised to. THE GRANDFATHER. Ah, if this evening were only over! [_The three daughters come in again._] THE FATHER. He is asleep? THE ELDEST DAUGHTER. Yes, father; he is sleeping soundly. THE UNCLE. What shall we do while we are waiting? THE GRANDFATHER. Waiting for what? THE UNCLE. Waiting for our sister. THE FATHER. You see nothing coming, Ursula? THE ELDEST DAUGHTER [_at the window_]. Nothing, father. THE FATHER. Not in the avenue? Can you see the avenue? THE DAUGHTER. Yes, father; it is moonlight, and I can see the avenue as far as the cypress wood. THE GRANDFATHER. And you do not see any one? THE DAUGHTER. No one, grandfather. THE UNCLE. What sort of a night is it? THE DAUGHTER. Very fine. Do you hear the nightingales? THE UNCLE. Yes, yes. THE DAUGHTER. A little wind is rising in the avenue. THE GRANDFATHER. A little wind in the avenue? THE DAUGHTER. Yes; the trees are trembling a little. THE UNCLE. I am surprised that my sister is not here yet. THE GRANDFATHER. I cannot hear the nightingales any longer. THE DAUGHTER. I think some one has come into the garden, grandfather. THE GRANDFATHER. Who is it? THE DAUGHTER. I do not know; I can see no one. THE UNCLE. Because there is no one there. THE DAUGHTER. There must be some one in the garden; the nightingales have suddenly ceased singing. THE GRANDFATHER. But I do not hear any one coming. THE DAUGHTER. Some one must be passing by the pond, because the swans are ruffled. ANOTHER DAUGHTER. All the fishes in the pond are diving suddenly. THE FATHER. You cannot see any one. THE DAUGHTER. No one, father. THE FATHER. But the pond lies in the moonlight.... THE DAUGHTER. Yes; I can see that the swans are ruffled. THE UNCLE. I am sure it is my sister who is scaring them. She must have come in by the little gate. THE FATHER. I cannot understand why the dogs do not bark. THE DAUGHTER. I can see the watchdog right at the back of his kennel. The swans are crossing to the other bank!... THE UNCLE. They are afraid of my sister. I will go and see. [_He calls._] Sister! sister! Is that you?... There is no one there. THE DAUGHTER. I am sure that some one has come into the garden. You will see. THE UNCLE. But she would answer me! THE GRANDFATHER. Are not the nightingales beginning to sing again, Ursula? THE DAUGHTER. I cannot hear one anywhere. THE GRANDFATHER. But there is no noise. THE FATHER. There is a silence of the grave. THE GRANDFATHER. It must be a stranger that is frightening them, for if it were one of the family they would not be silent. THE UNCLE. How much longer are you going to discuss these nightingales? THE GRANDFATHER. Are all the windows open, Ursula? THE DAUGHTER. The glass door is open, grandfather.