_The world is sun-soaked_. _The surrounding trees stand sentinel-like in the burning light_. _Burmese servants squat motionless_, _smoking on the broad white steps that lead from the house to the garden_. _The crows croak drowsily at intervals_. _Parrots scream intermittently_. _The sound of a guitar playing a Venetian love-song can be heard coming from the interior_. _Otherwise life apparently sleeps_. _Two elderly retainers break the silence_. "When will the Thakin tire of this?" _one asks the other in kindly contempt_. "The end is already at hand. I read it at dawn to-day." "Whence will it come?" "I know not. It is written that one heart will break." "He will leave her?" "He will leave her. He will have no choice--who can war with Fate?" _The sun shifts a little_; _a light breeze kisses the motionless palm leaves_--_they quiver gracefully_. _Attendants appear R. and L. bearing a great Shamiana_ (_tent_), _silver poles_, _carved chairs_, _foot supports_, _fruit_, _flowers_, _embroidered fans_. _Three musicians in semi-Venetian-Burmese costume follow with their instruments_. _The tent erected_, _enter_ (C.) MENG BENG _and_ MAH PHRU, _followed by two Burmese women carrying two tiny children in Burmese fashion on their hips_. _The servants retire to a distance_. MENG BENG _and_ MAH PHRU _seat themselves on carven chairs_; _the children are placed at their feet and given coloured glass balls to play with_. MENG BENG _and_ MAH PHRU _gaze at them with deep affection and then at each other_. _The musicians play light_, _zephyr-like airs_. MENG BENG _and_ MAH PHRU _talk together_. MENG BENG _smokes a cigar_, MAH PHRU _has one of the big yellow cheroots affected by Burmese women to-day_. "It wants but two days to the two years," _he tells her sadly_. "And you are happy?" "As a god." _She smiles radiantly_. _She suspects nothing_. _She is more beautiful than before_. _Her dress is of the richest Mandalay silks_. _She wears big nadoungs of rubies in her ears_. _Presently_ MENG BENG _arranges a set of ivory chessmen on a low table between them_. _The sun sinks slowly_. _The sound of approaching wheels is heard_. _Enter_ (_C._) U. RAI GYAN THOO, _preceded by two servants_. MENG BENG _looks up in surprise_--_in alarm_. _He rises_, _etc._, _and goes forward_. U. RAI GYAN THOO _presents a letter written on palm leaves_. MENG BENG _does not open it_. _The curtains at the opening of the tent are_, _Oriental fashion_, _dropped_. _The music ceases_. MENG BENG _and the_ GRAND VIZIER _converse apart_. _The Minister explains that the Princess of Ceylon's ship and its great convoy have already been sighted_. _The Court and city wait in eager expectancy_. _The King has worshipped long enough at the Pagoda of Golden Flowers_--_his subjects and his bride call to him_. U. RAI GYAN THOO _has come to take him to them_. MENG BENG _is terribly distressed_.