The owlets in roof-holes Can sing for themselves; The smallest brown squirrel Both scampers and delves; But a baby does nothing-- She never knows how-- She must hark to her mother Who sings to her now. Sleep then, ladykin, peeping so; Hide your handies and ley lei lo. [She bends over HYGD and kisses her; they laugh softly together. LEAR parts the curtains of the door at the back, stands there a moment, then goes away noiselessly.] The lish baby otter Is sleeky and streaming, With catching bright fishes Ere babies learn dreaming; But no wet little otter Is ever so warm As the fleecy-wrapt baby 'Twixt me and my arm. Sleep big mousie... Hygd (suddenly irritable): Be quiet ... I cannot bear it. [She turns her head away from GONERIL and closes her eyes.] [As GONERIL watches her in silence GORMFLAITH enters by the door beyond the bed. She is young and tall and fresh-coloured; her red hair coils and crisps close to her little head, showing its shape. Her movements are soft and unhurried; her manner is quiet and ingratiating and a little too agreeable; she speaks a little too gently.] Goneril (meeting her near the door and speaking in a low voice): Why did you leave the Queen? Where have you been? Why have you so neglected this grave duty? Gormflaith: This is the instant of my duty, Princess: From midnight until now was Merryn's watch. I thought to find her here: is she not here? [HYGD turns to look at the speakers; then, turning back, closes her eyes again and lies as if asleep.] Goneril: I found the Queen alone. I heard her cry your name. Gormflaith: Your anger is not too great, Madam; I grieve That one so old as Merryn should act thus-- So old and trusted and favoured, and so callous. Goneril: The Queen has had no food since yester-night. Gormflaith: Madam, that is too monstrous to conceive: I will seek food. I will prepare it now. Goneril: Stay here: and know, if the Queen is left again, You shall be beaten with two rods at once. [She picks up the cup and goes out by the door beyond the bed.] [GORMFLAITH turns the chair a little away from the bed so that she can watch the jar door, and, seating herself, draws a letter from her bosom.] Gormflaith (to herself, reading): "Open your window when the moon is dead, And I will come again. The men say everywhere that you are faithless, The women say your face is a false face And your eyes shifty eyes. Ah, but I love you, Gormflaith. Do not forget your window-latch to-night, For when the moon is dead the house is still." [LEAR again parts the door-curtains at the back, and, seeing GORMFLAITH, enters. At the first slight rustle of the curtains GORMFLAITH stealthily slips the letter back into her bosom before turning gradually, a finger to her lips, to see who approaches her.] Lear (leaning over the side of her chair): Lady, what do you read?