Come--are you finished? I’ve got to hurry. She’s gone off into that room to clear up. She’ll be coming back any minute. MAN (_looking up smiling--handing him the kettle_) It’s mended. Better than it ever was! (_Pierrot takes the kettle--runs to the shelf and puts it away. To the Man--_ PIERROT Come now, come! MAN (_gathering up pack_) I’m coming. (_Sings_)-- Life’s a joy When turned about; In to in And out to out. PIERROT (_putting on cloak_) If I hurry now, I’ll have it here before she’s through with her work; it’s a beauty--it’s a beauty (_dances exultant_). My pockets are slimpsy as pockets can be; And short is the space twixt the poorhouse and me; But while there’s a copper that hasn’t been spent, I’ll mortgage my shoes for the price of the rent! (_They both make their exit as Pierrot sings._) _After a moment, Pierrette opens the inner door softly, and seeing that no one is there, steps in. She has on a cloak and a hood over her head. She is very sad._ _She first takes the tea things from the table. Then, hesitating, she goes to the screen, pulling it softly aside. She leans over the crib for a merest moment. Then she pulls the screen to again, whispering:_ Up in the sky are the firefly stars; Sleep, Kittikins, sleep! Father will catch them in crystal jars-- PIERRETTE Yes, Kittikins, we must let father. Father can make such beautiful songs. We must not stand in his way, Kittikins--we love him so. (_She goes to the shelf and gets down a sheet of paper, the ink horn and a quill pen--takes them to the table, sits and writes._) PIERRETTE We’ll just write this: “Mother Merle--will--take--Kittikins.--She-- loves--her.--Good-bye--Sweetheart.” We’ll leave it here. (_She folds it and lays it on the table. She half goes once more to the crib; but she controls herself. Then, as she goes to the door, she half turns, looks at Pierrot’s chair, and sings softly_)-- Love comes in, a-tip-toe, laughing; Love trails out with leaden feet-- Love that’s here to-day may leave us, Banished in a windy street. I shall love you always, always-- Sweetheart, through the endless years; I shall love you with my heartaches; I shall love you with my tears. (_She goes out into the night._) (_After a time Pierrot comes hurrying in. His eyes are dancing. His toes are dancing. He peeks about to see if she is there. Then he makes to hide his package under the stool, but thinks better of it. He runs to the screen, but again decides against the place. He looks about and considers. An idea strikes him and he takes off his peaked hat and drops the package into that. But again he decides against it. At last, with a sudden inspiration, he runs to the pewter pot._) PIERROT (_gleeful_)