She shall feed me. You will be happy. [_He disappears._ AOYAGI Free! And happy! [_The Gaki's voice is heard calling Obaa-San. She comes in and looks about. At last her old tired eyes see Aoyagi. For a moment they face each other._ AOYAGI Hai. OBAA-SAN A dream! AOYAGI Mother-- [_Obaa-San stands mute. She listens--yearning for the word again._ OBAA-SAN Have you lost your way? AOYAGI No, mother-- [_Obaa-San does not know what to think or do. A strange giddiness seizes on her and a great light fills her eyes._ OBAA-SAN How beautiful the name! But I am only Obaa-San. Your mother-- [_She shakes her old head sadly._ AOYAGI Obaa-San, my mother. [_Obaa-San lays her hand upon her heart. Then she stretches out her arms._ OBAA-SAN Obaa-San--your mother--where is my pain? And you--who are you? AOYAGI I am Aoyagi, mother. OBAA-SAN You have not lost your way? AOYAGI I have but just found my way. OBAA-SAN My pain is stilled. There is no emptiness. It is a dream--a dream of spring and butterflies--Aoyagi! [_She stretches out her arms and silently Aoyagi glides into them--as though they had always been waiting for her._ OBAA-SAN I seem never to have known a time when you were not here. AOYAGI Oh, mother dear, it is now--and now is always, if we will. OBAA-SAN It seems as though the weeping willow tree had warmed and shown its heart to me. AOYAGI I am the Lady of the Weeping Willow tree! OBAA-SAN I care not who or what you are. You are here--close to my heart and I have waited always. I know I dream--I know. AOYAGI How long I've tried to speak to you! OBAA-SAN How long my heart has yearned for you! AOYAGI Mother! [_The Gaki appears._ THE GAKI Such happiness. Already she has forgotten the coming of the man. OBAA-SAN Oh, how I've dreamed of you! When I was very, very young and had my little doll, I dreamed of you. I used to sing a lullaby and still I sing it in my heart: See, baby, see The ears of the wolf are long; Sleep, baby, sleep, Your father is brave and strong. I grew into womanhood and still I dreamed of you. And, dreaming still, I grew old. And all the world it seemed to me, made sport of my longing and my loneliness. The people of the village called me grandmother. The children echoed the grownups' cry and ran from me. Now--Aoyagi--you are here. Oh, the warmth--the peace. Come let me gather flowers for the house. Let me-- AOYAGI Oh, mother, dear. I am so happy here. OBAA-SAN (_suddenly becoming the solicitous mother, she handles Aoyagi as one might handle a doll_) Are you--truly?--Are you warm?--You are hungry! AOYAGI No--I am just happy. [_She nestles close to Obaa-San. There is complete contentment._ OBAA-SAN I shall bring you--a surprise. [_She darts into the house. Immediately The Gaki comes in._ THE GAKI You seem very happy, Aoyagi. And your mother is very happy, too.--And I am hungry now. AOYAGI You will not hurt her! Let me go back to the Weeping Willow Tree--