Tyltyl! Tyltyl!... Gracious, you again!... But this time it's not a surprise. We were expecting you; we were told three days ago.... All the same, though, we're so glad to see you that it's difficult to believe at first.... But how big and strong you've grown, dear! And so good-looking: I should never have known you!... Oh, dear, how nice it is to get a kiss like this now and again!... GAFFER TYL Haven't you brought Mytyl this time?... GRANNY TYL Of course he hasn't; you know it's not her turn yet.... We know what you're here for, Tyltyl: it's not to see us! You needn't blush!... You young rascal, you scamp!... There, there, you're quite right; and the sooner you set about it the better.... So it's one of these girls they have to choose? TYLTYL Yes, Granny, it seems so. GAFFER TYL (_Eyeing them like an expert_.) Ho, ho!... And, my word, a very nice lot too! My compliments! I admire your taste.... (_Pointing to_ ROSELLE.) If I were you, I'd choose that one: she's the prettiest and the plumpest. GRANNY TYL Hold your tongue; no one's asking your advice: you know you've no say in the matter. We're still too young; we've hardly begun to get cold and haven't had time yet to pick up things.... It takes so long; there's so much to learn!... But the others, especially the oldest, who now are the youngest: it's they who know everything.... TYLTYL What? The oldest are the youngest in this country?... GRANNY TYL Yes, it seems one gets younger as one grows older.... I'm beginning to notice it myself. TYLTYL That's odd.... But where on earth are they?... I see nobody.... GAFFER TYL They'll come very soon.... I wonder they're not here yet. TYLTYL Are there many of them? GRANNY TYL What do you think! All your ancestors since the world began! There'd be so many that we shouldn't know where to put them!... But we shall only see a few of them. A good many are travelling in other worlds; and, as a fact, some of the oldest are always away. But those who are on the spot choose in the name of all. They always agree; and it seems they very seldom make a mistake.... But here's one coming out of his house. You see the little man shutting up his shop? (_A spruce_ LITTLE MAN _is seen leaving the eighteenth-century shop_.) TYLTYL Who's he? GRANNY TYL It's your grandfather's grandfather; he was a grocer at Versailles in the reign of Louis the Fifteenth. TYLTYL What funny clothes! GRANNY TYL He has put on the things which he wore in his shop.... Here, as a rule, the weather is so mild, the air so warm and balmy, that we've no need to dress ourselves; but you wouldn't be able to see us if we had no clothes; and so, in your honour, we've put on those we used to wear on earth.... It'll be quite amusing: some of them date back ever so far.... Look, there they come, out of the houses they once lived in....