(_Grouped behind the bench, clapping their hands_.) Hear! Hear!... Well done!... It's what they deserve!... They have been wrong too often!... They have done too much harm!... They would be the ruin of the family!... JALLINE (_Going to_ THE GREAT MENDICANT _and clasping his knees_.) Perhaps I'm the one.... I love him so! MILETTE (_Going to_ THE GREAT PEASANT _and clasping his knees_.) If you want to know how much I love him, look at me and see. AIMETTE (_Going to_ THE GREAT ANCESTOR _and clasping his knees_.) Can't you see that I have loved him longer than the others? I have loved him since I first set eyes on him. I never dared say so; but I feel that I shall die if you choose another. THE GREAT ANCESTOR My poor children, it is very sad, but my hands are tied. You will perhaps cry for a few hours; but, if we chose one of you, she would spend her whole life crying, for I do not see among you the one for whom we are waiting.... Tyltyl! TYLTYL Yes? THE GREAT ANCESTOR Have you brought us no one else, besides those we see here? TYLTYL No, no one else. THE GREAT MENDICANT I see a tall white figure over there, against a tree; who is it? TYLTYL I really don't know. She follows us all the time, squeezes in wherever we go, nobody knows her; and we can't get rid of her. THE GREAT ANCESTOR Go and fetch her. (TYLTYL _fetches_ THE WHITE PHANTOM _and brings her back, holding her by the hand_.) THE GREAT ANCESTOR Who are you? TYLTYL It's no use asking her. She never answers; she can't talk. THE GREAT ANCESTOR (_To_ THE PHANTOM.) Come nearer, child, and let me lift the veil that covers your face.... (_He removes the veil. The statue's face appears, absolutely white, featureless and devoid of human expression_.) She has no face.... (_To the other_ ANCESTORS _standing around them_.) Do you know her? THE GREAT PEASANT She has no expression. THE GREAT MENDICANT She has no features.... She is like an unfinished statue. THE GREAT ANCESTOR What are we to do? It must be she. But who is she? She is not dead, or we should know it.... Come, Tyltyl, make an effort, for everything depends on you. You must remember.... TYLTYL I have tried my utmost.... Do what I will, I can't remember at all. THE GREAT ANCESTOR