Why, of course we know everything that happens inside you; we're there ourselves. Besides, there's very little that separates us from the Ancestors: our interests are the same and our paths often meet. THE FIRST CHILD Look out! Here are the little ones!... I see five coming.... There's only one missing, the littlest.... (_From the back of the halls come five_ LITTLE CHILDREN _holding one another's hands_.) TYLTYL Who are those five little ones? They are very sweet. THE FIRST CHILD Why, they are your children: two boys and three girls! TYLTYL Mine? Shall I have five children? THE FIRST CHILD Six, you will have six, for the last little one isn't here yet.... I promise you, the world can do with them, after what people have been up to, down there!... TYLTYL But I shall never be able to feed them all!... (THE FIVE LITTLE ONES, _still holding hands, have stopped in front of_ THE SIX GIRLS _and stand looking at them solemnly, without speaking. By degrees, the halls have become filled with a host of other_ CHILDREN _who gather round_ THE FIVE LITTLE ONES _and watch them. The silence at last becomes irksome and_ TYLTYL _breaks it_.) TYLTYL Well, children, aren't you going to kiss your papa? THE YOUNGEST CHILD (_Ordering him with a serious gesture to be silent_.) Mamma first.... Where is she? TYLTYL Why, she must be here; she's one of those. You have only to choose. THE YOUNGEST CHILD (_To the one beside him_.) Do you see her? THE OTHER (_Shaking his head sadly_.) No. THE THREE OTHERS (_In succession_.) No more do I.... No more do I.... No more do I.... JALLINE (_Rushing forward, catching hold of one of the_ CHILDREN _and kissing him_.) But that's impossible!... Here, look at me?... Don't you see how much I'll love you?... THE CHILD Yes, but you're not the one. ROSELLE (_Taking another_ CHILD _on her knees_.) And me? Won't you have me for your mamma? THE CHILD No, no, it's not you. ROSARELLE (_Catching hold of another_ CHILD.) And me? Don't you love me? You'll see how happy we shall be!... We shall have a lovely house full of toys and I shall give you everything you want.... THE CHILD (_Vainly trying to contain its tears_.) No, no!... BELLINE (_Taking_ THE YOUNGEST.) Look here, you seem to know more than the others.... Don't you recognize me?... Are you fond of sweets?... THE YOUNGEST CHILD (_Struggling until she lets him go and crying without disguise_.) Let me go! Let me go! TYLTYL Here's a pretty business! He's crying!... And the other one as well!... But what do they want?... They're very hard to please.... (THE YOUNGEST CHILD _wipes his eyes and takes the hand of the next, who does the same by his neighbour, until they all hold hands again_.) THE YOUNGEST CHILD Come!... (THE FIVE LITTLE CHILDREN _move away, with staid dignity, and go out on the left_.) TYLTYL What's the matter with them? Where are they going? ONE OF THE BIG CHILDREN