YVETTE Where is the sunshine gone? Where is the gold? It was a lovely day! ‘Tis cold and dead; No light, no warmth, no cheer!—Oh, presently Those two will take the summer road to Vannes! Ha! does he think that I will meekly stay Within this convent close, will kneel and pray, Day in, day out, for all true lovers’ weal? What is there now to do?—O Jealousy! I dream of Paimpont Wood in June! I’ll dream Of sunlit peaks, of roses named Clarice; I’ll dream of furze that’s set about with thorns And clings unto the common earth which bore it! [_A roll of thunder._ On, on! It suits my mood, the crashing sound!— Jehan the fisherman! rise from the sea, Lay thy cold hand upon the heart of her Who’s not thy child, and teach her how to hate! Yvonne who parted from the earth one night, Come through the storm that darkens overhead And teach thy daughter how to hate! Thou too, Thou other one, thou seigneur high and grand Whose signet burns upon my aching throat, Whose nature stirs within me suddenly, Arise from hell and teach me how to hate! [_Thunder._ VOICES FROM THE CHAPEL _Tantum ergo sacramentum Veneremur cernui_— YVETTE O Our Lady! O Our Lady! O Our Lady! [LALAIN _throws the rose. It falls beside_ YVETTE. Oh!— [_She raises the flower to her lips._ LALAIN _comes forward_. Thou! I thought it was—I thought it was. Go! No rose of thine would I have kissed, Rémond Lalain! [_With a wild petulance she throws down the flower and treads upon it._ LALAIN Now for that deed of thine I will not spare him when the day is mine! YVETTE Of whom speakest thou? LALAIN The Citoyen Vardes. YVETTE Let him be! LALAIN The Citoyenne Blanchefôret. YVETTE Again! LALAIN ‘Tis said the two will shortly wed— A fitting match!—She’s fair and nobly born. Thou mightst have seen, thou mightst have seen last night, Walking by moonlight beside the Loire, A lady the fairest and a great lord! YVETTE Say’st thou? LALAIN Beneath the trees, beside the flood, Toying and whispering, the sword and fan! YVETTE Out and alas! Begone, thou torturer! LALAIN