[CURTAIN.]
Home.
To Mademoiselle Sara de Swart.
Persons.
IN THE GARDEN.
THE OLD MAN.
THE STRANGER.
MARTHA } granddaughters of the old man.
AND MARY, }
A PEASANT.
THE CROWD.
IN THE HOUSE
THE FATHER, }
THE MOTHER, } Silent characters.
THE TWO DAUGHTERS,}
THE CHILD, }
Home.
* * * * *
[An old garden, planted with willows. At the back, a house in which three windows on the ground-floor are lighted. A family, sitting up under the lamp, is seen rather distinctly. The father is seated by the fireside. The mother, one elbow on the table, is staring into space. Two young girls, clad in white, embroider, dream, and smile in the quiet of the room. A child lies asleep with his head under the mother's left arm. Whenever one of them rises, walks, or makes a gesture, his movements seem to be grave, slow, rare, and, as it were, spiritualized by the distance, the light, and the vague veil of the windows. The old man and the stranger enter the garden cautiously.]