The Cuckoo
Cuckoo!
First Owl
[To the Mole.] And you, why do you hate him?
The Mole
I hate him because I have never seen him!
The Cuckoo
Cuckoo!
First Owl
And you, Cuckoo, do you know why you hate him?
The Cuckoo
[On the last stroke.] Because he does not have to be wound up! Cuckoo!
First Owl
And we do not love—
Second Owl
[Hurriedly.] We are keeping the others waiting—
All
—the Cock, because—[They fly off. Silence.]
The Pheasant-hen
[Coming slowly from behind the kennel.] I am beginning to love him!