Laddie (suddenly). Oh, Papa, Mrs. Fayth’s got wings on her feet, too. Her dress covers them up. I like her better than I did that lady you were so cross to.
Mrs. Fayth (laughing). I am so well!—oh, so well! I am a-shamed to be so happy! I walk on air. I float on clouds. I move on waves. All nature seems to be under my feet, and her glory in my heart.... Poor Doctor! (Breaks off and looks at him with quick sympathy.) And yet I tru-ly think you im-prove in spirits. You don’t look armed to the teeth, all the time—now.
Dr. Thorne (smiles cheerfully). A man must respect law, whatever state he is in. I would conform to the customs of this place, so far as I can. I would do this for the boy’s sake, at least. I don’t wish to be a disgrace to him in this system of things.
Mrs. Fayth. Does Doctor Harvey treat you by scien-ti-fic ev-olu-tion? That’s a man’s way. It’s a pretty slow one.
Laddie (insistently). Papa, she has got wings on her feet.
Mrs. Fayth (blushing). Go away and play, children.
(The children run to the cottage. The little girl bounds before, with a light, flying motion. They play in the cottage at “keeping house,” running in and out.)
(Suddenly a change takes place upon the landscape. Its colors soften and melt. Flying tints, like light broken through many prisms, float upon the white flowers, rest upon the annunciation lilies, and delicately touch the white robe of Mrs. Fayth. In fact, the whole atmosphere takes on the appearance of a vast rainbow. Music from the temple sounds clearly.)
Voices (can be heard singing):—
“Thou that takest away the
Sins of the world!”