MARGOT.
Since thou hast left——
LOUISON (making a sign to MARGOT).
Margot!
MARGOT.
Our father hath
Become dejected.
JOHANNA.
Ah!
LOUISON.
Console thyself!
Our sire's foreboding spirit well thou knowest!
He will collect himself, and be composed,
When he shall learn from us that thou art happy.
MARGOT.
And thou art happy? Yes, it must be so,
For thou art great and honored!
JOHANNA.
I am so,
Now I again behold you, once again
Your voices hear, whose fond, familiar tones
Bring to my mind my dear paternal fields.
When on my native hills I drove my herd,
Then I was happy as in paradise—
I ne'er can be so more, no, never more!
[She hides her face on LOUISON'S bosom. CLAUDE MARIE,
ETIENNE, and BERTRAND appear, and remain timidly standing
in the distance.
MARGOT.
Come, Bertrand! Claude Marie! come, Etienne!
Our sister is not proud: she is so gentle,
And speaks so kindly,—more so than of yore,
When in our village she abode with us.
[They draw near, and hold out their hands; JOHANNA
gazes on them fixedly, and appears amazed.