"I am leaving you," he said, between his sobs. "I am leaving you, my dear Children, and you will no longer see me in my living form.... Your eyes are about to close to the invisible life of Things; but I shall be always there, in the bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table, beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, the most faithful companion, the oldest friend of Man...."
"Well, and what about me?" shouted Fire, angrily.
"Silence!" said Light. "The hour is passing.... Be quick and say good-bye to the Children...."
Fire rushed forward, took hold of the Children, one after the other, and kissed them so violently that they screamed with pain:
"Oh! Oh!... He's burning me!..."
"Oh! Oh!... He's scorched my nose!..."
"Let me kiss the place and make it well," said Water, going up to the children gently.
This gave Fire his chance:
"Take care," he said, "you'll get wet."
"I am loving and gentle," said Water. "I am kind to human beings...."