"But how shall we see them, if they are dead?" asked Tyltyl.
Then the good Fairy explained that they would not be really dead until their grandchildren ceased to think of them:
"Men do not know this secret," she added. "But, thanks to the diamond, you, Tyltyl, will see that the dead whom we remember live as happily as though they were not dead."
"Are you coming with us?" asked the boy, turning to Light, who stood in the doorway and lit up all the hall.
"No," said the Fairy. "Light must not look at the past. Her energies must be devoted to the future!"
The two Children were starting on their way, when they discovered that they were very hungry. The Fairy at once ordered Bread to give them something to eat; and that big, fat fellow, delighted with the importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his stomach. The Children screamed with laughter. Tylô dropped his gloomy thoughts for a moment and begged for a bit of bread; and everybody struck up the farewell chorus. Sugar, who was very full of himself, also wanted to impress the company and, breaking off two of his fingers, handed them to the astonished Children.
As they were all moving towards the door, the Fairy Bérylune stopped them:
"Not to-day," she said. "The children must go alone. It would be indiscreet to accompany them; they are going to spend the evening with their late family. Come, be off! Good-bye, dear children, and mind that you are back in good time: it is extremely important!"
