CHILDREN
Don't let them find us! What an ugly noise.—
No, no—don't let them come!
PIPER
Hark ye to me.
Some day I'll take you out with me to play;
High in the sun,—close to the water-fall . . . .
And we will make believe—We'll make believe
We're hiding! . . .
[The Strollers rock with mirth.]
CHILDREN
Yes, yes! Oh, let us make believe!
STROLLERS
Oho, ho, ho!—A make-believe!—Ho, ho!
PIPER
But, if you're good,—yes, very, very soon
I'll take you, as I promised,—
CHILDREN
—Gypsies, oh!
PIPER
Yes, with the gypsies. We shall go at night,
With just a torch—
[Watching them.]
CHILDREN
Oh!
PIPER
Like fire-flies! Will-o'-the-wisps!
And make believe we're hiding, all the way,
Till we come out into a sunny land,—
All vines and sunlight, yes, and men that sing!
Far, far away—forever.
[Gives ILSE a bowl to feed the other children]
[JAN pipes a measure of the Kinder-spell, brokenly. The PIPER turns.
So! Thou'lt be
My master, some day. Thou shalt pipe for me.