MICHAEL
And this dearer gold.
[Kissing her hair.]
BARBARA
All, all for thee!—
[She leans over in a playful rapture and
binds her hair about him]
Look,—I will be thy garden that we lost,
Yea, everywhere,—in every wilderness.
There shall none fright us with a flaming sword!
But I will be thy garden!
[There is the sound of a herd-bell approaching.
PIPER
See,—how the sunlight soon shall pour red wine
To make your marriage-feast!—And do you hear
That faery bell?—No fear!—'T is some white creature,
Seeking her whiter lamb.—Go; find our hermit;
And he shall bless you,—as a hermit can!
And be your pledge for shelter. There's the path.—
[To MICHAEL]
Follow each other, close!
MICHAEL
Beyond the Sun!
PIPER
A golden afternoon,—and all is well!
[He gives MICHAEL his cloak to wrap round BARBARA. They go, hand in hand, up into the hills, The herd-bell sounds softly.—The PIPER cocks his head like a squirrel, and listens with delight. He watches the two till they disappear; then comes down joyously.
PIPER
If you can only catch them while they're young!
[The herd-bell sounds nearer. He lets down a water-jar into the well again. The nearness of the hell startles him. He becomes watchful as a wild creature. It sounds nearer and nearer. A woman's voice calls like the wind: 'Jan! Jan!'— The PIPER, tense and cautious, moves softly down into the shrubbery by the well.
VERONIKA'S VOICE
Jan!