Mee-Mee hope, Mee-Mee pray,
All Mee-Mee’s hair gone grey!
Dat’s a fac’!
[Looks at herself in glass, and continues talking.] Only jus’ now it don’ show—dat’s all why she can’t see it. [She puts out light. Within the house are heard the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Olangtsi raised in altercation, and Yunglangsti crying, ‘I don’t want to get up! I won’t get up!’ As Mee-Mee listens her resolution is formed.] Don’ you waste time, Mee-Mee!—don’ you waste time! Soon dey come—to take you away from yo’self. You say not’ing to dat. You only be here—let dem find you here, eh? Let dem see you not belong to dem at all. You belong ... all ... to ... yo’self ... because Tiki have fo’gotten you! [She takes phial of poison from her breast.] Goo’-bye, Mee-Mee!... Goo’-bye ... goo’....
[While she is speaking the picture glows slowly into life. Under the rays of the lantern Wiowani is discovered seated, benignant of aspect. He plucks three times upon the strings of his guitar. At the third sound Mee-Mee’s attention is arrested: she shuffles the poison out of sight and turns her head.
Mee. [With childlike curiosity.] H’m?... How you come in dere?
Wio.
Years ago, when youth was spent,
The door was open, so in I went.
Mee. Catch yo’ foot and trip, eh?... Say? is it all velly nice in dere?