THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL
(Standing up on the bench, beside his MOTHER, showing her to the others and dancing with delight.) Here! Here!... She's here, she's here!... I found her!...
(THE MOTHER tries to rise and take them in her arms, but they do not give her time. They fling themselves upon her, load her with kisses and caresses, make her sit down again and clamber on her knees, swarming and scrambling over her and all speaking together.)
THE FIVE LITTLE ONES
It's she!... It's she!... It's mummy!... Where was she?... Did you know her?... I should think so! I should think so!... You too? Yes, I too, I too!... You're taking up all the room!... You're kissing her all the time!... It's not fair, it's my turn!... She's my mummy too!... We looked for you so hard!... We waited for you so long!... She is lovely, isn't she?... She's the loveliest of them all!... There's no one like her!... Tell us, tell us!... What?... I love you! Do you love me?... Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss!... What sweet things mummies are!... How delicious it is to kiss!... To think one didn't know!... All for us, all for us!... The only happiness!... You're everything in the world to us, we're everything in the world to you!... I dote on you!... I say, do you know me? I shall be the second.... And I the third.... And I the last!... Kiss me first, I shall have the longest to wait!... She's laughing!... She's happy too!... Answer us, speak to us!... Your arm, I want to feel your arm round my neck!... Mine too, mine too!... Don't go away, whatever you do!... We don't know where we are, we're mad with delight!... We can't wait any longer!...
(While they are thus kissing and talking, the other, BIGGER CHILDREN, those of the future generations, gradually return and fill the halls again. The first arrivals stop behind the group formed by THE MOTHER and THE SIX LITTLE ONES; and whispers are heard and rise from the growing crowd: "They've found her!... They've found her!.... It's she!... How happy they are!... How beautiful she is!... How kind she looks!... Can we kiss her?... Wait, wait, it's their turn now!... Ours will come!..." TYLTYL, followed by LIGHT, THE SIX GIRLS and DESTINY, now enters the hall. THE CHILDREN fall back to let him pass. THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL sees him first, goes to him and, taking him by the hand, leads him to THE MOTHER.)
THE SMALLEST OF THEM ALL
(Gravely.) It is she.... I found her....
(THE MOTHER rises and stands in front of TYLTYL.)
ANOTHER LITTLE ONE