(Piercing screams and a general turmoil. ROSELLE and AIMETTE make a rush at BELLINE and ROSARELLE, while MILETTE and JALLINE vainly try to separate the combatants. THE VEILED GIRL alone remains motionless in her corner, as though she were not present. The others claw one another's faces, tear one another's hair and end by uttering such piercing yells and shrieks that TYLTYL, returning from the MISER'S, hears them from the far end of the palace and comes running up, scared and dismayed. He is bare-headed and only half-dressed and does not understand what is going on.)
TYLTYL
What is it? What's the matter? What has happened? An accident? Are you hurt? What have you been doing?
THE GIRLS
(All speaking together.) It's she!... No, no, it was Rosarelle who began!... I tell you, it was she!... She insulted me!... She boxed my ears!... She dared to talk against my father!... She spoke ill of my mother!... She's lying, she's lying!... She nearly pulled my ear off!... She's driven a hairpin into my cheek!...
(Enter THE FAIRY.)
THE FAIRY
Why, what's the matter?
TYLTYL
(In bewilderment.) I don't know, ma'am. I think they must have gone mad. They were so sweet when I left them. I should never have known them!... Look, look, they are quite different!... Rosarelle and Belline's eyes are blazing like furies', Aimette looks so spiteful and Roselle so brazen, Jalline hasn't washed herself and Milette's cheeks are as red as a turkey-cock's.... (Bursting into tears and hiding his eyes with his arm, like a child crying.) I can't bear it! Oh, I can't bear it!