THE LITTLE GIRL That doesn't matter; he's lovely....
TYLTYL Has he had anything to eat?...
THE LITTLE GIRL Not yet.... What does he eat?...
TYLTYL Anything: corn, bread, Indian corn, grasshoppers....
THE LITTLE GIRL How does he eat, say?...
TYLTYL With his beak. You'll see, I will show you....
(He moves in order to take the bird from the LITTLE GIRL'S hands. She resists instinctively; and, taking advantage of the hesitation of their movements, the DOVE escapes and flies away.)
THE LITTLE GIRL (with a cry of despair) Mother!... He is gone!... (She bursts into sobs.)
TYLTYL Never mind.... Don't cry.... I will catch him again.... (Stepping to the front of the stage and addressing the audience.) If any of you should find him, would you be so very kind as to give him back to us?... We need him for our happiness, later on....