Then they immediately touch their wands to the floor, and the First Fairy draws a ring at the feet of Ida, and the Second Fairy at the feet of the Student, and then they retire.
Ida. "How can one flower talk to another? For you know flowers cannot speak."
Student. "That they cannot, certainly; but then they can make signs. Have you not noticed that when the wind blows a little the flowers nod at one another, and move all their green leaves? They can understand that just as well as we when we speak together."
Ida. "That is funny." And she laughs.
Enter the Privy Councillor, who has come to pay a visit, and sits down on the sofa by the Student's side.
Privy Councillor. "How can any one put such notions into a child's head? They are stupid fancies!"
Ida. "What the Student told about the flowers seemed very droll." And picking up her nosegay, which had been scattered over the floor, she looks tenderly on it while saying, "The flowers are tired because they have danced all night." And then walking to a table on which stands a doll's bed, she lays them in and puts the coverlet over them. The whole evening through she can not help but think of what the Student has told her.
Scene Second.—Ida's bedroom. Ida in bed. The night-lamp burning on the table.
Ida. "I wonder if my flowers are still lying in the doll's bed? How I should like to know!" She raises herself a little, and looks at the door, which stands ajar. Within lie the flowers. Ida puts her head down on her pillow.
