GOVERNESS (_comes from the garden with the intention of taking the boy away_) Peter!
PETER
No, I want to stay with the grown-ups.
AMADEUS
Yes, let him be with us for a while.
GOVERNESS (_returns to the veranda, where she remains visible_)
MARIE
Well, have you been working a lot?
AMADEUS
Oh, we have just been talking.
ALBERT
Do you know why she asks? Because she is in love with Mr. von Rabagas.
AMADEUS
With whom?
ALBERT
Don"t you remember him? He"s that interesting young chap who appears in the first act as one of the King"s attendants. She used, at least, to fall in love only with the heroes of my plays, but nowadays she can"t even resist the subordinate characters.
AMADEUS
That should make you proud.
ALBERT
Proud, you say? But at times you can"t help regretting that you must put all the beauties and virtues of the world into the figures you create, so that you have nothing but your wee bit of talent left to get along with personally.
CECILIA (_enters from the right_)
PETER
There"s mamma!
CECILIA
Good afternoon. (_She shakes hands with everybody_) How are you, Marie?
This is awfully nice. If I had only known.... I went for a short walk.
It"s such a wonderful day.--Well, Peter (_kissing him_), have you had your meal yet?
PETER
Yes.
GOVERNESS (_entering from the veranda_)
Good afternoon, Madame. Peter hasn"t had his nap yet.
MARIE
Does he still have to sleep in the daytime? Our two children have quit entirely.
ALBERT
Instead they play a most exciting game every afternoon--one invented by themselves. They call it "drums and bugles."
MARIE
You must come and see us soon, Peter, so that you can learn to play that game.
PETER
I"ve got a music-box, and I"ll take it along so we can make more noise.
CECILIA
Now you have to go. But first you must say good-by nicely.
PETER
I"ll say "adieu." Good-by is so common.
[_Everybody laughs. Peter goes out with the Governess. Marie and Cecilia move slowly toward the fireplace and sit down in front of it._
MARIE
Of course, I have come to ask for something.
CECILIA
Well, go on.
MARIE
There"s to be a concert at which they want you to a.s.sist.
CECILIA