HANS" WIFE Look! Look!-- And wings upon it! Mercy, what a shoe.-- Don"t give it back.--The child will fly away!
PIPER No, no!
[Looking up at the window soothingly.]
He only wanted one to show--
JAN To Mother!--See.
[Showing her his other foot, joyously]
PIPER [to him]
And this,--wilt leave it here?
Here--with--
JAN The Lonely Man! Oh, make Him smile!
[The PIPER crosses to the Shrine, with the little shoe, and hangs it up there; then he turns towards the window, waving his hand.
CHILDREN Where are you going? . . .
[They run and cling.]
PIPER Ah, the high-road now!
CHILDREN Oh! why?
PIPER I have to find somebody there.
Yes, now and every day, and everywhere The wide world over.--So: good-night, good-morning, Good-by! There"s so much piping left to do,-- I must be off, and pipe.
CHILDREN Oh! why?
PIPER I promised, Look you! . . .
CHILDREN Who is it?
PIPER Why,--the Lonely Man.
[He waves them farewells and goes. The Children dance and laugh and sparkle. Through the hundred sounds of joy, there comes a far-off piping.
THE END