Scene I.
—The Outskirts of the Bower.
Geoffrey
(coming out of the wood).
Light again! light again! Margery? no, that's a
finer thing there. How it glitters!
Eleanor
(entering).
Come to me, little one. How camest thou hither?
Geoffrey.
On my legs.
Eleanor.
And mighty pretty legs too. Thou art the prettiest
child I ever saw. Wilt thou love me?
Geoffrey.
No; I only love mother.
Eleanor.
Ay; and who is thy mother?
Geoffrey.
They call her— But she lives secret, you see.
Eleanor.
Why?
Geoffrey.
Don't know why.
Eleanor.
Ay, but some one comes to see her now and then.
Who is he?
Geoffrey.
Can't tell.
Eleanor.
What does she call him?
Geoffrey.
My liege.
Eleanor.
Pretty one, how camest thou?
Geoffrey.
There was a bit of yellow silk here and there, and
it looked pretty like a glowworm, and I thought if I
followed it I should find the fairies.
Eleanor.
I am the fairy, pretty one, a good fairy to thy
mother. Take me to her.
Geoffrey.
There are good fairies and bad fairies, and sometimes
she cries, and can't sleep sound o' nights because
of the bad fairies.
Eleanor.
She shall cry no more; she shall sleep sound enough
if thou wilt take me to her. I am her good fairy.
Geoffrey.
But you don't look like a good fairy. Mother
does. You are not pretty, like mother.
Eleanor.
We can't all of us be as pretty as thou art—
(aside)
little bastard. Come, here is a golden chain I will
give thee if thou wilt lead me to thy mother.
Geoffrey.
No—no gold. Mother says gold spoils all. Love
is the only gold.
Eleanor.
I love thy mother, my pretty boy. Show me where
thou camest out of the wood.
Geoffrey.
By this tree; but I don't know if I can find the
way back again.
Eleanor.
Where's the warder?
Geoffrey.
Very bad. Somebody struck him.
Eleanor.
Ay? who was that?
Geoffrey.
Can't tell. But I heard say he had had a stroke,
or you'd have heard his horn before now. Come
along, then; we shall see the silk here and there, and
I want my supper.
[Exeunt.
