Come,élléasandMé we are going to sit down here, Yniold; sit on my knee; we shall see from here what passes in the forest. I do not see you any more at all now. You abandon me too; you are always at little mother's.... Why, we are sitting just under little mother's windows.--Perhaps she is saying her evening prayer at this moment.... But tell me, Yniold, she is often with your uncle Pélléas, isn't she?
Yes, yes; always, little father; when you are not there, little father....
Ah!--look; some one is going by with a lantern in the garden.--But I have been told they did not like each other.... It seems they often quarrel;... no? Is it true?
Yes?--Ah! ah!--But what do they quarrel about?
What? about the door?--What are you talking about?--No, come, explain yourself; why do they quarrel about the door?
Who wants it to stay open?--Come, why do they quarrel?
I don't know, little father; about the light.
I am not talking to you about the light; we will talk of that by and by. I am talking to you about the door. Answer what I ask you; you must learn to talk; it is time.... Do not put your hand in your mouth so;... come....
Little father! little father!... I won't do it any more.... [_He cries._]
Come; what are you crying for now? What has happened?
I hurt you?--Where did I hurt you? I did not mean to....
I did not mean to; come, don't cry any more, and I will give you something to-morrow.
A quiver and some arrows; but tell me what you know about the door.
Yes, yes; very big arrows.--But why don't they want the door to be open?--Come, answer me sometime!--no, no; do not open your mouth to cry. I am not angry. We are going to have a quiet talk, like Pélléas and little mother when they are together. What do they talk about when they are together?
Oh, plague of my life!... I am here like a blind man searching for his treasure at the bottom of the ocean!... I am here like a new-born child lost in the forest, and you ... Come, come, Yniold, I was wandering; we are going to talk seriously. Do Pélléas and little mother never speak of me when I am not there?...
Yes, yes, little father; they are always speaking of you.
They never tell you to go play somewhere else?
No, little father; they are afraid when I am not there.