But never shall they go
To Hamelin more; and never shale thou go
To be a nun.
BARBARA
To be a nun,--no, no! Ah me, I'm spent.
Sir, take me with you.
MICHAEL
[still enraged to the PIPES]
Rid her of the spell!
Is this thy pledge?
PIPER
[distracted]
I do but rub my wits--
To think--to think.
[To himself]
What shall I do with her,
Now that she's here!--Suppose her bound to stay!
[To them]
Hearken.--You, Michael, on to Rudersheim--
MICHAEL
And leave her here? No, no!
PIPER
Then take the girl.
BARBARA
To Rudersheim? No, never, never!
PIPER
Well . . .
Hearken.--There is the hermit, over the hill.
[Apart, wildly]
But how--suppose she will not marry him?
I will not take her where the children are.
And yet--
[An idea strikes him. To her]
Hark, now;--hark, now, and tell me truly;
Can you spin cloth?
BARBARA
[amazed]
I? Spin?
PIPER
[eagerly]
Can you make shoes?
BARBARA
I--_I_ make shoes!--Fellow!
PIPER
So.
MICHAEL
Art thou mad!
PIPER
With me you may not go! But you'll be safe.
Hearken:--you, Michael, go to Rudersheim;
And tell the nuns--
BARBARA
No, no! I dare not have it!
Oh, they would send and take me! No, no, no!
PIPER
Would you go back to Hamelin?
BARBARA
No--no--no!
Ah, I am spent.
[Droops towards the PIPER; falters and sinks down on the bank
beside the well, in a swoon.
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