There shall none fright us with a flaming sword!
But I will be thy garden!
[There is the sound of a herd-bell approaching.
PIPER
See,--how the sunlight soon shall pour red wine
To make your marriage-feast!--And do you hear
That faery bell?--No fear!--'T is some white creature,
Seeking her whiter lamb.--Go; find our hermit;
And he shall bless you,--as a hermit can!
And be your pledge for shelter. There's the path.--
[To MICHAEL]
Follow each other, close!
MICHAEL
Beyond the Sun!
PIPER
A golden afternoon,--and all is well!
[He gives MICHAEL his cloak to wrap round BARBARA. They go, hand
in hand, up into the hills, The herd-bell sounds softly.--The PIPER
cocks his head like a squirrel, and listens with delight. He watches
the two till they disappear; then comes down joyously.
PIPER
If you can only catch them while they're young!
[The herd-bell sounds nearer. He lets down a water-jar into the well
again. The nearness of the hell startles him. He becomes watchful
as a wild creature. It sounds nearer and nearer. A woman's voice
calls like the wind: 'Jan! Jan!'--
The PIPER, tense and cautious, moves softly down into the shrubbery
by the well.
VERONIKA'S VOICE
Jan!
PIPER
Hist! Who dared?
VERONIKA'S VOICE
. . . Jan!--
PIPER
Who dared, I say?
A woman.--'T is a woman!
[Enter VERONIKA, on the road from Hamelin.
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