ВАВЕТТЕ.

April!

Ville-d'Avray ! .

Why, M'sieu' knows:

Ma'am'selle Rose!

M. VIEUXBOIS.

Ah! I am old,—and I forget.

Was the place growing green, Babette?

BABETTE.

But of a greenness!—yes, M'sieu'!
And then the sky so blue !—so blue!
And when I dropped my immortelle,

How the birds sang!

(Lifting her apron to her eyes.) This poor Ma'am'selle!

M. VIEUXBOIS.

You're a good girl, Babette, but she,—

She was an angel, verily.

Sometimes I think I see her yet

Stand smiling by the cabinet;

And once, I know, she peeped and laughed

Betwixt the curtains....

Where's the draught ?

(She gives him a cup.)

Now I shall sleep, I think, Babette;—

Sing me your Norman chansonnette.

BABETTE (sings).

"Once at the Angelus
(Ere I was dead),

Angels all glorious

What, was I dreaming?

"Once she laughed ".

Where's the draught?

BABETTE (showing the empty cup).

The draught, M'sieu'?

M. VIEUX BOIS.

How I forget!

am so old! But sing, Babette !

66

BABETTE (sings).

One was the Friend I left
Stark in the snow;

One was the Wife that died

Long, long ago;

One was the Love I lost...
How could she know ?"

M. VIEUXBOIS (murmuring).

Ah, Paul!... Old Paul!... Eulalie too!

And Rose....

And O!" the sky so blue!"

BABETTE (sings).

"One had my Mother's eyes,

Wistful and mild;

One had my Father's face,

One was a Child;

All of them bent to me,—

(He is asleep!)

Bent down and smiled!”

M. VIEUXBOIS (almost inaudibly).

“How I forget!"

"I am so old!"... "Good-night, Babette!"