The same setting as in ACT I, but the objects, the walls and the atmosphere all appear incomparably and magically fresher, happier, more smiling. The daylight penetrates gaily through the chinks of the closed shutters. To the right, at the back, TYLTYL and MYTYL lie sound asleep in their little beds. The DOG, the CAT and the THINGs are in the places which they occupied in ACT I, before the arrival of the FAIRY.
Enter MUMMY TYL
MUMMY TYL (in a cheerfully scolding voice)
Up, come, get up, you little lazybones!… Aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?… It has struck eight and the sun is high above the trees!… Lord, how they sleep, how they sleep!… (She leans over and kisses the CHILDREN.) They are quite rosy… Tyltyl smells of lavender and Mytyl of lilies-of-the-valley… (Kissing them again) What sweet things children are!… Still, they can’t go on sleeping till midday… I mustn’t let them grow up idle… And, besides, I have heard that it’s not very healthy… (Gently shaking TYLTYL) Wake up, wake up, Tyltyl…
TYLTYL (waking up)
What?… Light?… Where is she?… No, no, don’t go away…
MUMMY TYL
Light?… Why, of course it’s light… Has been for ever so long… It’s as bright as noonday, though the shutters are closed… Wait a bit till I open them… (She pushes back the shutters and the dazzling daylight invades the room.) There! See!… What’s the matter with you?… You look quite blinded…
TYLTYL (rubbing his eyes)
Mummy, mummy!… It’s you!…
MUMMY TYL
Why, of course, it’s I… Who did you think it was?…
TYLTYL
It’s you… Yes, yes, it’s you!…
MUMMY TYL
Yes, yes, it’s I… I haven’t changed my face since last night… Why do you stare at me in that wonderstruck way?… Is my nose turned upside down, by any chance?…
TYLTYL
Oh, how nice it is to see you again!… It’s so long, so long ago!… I must kiss you at once… Again! Again! Again!… And how comfortable my bed is!… I am back at home!…
MUMMY TYL
What’s the matter?… Why don’t you wake up?… Don’t tell me you’re ill… Let me see, show me your tongue… Come, get up and dress…
TYLTYL
Hullo, I’ve got my shirt on!…
MUMMY TYL
Of course you have… Put on your breeches and your little jacket… There they are, on the chair…
TYLTYL
Is that what I did on the journey?…
MUMMY TYL
What journey?…
TYLTYL
Why, last year…
MUMMY TYL
Last year?…
TYLTYL
Why, yes!…At Christmas, when I went away…
MUMMY TYL
When you went away?… You haven’t left the room… I put you to bed last night, and here you are this morning… Have you dreamed all that?…
TYLTYL
But you don’t understand!… It was last year, when I went away with Mytyl, the Fairy, Light – how nice Light is! – Bread, Sugar, Water, Fire: they did nothing but quarrel!… You’re not angry with me?… Did you feel very sad?… And what did daddy say?… I could not refuse… I left a note to explain…
MUMMY TYL
What are you talking about?… For sure, either you’re ill or else you’re still asleep… (She gives him a friendly shake.) There, wake up… There, is that better?…
TYLTYL
But, mummy, I assure you… It’s you that’s still asleep…
MUMMY TYL
What! Still asleep, am I?… Why, I’ve been up since six o’clock… I’ve finished all the cleaning and lit the fire…
TYLTYL
But ask Mytyl if it’s not true… Oh, we have had such adventures!…
MUMMY TYL
Why Mytyl?… What do you mean?…
TYLTYL
She was with me… We saw grandad and granny…
MUMMY TYL (more and more bewildered)
Grandad and granny?…
TYLTYL
Yes, in the Land of Memory… It was on our way… They are dead, but they are quite well… Granny made us a lovely plum-tart… And then the little brothers – Robert, Jean and his top – and Madeleine and Pierrette and Pauline and Riquette, too…
MYTYL
Riquette still goes about on all fours!…
TYLTYL
And Pauline still has a pimple on her nose…
MUMMY TYL
Have you found the key of the cupboard where daddy hides his brandy bottle?…
TYLTYL
Does daddy hide a brandy bottle?…
MUMMY TYL
Certainly. One has to hide everything when one has little meddlesome good-for-nothings like you… But come, out with it, confess that you took it… I would rather it was that… I sha’n’t tell daddy… I sha’n’t beat you…
TYLTYL
But, mummy, I don’t know where it is…
MUMMY TYL
Just walk in front of me, so that I may see if you can walk straight… (TYLTYL does so) No, it’s not that… Dear heaven, what is the matter with them?… I shall lose them too, as I lost the others!… (Suddenly mad with alarm, she calls out) Daddy Tyl!… Come, quick! The children are ill!…