misfortune had arrived; look, you have frightened little
mother.

LITTLE YNIOLD.

I only knocked a tiny little bit.

PELLEAS.

It is late; little father will not come back to-night; it is time for
you to go to bed.

LITTLE YNIOLD.

I shall not go to bed before you do.

PELLEAS.

What?... What is that you are saying?

LITTLE YNIOLD.

I say ... not before you ... not before you....

[_Bursts into sobs and takes refuge by_ MELISANDE.]

MELISANDE.

What is it, Yniold?... What is it?... why do you weep all at once?

YNIOLD _(sobbing)._

Because ... oh! oh! because ...

MELISANDE.

Because what?... Because what?... Tell me ...

YNIOLD.

Little mother ... little mother ... you are going away....

MELISANDE.

But what has taken hold of you, Yniold?... I have never dreamed of
going away....

YNIOLD.

Yes, you have; yes, you have; little father has gone away.... Little
father does not come back, and you are going to go away too.... I have
seen it ... I have seen it....

MELISANDE.

But there has never been any idea of that, Yniold.... Why, what makes
you think that I would go away?...

YNIOLD.

I have seen it ... I have seen it.... You have said things to uncle
that I could not hear....

PELLEAS.

He is sleepy.... He has been dreaming.... Come here, Yniold; asleep
already?... Come and look out at the window; the swans are fighting
with the dogs....

YNIOLD _(at the window)._

Oh! oh! they are chasing the dogs!... They are chasing them!... Oh!
oh! the water!... the wings!... the wings!... they are afraid....

PELLEAS. _(coming back by_ MELISANDE_)._

He is sleepy; he is struggling against sleep; his eyes were
closing....

MELISANDE _(singing softly as she spins)._

Saint Daniel and Saint Michael....
Saint Michael and Saint Raphael....

YNIOLD _(at the window)._

Oh! oh! little mother!...

MELISANDE _(rising abruptly)._

What is it, Yniold?... What is it?...

YNIOLD.

I saw something at the window?...
[PELLEAS _and_ MELISANDE _run to the window._

PELLEAS.

What is there at the window?... What have you seen?...

YNIOLD.

Oh! oh! I saw something!...

PELLEAS.

But there is nothing. I see nothing....

MELISANDE.

Nor I....

PELLEAS.

Where did you see something? Which way?...

YNIOLD.

Down there, down there!... It is no longer there....

PELLEAS.

He does not know what he is saying. He must have seen the light of