] Cuckoo!

THE WHITE HEN
The Cuckoo!

A GREY HEN
[_Comes running excitedly._] Which Cuckoo? The one who lives in the
woods, or the one who lives in the clock?

THE VOICE
[_Still further off._] Cuckoo!

THE WHITE HEN
The one of the woods.

THE GREY HEN
[_With a sigh of relief._] Oh, I was so afraid of having missed the
other!

THE WHITE HEN
[_Going near enough to her to speak in an undertone._] Do you mean to
say you love him?

THE GREY HEN
[_Sadly._] Without ever having set eyes on him. He lives in a chalet
hanging on the kitchen wall, above the farmer's great-coat and
fowling-piece. The moment he sings, I rush to the spot, but I never get
there in time to see anything but his little wicket closing. This
evening I mean to stay right here beside the door--[_She takes up her
position on the threshold._]

A VOICE
White Hen!

SCENE SECOND

THE SAME, _a_ PIGEON _on the roof, later_ CHANTECLER.

THE WHITE HEN
[_Looking about with quick jerks of her head._] Who called me?

THE VOICE
A pigeon.

THE WHITE HEN
[_Looking for him._] Where?

THE PIGEON
On the sloping roof.

THE WHITE HEN
[_Lifting her head and seeing him._] Ah!

THE PIGEON
Though I am the bearer of an important missive, I would not miss the
opportunity--Good evening, Hen!

THE WHITE HEN
Postman, howdedo?

THE PIGEON
My duty on the Postal Service of the Air obliging me this summer evening
to pass your habitations, I should be most happy if--

THE WHITE HEN
[_Spying a crumb of some sort._] One moment, please.

ANOTHER HEN
[_Running eagerly towards her._] What are you eating?

ALL THE HENS
[_Arriving at a run._] What's she eating?

THE WHITE HEN
A simple grain of wheat.

THE GREY HEN
[_Taking up her conversation with the_ WHITE HEN.] As I was telling you,
I mean to stay right on the door-step there--[_Showing the door of
the house._]

THE WHITE HEN
[_Looking at the door._] The door is shut.

THE GREY HEN
Yes, but I shall hear the hour striking, and I will catch a look at my
Cuckoo by stretching my neck,--

THE PIGEON
[_Calling, slightly out of patience._] White Hen!

THE WHITE HEN
One moment, please! [_To the_ GREY HEN.]--Catch a look at your Cuckoo,
by stretching your neck where?--Where?

THE GREY HEN
[_Pointing with her beak at the small, round opening at the foot of the
door._] Through the cat-hole!

THE PIGEON
[_Raising his voice to a shout._] Am I to be kept here cooling my feet
on your rain-pip