g his new song. [_She gives it to him_.]
Come now, my beautiful bluebird, sing away.
_Countess_--Does the manuscript say who wrote this--song?
_Susanna_--The blushes of guilt betray him.
_Cherubino_--Madame, I--I--tremble so.
_Susanna_--Ta, ta, ta, ta--! Come, modest author--since you are so
commanded. Madame, I'll accompany him.
_Countess [to Susanna]_--Take my guitar.
_[Cherubino sings his ballad to the air of 'Malbrouck.' The Countess
reads the words of it from his manuscript, with an occasional glance at
him; he sometimes looks at her and sometimes lowers his eyes as he
sings. Susanna, accompanying him, watches them both, laughing.]_
_Countess [folding the song]_--Enough, my boy. Thank you. It is very
good--full of feeling--
_Susanna_--Ah! as for feeling--this is a young man who--well!
_[Cherubino tries to stop her by catching hold of her dress. Susanna
whispers to him]_--Ah, you good-for-nothing! I'm going to tell her.
_[Aloud.]_ Well--Captain! We'll amuse ourselves by seeing how you look
in one of my dresses!
_Countess_--Susanna, how _can_ you go on so?
_Susanna [going up to Cherubino and measuring herself with him]_--He's
just the right height. Off with your coat. _[She draws it off.]_
_Countess_--But what if some one should come?
_Susanna_--What if they do? We're doing no wrong. But I'll lock the
door, just the same. _[Locks it.]_ I want to see him in a woman's
head-dress!
_Countess_--Well, you'll find my little cap in my dressing-room on the
toilet table.
_[Susanna gets the cap, and then, sitting down on a stool, she makes
Cherubino kneel before her and arranges it on his hair.]_
_Susanna_--Goodness, isn't he a pretty girl? I'm jealous. Cherubino,
you're altogether _too_ pretty.
_Countess_--Undo his collar a little; that will give a more feminine
air. [_Susanna loosens his collar so as to show his neck_.] Now push up
his sleeves, so that the under ones show more. [_While Susanna rolls up
Cherubino's sleeves, the Countess notices her lost ribbon around his
wrist_.] What is that? My ribbon?
_Susanna_--Ah! I'm very glad you've seen it, for I told him I should
tell. I should certainly have taken it away from him if the Count hadn't
come just then; for I am almost as strong as he is.
_Countess [with surprise, unrolling the ribbon]_--There's blood on it!
_Cherubino_--Yes, I was tightening the curb of my horse this morning, he
curvetted and gave me a push with his head, and
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