sly, and then enter the
cafe. The crowd disperses among the adjacent streets. The shops are
crowded and the square becomes densely thronged with buyers who come
and go. In the cafe there is much animation._ RUDOLPH _and_ MIMI _come
out of the shop._)

RUD. (_to_ MIMI)
Come along! my friends are waiting.

MIMI. Do you think this rose-trimmed bonnet suits me?

RUD. The color suits your dark complexion.

MIMI. (_looking into the window of a bonnet shop_) O what a pretty
necklace!

RUD. I have an aunt a millionaire.
If the good God wills to take her,
Then shall you have a necklace far more fine.
(_suddenly seeing_ MIMI _look round suspiciously_)
What is it?

MIMI. Are you jealous?

RUD. The man in love is always jealous, darling.

MIMI. Are you then in love?

RUD. (_squeezing her arm in his_)

Yes, so much in love!
Are you?

MIMI. Yes, deeply.

(_Enter from the cafe,_ COLLINE, SCHAUNARD _and_ MARCEL _carrying a
table. A waiter follows with chairs. The townsfolks seated near
seem vexed at the noise which the three friends are making, for
they soon get up and walk away._)

COL. The vulgar herd I hate, just as I did Horace.

SCH. And I, when I am eating,
I can't stand being crowded.

MAR. (to the waiter) Smartly!

SCH. For many!

MAR. We want a supper of the choicest!

(_MIMI and RUDOLPH joining their friends_.)

RUD. (_accompanied by MIMI_) Two places.

COL. Let's have supper.

RUD. So we have come. (_introducing Mimi_)
This is Mimi,
The merry flower girl;
And now she's come to join us.
Our party is completed--
For I shall play the poet,
While she's the muse incarnate.
Forth from my brain flow songs of passion,
As, at her touch the pretty buds blow;
As in the soul awaketh beautiful love!

MAR. (_ironically_) My word, what high falutin'!

COL. _Digna est intrari._

SCH. _Ingrediat si necessit._

COL. I'll grant only an _accessit_!

(RUDOLPH _makes_ MIMI _sit down. All being seated, the waiter returns
with the menu_.)

COL. (_with an air of great importance_) Some sausage!

PAR. (_faintly in the distance_) Who'll buy some pretty toys from
Parpignol?

(_Boys and girls running out from the shops and adjoining streets._)

BOYS and GIRLS. Parpignol! Parpignol!

(_Enter PARPIGNOL from the Rue Dauphin, pushing a barrow festooned
with foliage, flowers and paper lanterns._)

PAR. (_crying_) Who'll buy some pretty toys from Parpignol?

CHILDREN, (_crowding and jumping round the bar