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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/27991-8.txt b/27991-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..886bc19 --- /dev/null +++ b/27991-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4943 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Blue Bird for Children, by Georgette Leblanc + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Blue Bird for Children + The Wonderful Adventures of Tyltyl and Mytyl in Search of Happiness + +Author: Georgette Leblanc + +Editor: Frederick Orville Perkins + +Translator: Alexander Teixeira de Mattos + +Release Date: February 4, 2009 [EBook #27991] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRD FOR CHILDREN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Inconsistencies in spelling e.g. color/colour, +neighbor/neighbour have been left as in the original. + + + + +[Illustration: The Land of Memory] + + + THE · BLUE · BIRD + [Illustration: Bluebird] FOR CHILDREN [Illustration: Bluebird] + + + THE · WONDERFUL · ADVENTURES + OF · TYLTYL · AND · MYTYL · IN + SEARCH · OF · HAPPINESS + + + BY + GEORGETTE LEBLANC + [MADAME MAURICE MAETERLINCK] + + + EDITED AND ARRANGED FOR SCHOOLS + BY + FREDERICK ORVILLE PERKINS + + + TRANSLATED BY + ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS + + + [Illustration: Publisher Logo] + + + SILVER · BURDETT & COMPANY + BOSTON · NEW YORK · CHICAGO · ATLANTA + DALLAS · SAN FRANCISCO + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913 + BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913 + BY DODD, MEAD & COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1914 + BY SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY + + + This School Edition of The Blue + Bird for Children is affectionately + dedicated to the School Children + of America + + Georgette Leblanc + (Madame Maurice Maeterlinck) + + + + + _To The Teacher_ + + "The Blue Bird, inhabitant of the + _Pays Bleu_, the fabulous blue country + of our dreams is an ancient symbol + in the folk lore of Lorraine and + stands for happiness." + + +One of the strongest pieces of imaginative writing for children that +the past decade has produced and one of the most delicate and +beautiful of all times, is "The Blue Bird," by Maurice Maeterlinck, +written as a play, and very successfully produced on the stage. + +Georgette Leblanc (Madame Maurice Maeterlinck), has rendered this play +in story form for children, under the title "The Children's Blue +Bird," and in this form it has now been carefully edited and arranged +for schools. + +Maurice Maeterlinck was born in Ghent, Belgium, August 29, 1862. +Although trained for the practice of the law and moderately successful +in it, he very early became dissatisfied with the prospect of a career +at the bar. In 1887, the young man moved to Paris and turned his +attention to writing. Shortly after, at the death of his father, +Maeterlinck returned to Belgium where he has since resided most of the +time. His career as an author practically began in 1889, when he +published two plays. At this time he was quite unknown, except to a +small circle, but soon, because of his remarkable originality, we find +him being called "The Belgian Shakespeare," and his reputation firmly +established. + +Amidst his Belgian roses he continued to work and dream, and upon his +youthful dreams he built his plays. They are all shadowy, brief +transcripts of emotion, and illustrate beautifully his unity of +purpose, of mood and of thought. Whether in philosophy, drama or +poetry, Maeterlinck is exclusively occupied in revealing or indicating +the mystery which lies only just out of sight beneath the ordinary +life. In order to produce this effect of the mysterious he aims at +extreme simplicity of style and a very realistic symbolism. He allows +life itself to astonish us by its strangeness, by its inexplicable +elements. Many of his plays are really pathetic records of unseen +emotions. + +Of all his writings, it is conceded that "The Blue Bird" makes the +strongest appeal to children. Maeterlinck has always had much in +common with the young. He has the child's mysticism and awe of the +unknown, the same delight in mechanical inventions, the same gift of +"making believe." + +In "The Blue Bird" Maeterlinck takes little account of external fact. +All along he has kept the child's capacity for wonder; all along he +has preserved youth's freshness of heart. He has, therefore, never +lost the key which unlocks the sympathies of childhood; he still +possesses the passport that makes him free of the kingdom of +Fairyland. + +This story of "The Blue Bird" may remind one somewhat of "Hansel and +Gretel," for here Maeterlinck, like Grimm, shows to us the adventures +of two peasant children as they pass through regions of enchantment +where they would be at the mercy of treacherous foes, but for the aid +of a supernatural friend. But the originality, the charm and the +interest of "The Blue Bird" depend on the way in which the author, +while adapting his language and his legends to the intelligence of +youthful readers, manages to show them the wonders and romance of +Nature. He enlists among his characters a whole series of inanimate +objects, such as Bread, Sugar, Milk, Light, Water, Fire and Trees, +besides the Cat, the Dog and other animals, investing them all with +individuality,--making for instance, with characteristic bias, the Dog +the faithful friend of his boy and girl companions and the Cat their +stealthy enemy. + +We may not understand his characters, we may not be informed whence +they came or whither they move; there is nothing concrete or +circumstantial about them; their life is intense and consistent, but +it is wholly in a spiritual character. They are mysterious with the +mystery of the movements of the soul. + +All through the story we are led to feel that Maeterlinck's spirit is +one of grave and disinterested attachment to the highest moral beauty, +and his seriousness, his serenity and his extreme originality impress +even those who are bewildered by his graces and his mysticism. + +"The Blue Bird" will forever live among Maeterlinck's greatest works +and will linger long in the memory of all children, continuing +throughout their lives to symbolize that ideal of ideals, true +happiness,--the happiness that comes from right seeking. + + + + + _Contents_ + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I THE WOODCUTTER'S COTTAGE 3 + + II AT THE FAIRY'S 31 + + III THE LAND OF MEMORY 49 + + IV THE PALACE OF NIGHT 65 + + V THE KINGDOM OF THE FUTURE 89 + + VI IN THE TEMPLE OF LIGHT 117 + + VII THE GRAVEYARD 125 + + VIII THE FOREST 137 + + IX THE LEAVE-TAKING 157 + + X THE AWAKENING 169 + + + + + _Illustrations_ + + + The Land of Memory _Frontispiece_ + + FACING + PAGE + + She herself helped Mytyl 10 + + They all looked at her with a bewildered air. + They understood that it was a solemn moment 38 + + Delighted with the importance of his duty, + undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar + and cut two slices out of his stomach 42 + + Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, + breaking off two of his fingers, handed them + to the astonished Children 44 + + Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared + a pretty little peasant's cottage 50 + + The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper 56 + + The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and + rather dangerous 66 + + Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat + around her; and she questioned Tylette in a + trembling voice 68 + + Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, + sneeze and blow her nose 74 + + A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden + filled with flowers that shone like stars 80 + + Light's servants were very odd 90 + + Other Blue Children opened great big books 98 + + Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or + brought enormous flowers 102 + + And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding + round the tall old man 110 + + The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, opened + the door and ran and bounded out into the forest 119 + + A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her + eyes, flooding all around her 154 + + Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her + with bites, blows and kicks 162 + + "It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have + been miles and miles and miles and he was here + all the time!" 174 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE WOODCUTTER'S COTTAGE + + +Once upon a time, a woodcutter and his wife lived in their cottage on +the edge of a large and ancient forest. They had two dear little +children who met with a most wonderful adventure. + +But, before telling you all about it, I must describe the children to +you and let you know something of their character; for, if they had +not been so sweet and brave and plucky, the curious story which you +are about to hear would never have happened at all. + +Tyltyl--that was our hero's name--was ten years old; and Mytyl, his +little sister, was only six. + +Tyltyl was a fine, tall little fellow, stout and well-set-up, with +curly black hair which was often in a tangle, for he was fond of a +romp. He was a great favorite because of his smiling and good-tempered +face and the bright look in his eyes; but, best of all, he had the +ways of a bold and fearless little man, which showed the noble +qualities of his heart. When, early in the morning, he trotted along +the forest-road by the side of his daddy, Tyl the woodcutter, for all +his shabby clothes he looked so proud and gallant that every beautiful +thing on the earth and in the sky seemed to lie in wait for him to +smile upon him as he passed. + +His little sister was very different, but looked ever so sweet and +pretty in her long frock, which Mummy Tyl kept neatly patched for her. +She was as fair as her brother was dark; and her large timid eyes were +blue as the forget-me-nots in the fields. Anything was enough to +frighten her and she would cry at the least thing; but her little +child soul already held the highest womanly qualities: she was loving +and gentle and so fondly devoted to her brother that, rather than +abandon him, she did not hesitate to undertake a long and dangerous +journey in his company. + +What happened and how our little hero and heroine went off into the +world one night in search of happiness: that is the subject of my +story. + +Daddy Tyl's cottage was the poorest of the countryside; and it seemed +even more wretched because it stood opposite a splendid hall in which +rich children lived. From the windows of the cottage you could see +what went on inside the Hall when the dining-room and drawing-rooms +were lit up in the evening. And, in the daytime, you saw the little +children playing on the terraces, in the gardens and in the hot-houses +which people came all the way from town to visit because they were +always filled with the rarest flowers. + +Now, one evening which was not like other evenings, for it was +Christmas Eve, Mummy Tyl put her little ones to bed and kissed them +even more lovingly than usual. She felt a little sad because, owing to +the stormy weather, Daddy Tyl was not able to go to work in the +forest; and so she had no money to buy presents with which to fill +Tyltyl and Mytyl's stockings. The Children soon fell asleep, +everything was still and silent and not a sound was heard but the +purring of the cat, the snoring of the dog and the ticking of the +great grandfather's clock. But suddenly a light as bright as day crept +through the shutters, the lamp upon the table lit again of itself and +the two Children awoke, yawned, rubbed their eyes, stretched out their +arms in bed and Tyltyl, in a cautious voice called: + +"Mytyl?" + +"Yes, Tyltyl?" was the answer. + +"Are you asleep?" + +"Are you?" + +"No," said Tyltyl. "How can I be asleep, when I'm talking to you?" + +"I say, is this Christmas Day?" asked his sister. + +"Not yet; not till to-morrow. But Father Christmas won't bring us +anything this year." + +"Why not?" + +"I heard Mummy say that she couldn't go to town to tell him. But he +will come next year." + +"Is next year far off?" + +"A good long while," said the boy. "But he will come to the rich +children to-night." + +"Really?" + +"Hullo!" cried Tyltyl of a sudden. "Mummy's forgotten to put out the +lamp!... I've an idea!" + +"What?" + +"Let's get up." + +"But we mustn't," said Mytyl, who always remembered. + +"Why, there's no one about!... Do you see the shutters?" + +"Oh, how bright they are!..." + +"It's the lights of the party," said Tyltyl. + +"What party?" + +"The rich children opposite. It's the Christmas-tree. Let's open the +shutters...." + +"Can we?" asked Mytyl, timidly. + +"Of course we can; there's no one to stop us.... Do you hear the +music?... Let us get up." + +The two Children jumped out of bed, ran to the window, climbed on the +stool in front of it and threw back the shutters. A bright light +filled the room; and the Children looked out eagerly: + +"We can see everything!" said Tyltyl. + +"I can't," said poor little Mytyl, who could hardly find room on the +stool. + +"It's snowing!" said Tyltyl. "There are two carriages, with six horses +each!" + +"There are twelve little boys getting out!" said Mytyl, who was doing +her best to peep out of the window. + +"Don't be silly!... They're little girls...." + +"They've got knickerbockers on...." + +"Do be quiet!... And look!..." + +"What are those gold things there, hanging from the branches?" + +"Why, toys, to be sure!" said Tyltyl. "Swords, guns, soldiers, +cannons...." + +"And what's that, all round the table?" + +"Cakes and fruit and cream-tarts." + +"Oh, how pretty the children are!" cried Mytyl, clapping her hands. + +"And how they're laughing and laughing!" answered Tyltyl. + +"And the little ones dancing!..." + +"Yes, yes; let's dance too!" shouted Tyltyl. + +And the two Children began to stamp their feet for joy on the stool: + +"Oh, what fun!" said Mytyl. + +"They're getting the cakes!" cried Tyltyl. "They can touch them!... +They're eating, they're eating, they're eating!... Oh, how lovely, how +lovely!..." + +Mytyl began to count imaginary cakes: + +"I have twelve!..." + +"And I four times twelve!" said Tyltyl. "But I'll give you some...." + +And our little friends, dancing, laughing and shrieking with delight, +rejoiced so prettily in the other children's happiness that they +forgot their own poverty and want. They were soon to have their +reward. Suddenly, there came a loud knocking at the door. The startled +Children ceased their romp and dared not move a limb. Then the big +wooden latch lifted of itself, with a loud creak; the door opened +slowly; and in crept a little old woman, dressed all in green, with a +red hood over her head. She was hump-backed and lame and had only one +eye; her nose and chin almost touched; and she walked leaning on a +stick. She was surely a fairy. + +She hobbled up to the Children and asked, in a snuffling voice: + +"Have you the grass here that sings or the bird that is blue?" + +"We have some grass," replied Tyltyl, trembling all over his body, +"but it can't sing...." + +"Tyltyl has a bird," said Mytyl. + +"But I can't give it away, because it's mine," the little fellow +added, quickly. + +Now wasn't that a capital reason? + +The Fairy put on her big, round glasses and looked at the bird: + +"He's not blue enough," she exclaimed. "I must absolutely have the +Blue Bird. It's for my little girl, who is very ill.... Do you know +what the Blue Bird stands for? No? I thought you didn't; and, as you +are good children, I will tell you." + +The Fairy raised her crooked finger to her long, pointed nose, and +whispered, in a mysterious tone: + +"The Blue Bird stands for happiness; and I want you to understand +that my little girl must be happy in order to get well. That is why I +now command you to go out into the world and find the Blue Bird for +her. You will have to start at once.... Do you know who I am?" + +The Children exchanged puzzled glances. The fact was that they had +never seen a fairy before; and they felt a little scared in her +presence. However, Tyltyl soon said politely: + +"You are rather like our neighbor, Madame Berlingot...." + +[Illustration: She herself helped Mytyl] + +Tyltyl thought that, in saying this, he was paying the Fairy a +compliment; for Madame Berlingot's shop, which was next door to their +cottage, was a very pleasant place. It was stocked with sweets, +marbles, chocolate cigars and sugar dolls and hens; and, at fair-time, +there were big gingerbread dolls covered all over with gilt paper. +Goody Berlingot had a nose that was quite as ugly as the Fairy's; she +was old also; and, like the Fairy, she walked doubled up in two; but +she was very kind and she had a dear little girl who used to play on +Sundays with the woodcutter's Children. Unfortunately, the poor little +pretty, fair-haired thing was always suffering from some unknown +complaint, which often kept her in bed. When this happened, she +used to beg and pray for Tyltyl's dove to play with; but Tyltyl was +so fond of the bird that he would not give it to her. All this, +thought the little boy, was very like that which the Fairy told him; +and that was why he called her Berlingot. + +Much to his surprise, the Fairy turned crimson with rage. It was a +hobby of hers to be like nobody, because she was a fairy and able to +change her appearance, from one moment to the next, as she pleased. +That evening, she happened to be ugly and old and hump-backed; she had +lost one of her eyes; and two lean wisps of grey hair hung over her +shoulders. + +"What do I look like?" she asked Tyltyl. "Am I pretty or ugly? Old or +young?" + +Her reason for asking these questions was to try the kindness of the +little boy. He turned away his head and dared not say what he thought +of her looks. Then she cried: + +"I am the Fairy Bérylune!" + +"Oh, that's all right!" answered Tyltyl, who, by this time, was +shaking in every limb. + +This satisfied the Fairy; and, as the Children were still in their +night-shirts, she told them to get dressed. She herself helped Mytyl +and, while she did so, asked: + +"Where are your Father and Mother?" + +"In there," said Tyltyl, pointing to the door on the right. "They're +asleep." + +"And your Grandad and Granny?" + +"They're dead...." + +"And your little brothers and sisters.... Have you any?..." + +"Oh, yes, three little brothers!" said Tyltyl. + +"And four little sisters," added Mytyl. + +"Where are they?" asked the Fairy. + +"They are dead, too," answered Tyltyl. + +"Would you like to see them again?" + +"Oh, yes!... At once!... Show them to us!..." + +"I haven't them in my pocket," said the Fairy. "But this is very +lucky; you will see them when you go through the Land of Memory. It's +on the way to the Blue Bird, just on the left, past the third +turning.... What were you doing when I knocked?" + +"We were playing at eating cakes," said Tyltyl. + +"Have you any cakes?... Where are they?..." + +"In the house of the rich children.... Come and look, it's so lovely!" + +And Tyltyl dragged the Fairy to the window. + +"But it's the others who are eating them!" said she. + +"Yes, but we can see them eat," said Tyltyl. + +"Aren't you cross with them?" + +"What for?" + +"For eating all the cakes. I think it's very wrong of them not to give +you any." + +"Not at all; they're rich!... I say, isn't it beautiful over there?" + +"It's just the same here, only you can't see...." + +"Yes, I can," said Tyltyl. "I have very good eyes. I can see the time +on the church clock; and Daddy can't!" + +The Fairy suddenly grew angry: + +"I tell you that you can't see!" she said. + +And she grew angrier and angrier. As though it mattered about seeing +the time on the church clock! + +Of course, the little boy was not blind; but, as he was kind-hearted +and deserved to be happy, she wanted to teach him to see what is good +and beautiful in all things. It was not an easy task, for she well +knew that most people live and die without enjoying the happiness that +lies all around them. Still, as she was a fairy, she was all-powerful; +and so she decided to give him a little hat adorned with a magic +diamond that would possess the extraordinary property of always +showing him the truth, which would help him to see the inside of +Things and thus teach him that each of them has a life and an +existence of its own, created to match and gladden ours. + +The Fairy took the little hat from a great bag hanging by her side. It +was green and had a white cockade, with the big diamond shining in the +middle of it. Tyltyl was beside himself with delight. The Fairy +explained to him how the diamond worked. By pressing the top, you saw +the soul of Things; if you gave it a little turn to the right, you +discovered the Past; and, when you turned it to the left, you beheld +the Future. + +Tyltyl beamed all over his face and danced for joy; and then he at +once became afraid of losing the little hat: + +"Daddy will take it from me!" he cried. + +"No," said the Fairy, "for no one can see it as long as it's on your +head.... Will you try it?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried the Children, clapping their hands. + +The hat was no sooner on the little boy's head than a magic change +came over everything. The old Fairy turned into a young and beautiful +princess, dressed all in silk and covered with sparkling jewels; the +walls of the cottage became transparent and gleamed like precious +stones; the humble deal furniture shone like marble. The two children +ran from right to left clapping their hands and shouting with +delight. + +"Oh, how lovely, how lovely!" exclaimed Tyltyl. + +And Mytyl, like the vain little thing she was, stood spell-bound +before the beauty of the fair princess' dress. + +But further and much greater surprises were in store for them. Had not +the Fairy said that the Things and the Animals would come to life, +talk and behave like everybody else? Lo and behold, suddenly the door +of the grandfather's clock opened, the silence was filled with the +sweetest music and twelve little daintily-dressed and laughing dancers +began to skip and spin all around the Children. + +"They are the Hours of your life," said the Fairy. + +"May I dance with them?" asked Tyltyl, gazing with admiration at those +pretty creatures, who seemed to skim over the floor like birds. + +But just then he burst into a wild fit of laughter! Who was that funny +fat fellow, all out of breath and covered with flour, who came +struggling out of the bread-pan and bowing to the children? It was +Bread! Bread himself, taking advantage of the reign of liberty to go +for a little walk on earth! He looked like a stout, comical old +gentleman; his face was puffed out with dough; and his large hands, at +the end of his thick arms, were not able to meet, when he laid them on +his great, round stomach. He was dressed in a tight-fitting +crust-coloured suit, with stripes across the chest like those on the +nice buttered rolls which we have for breakfast in the morning. On his +head--just think of it!--he wore an enormous bun, which made a funny +sort of turban. + +He had hardly tumbled out of his pan, when other loaves just like him, +but smaller, followed after and began to frisk about with the Hours, +without giving a thought to the flour which they scattered over those +pretty ladies and which wrapped them in great white clouds. + +It was a queer and charming dance; and the Children were delighted. +The Hours waltzed with the loaves; the plates, joining in the fun, +hopped up and down on the dresser, at the risk of falling off and +smashing to pieces; the glasses in the cupboard clinked together, to +drink the health of one and all. As to the forks, they chattered so +loudly with the knives that you could not hear yourself speak for the +noise.... + +There is no knowing what would have happened if the din had lasted +much longer. Daddy and Mummy Tyl would certainly have waked up. +Fortunately, when the romp was at its height, an enormous flame darted +out of the chimney and filled the room with a great red glow, as +though the house were on fire. Everybody bolted into the corners in +dismay, while Tyltyl and Mytyl, sobbing with fright, hid their heads +under the good Fairy's cloak. + +"Don't be afraid," she said. "It's only Fire, who has come to join in +your fun. He is a good sort, but you had better not touch him, for he +has a hot temper." + +Peeping anxiously through the beautiful gold lace that edged the +Fairy's cloak, the Children saw a tall, red fellow looking at them and +laughing at their fears. He was dressed in scarlet tights and +spangles; from his shoulders hung silk scarves that were just like +flames when he waved them with his long arms; and his hair stood up on +his head in straight, flaring locks. He started flinging out his arms +and legs and jumping round the room like a madman. + +Tyltyl, though feeling a little easier, dared not yet leave his +refuge. Then the Fairy Bérylune had a capital idea: she pointed her +wand at the tap; and at once there appeared a young girl who wept like +a regular fountain. It was Water. She was very pretty, but she looked +extremely sad; and she sang so sweetly that it was like the rippling +of a spring. Her long hair, which fell to her feet, might have been +made of sea-weed. She had nothing on but her bed-gown; but the water +that streamed over her clothed her in shimmering colours. She +hesitated at first and gave a glance around her; then, catching sight +of Fire still whirling about like a great madcap, she made an angry +and indignant rush at him, spraying his face, splashing and wetting +him with all her might. Fire flew into a rage and began to smoke. +Nevertheless, as he found himself suddenly thwarted by his old enemy, +he thought it wiser to retire to a corner. Water also beat a retreat; +and it seemed as though peace would be restored once more. + +The two Children, at last recovering from their alarm, were asking the +Fairy what was going to happen next, when a startling noise of +breaking crockery made them look round towards the table. What a +surprise! The milk-jug lay on the floor, smashed into a thousand +fragments, and from the pieces rose a charming lady, who gave little +screams of terror and clasped her hands and turned up her eyes with a +beseeching glance. + +Tyltyl hastened to console her, for he at once knew that she was Milk; +and, as he was very fond of her, he gave her a good kiss. She was as +fresh and pretty as a little dairy-maid; and a delicious scent of hay +came from her white frock all covered with cream. + +Meanwhile, Mytyl was watching the sugar-loaf, which also seemed to be +coming to life. Packed in its blue paper wrapper, on a shelf near the +door, it was swaying from left to right and from right to left without +any result. But at last a long thin arm was seen to come out, +followed by a peaked head, which split the paper, and by another arm +and two long legs that seemed never to end!... Oh, you should have +seen how funny Sugar looked: so funny, indeed, that the Children could +not help laughing in his face! And yet they would have liked to be +civil to him, for they heard the Fairy introducing him in these words: + +"This, Tyltyl, is the soul of Sugar. His pockets are crammed with +sugar and each of his fingers is a sugar-stick." + +How wonderful to have a friend all made of sugar, off whom you can +bite a piece whenever you feel inclined! + +"Bow, wow, wow!... Good-morning! Good-morning, my little god!... At +last, at last we can talk!... Bark and wag my tail as I might, you +never understood!... I love you! I love you!" + +Who can this extraordinary person be, who jostles everybody and fills +the house with his noisy gaiety? We know him at once. It is Tylô, the +good Dog who tries his hardest to understand mankind, the good-natured +Animal who goes with the Children to the forest, the faithful guardian +who protects the door, the staunch friend who is ever true and ever +loyal! Here he comes walking on his hind-paws, as on a pair of legs +too short for him, and beating the air with the two others, making +gestures like a clumsy little man. He has not changed: he still has +his smooth, mustard-coloured coat and his jolly bull-dog head, with +the black muzzle, but he is much bigger and then he talks! He talks as +fast as he can, as though he wanted in one moment to avenge his whole +race, which has been doomed to silence for centuries. He talks of +everything, now that he is at last able to explain himself; and it is +a pretty sight to see him kissing his little master and mistress and +calling them "his little gods!" He sits up, he jumps about the room, +knocking against the furniture, upsetting Mytyl with his big soft +paws, lolling his tongue, wagging his tail and puffing and panting as +though he were out hunting. We at once see his simple, generous +nature. Persuaded of his own importance, he fancies that he alone is +indispensable in the new world of Things. + +After making all the fuss he wanted of the Children, he started going +the round of the company, distributing the attentions which he thought +that none could do without. His joy, now set free, found vent without +restraint; and, because he was the most loving of creatures, he would +also have been the happiest, if, in becoming human, he had not, +unfortunately, retained his little doggy failings. He was jealous! He +was terribly jealous; and his heart felt a pang when he saw Tylette, +the Cat, coming to life in her turn and being petted and kissed by the +Children, just as he had been! Oh, how he hated the Cat! To bear the +sight of her beside him, to see her always sharing in the affection of +the family: that was the great sacrifice which fate demanded of him. +He accepted it, however, without a word, because it pleased his little +gods; and he went so far as to leave her alone. But he had had many a +crime on his conscience because of her! Had he not, one evening, crept +stealthily into Goody Berlingot's kitchen in order to throttle her old +tom-cat, who had never done him any harm? Had he not broken the back +of the Persian cat at the Hall opposite? Did he not sometimes go to +town on purpose to hunt cats and put an end to them, all to wreak his +spite? And now Tylette was going to talk, just like himself! Tylette +would be his equal in the new world that was opening before him! + +"Oh, there is no justice left on earth!" was his bitter thought. +"There is no justice left!" + +In the meantime, the Cat, who had begun by washing herself and +polishing her claws, calmly put out her paw to the little girl. + +She really was a very pretty cat; and, if our friend Tylô's jealousy +had not been such an ugly feeling, we might almost have overlooked it +for once! How could you fail to be attracted by Tylette's eyes, which +were like topaz set in emeralds? How could you resist the pleasure of +stroking the wonderful black velvet back? How could you not love her +grace, her gentleness and the dignity of her poses? + +Smiling gently and speaking in well-chosen language, she said to +Mytyl: + +"Good-morning, miss!... How well you look this morning!..." + +And the Children patted her like anything. + +Tylô kept watching the Cat from the other end of the room: + +"Now that she's standing on her hind-legs like a man," he muttered, +"she looks just like the Devil, with her pointed ears, her long tail +and her dress as black as ink!" And he could not help growling between +his teeth. "She's also like the village chimney-sweep," he went on, +"whom I loathe and detest and whom I shall never take for a real man, +whatever my little gods may say.... It's lucky," he added, with a +sigh, "that I know more about a good many things than they do!" + +But suddenly, no longer able to master himself, he flew at the Cat and +shouted, with a loud laugh that was more like a roar: + +"I'm going to frighten Tylette! Bow, wow, wow!" + +But the Cat, who was dignified even when still an animal, now thought +herself called to the loftiest destinies. She considered that the time +had come to raise a tall barrier between herself and the Dog, who had +never been more than an ill-bred person in her eyes; and, stepping +back in disdain, she just said: + +"Sir, I don't know you." + +Tylô gave a bound under the insult, whereupon the Cat bristled up, +twisting her whiskers under her little pink nose (for she was very +proud of those two pale blotches which gave a special touch to her +dark beauty); and then, arching her back and sticking up her tail, she +hissed out, "Fft! Fft!" and stood stock-still on the chest of drawers, +like a dragon on the lid of a Chinese vase. + +Tyltyl and Mytyl screamed with laughter; but the quarrel would +certainly have had a bad ending if, at that moment, a great thing had +not happened. At eleven o'clock in the evening, in the middle of that +winter's night, a great light, the light of the noon-day sun, glowing +and dazzling, burst into the cottage. + +"Hullo, there's daylight!" said the little boy, who no longer knew +what to make of things. "What will Daddy say?" + +But, before the Fairy had time to set him right, Tyltyl understood; +and, full of wonderment, he knelt before the latest vision that +bewitched his eyes. + +At the window, in the center of a great halo of sunshine, there rose +slowly, like a tall golden sheaf, a maiden of surpassing loveliness! +Gleaming veils covered her figure without hiding its beauty; her bare +arms, stretched in the attitude of giving, seemed transparent; and her +great clear eyes wrapped all upon whom they fell in a fond embrace. + +"It's the Queen!" said Tyltyl. + +"It's a Fairy Princess!" cried Mytyl, kneeling beside her brother. + +"No, my Children," said the Fairy. "It is Light!" + +Smiling, Light stepped towards the two little ones. She, the Light of +Heaven, the strength and beauty of the Earth, was proud of the humble +mission entrusted to her; she, never before held captive, living in +space and bestowing her bounty upon all alike, consented to be +confined, for a brief spell, within a human shape, so as to lead the +Children out into the world and teach them to know that other Light, +the Light of the Mind, which we never see, but which helps us to see +all things that are. + +"It is Light!" exclaimed the Things and the Animals; and, as they all +loved her, they began to dance around her with cries of pleasure. + +Tyltyl and Mytyl capered with joy. Never had they pictured so amusing +and so pretty a party; and they shouted louder than all the rest. + +Then what was bound to happen came. Suddenly, three knocks were heard +against the wall, loud enough to throw the house down! It was Daddy +Tyl, who had been waked up by the din and who was now threatening to +come and put a stop to it. + +"Turn the diamond!" cried the Fairy to Tyltyl. + +Our hero hastened to obey, but he had not the knack of it yet; +besides, his hand shook at the thought that his father was coming. In +fact, he was so awkward that he nearly broke the works. + +"Not so quick, not so quick!" said the Fairy. "Oh dear, you've turned +it too briskly: they will not have time to resume their places and we +shall have a lot of bother!" + +There was a general stampede. The walls of the cottage lost their +splendour. All ran hither and thither, to return to their proper +shape: Fire could not find his chimney; Water ran about looking for +her tap; Sugar stood moaning in front of his torn wrapper; and Bread, +the biggest of the loaves, was unable to squeeze into his pan, in +which the other loaves had jumped higgledy-piggledy, taking up all the +room. As for the Dog, he had grown too large for the hole in his +kennel; and the Cat also could not get into her basket. The Hours +alone, who were accustomed always to run faster than Man wished, had +slipped back into the clock without delay. + +Light stood motionless and unruffled, vainly setting an example of +calmness to the others, who were all weeping and wailing around the +Fairy: + +"What is going to happen?" they asked. "Is there any danger?" + +"Well," said the Fairy, "I am bound to tell you the truth: all those +who accompany the two Children will die at the end of the journey." + +They began to cry like anything, all except the Dog, who was delighted +at remaining human as long as possible and who had already taken his +stand next to Light, so as to be sure of going in front of his little +master and mistress. + +At that moment, there came a knocking even more dreadful than before. + +"There's Daddy again!" said Tyltyl. "He's getting up, this time; I can +hear him walking...." + +"You see," said the Fairy, "you have no choice now; it is too late; +you must all start with us.... But you, Fire, don't come near anybody; +you, Dog, don't tease the Cat; you, Water, try not to run all over the +place; and you, Sugar, stop crying, unless you want to melt. Bread +shall carry the cage in which to put the Blue Bird; and you shall all +come to my house, where I will dress the Animals and the Things +properly.... Let us go out this way!" + +As she spoke, she pointed her wand at the window, which lengthened +magically downwards, like a door. They all went out on tip-toe, after +which the window resumed its usual shape. And so it came about that, +on Christmas Night, in the clear light of the moon, while the bells +rang out lustily, proclaiming the birth of Jesus, Tyltyl and Mytyl +went in search of the Blue Bird that was to bring them happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +AT THE FAIRY'S + + +The Fairy Bérylune's Palace stood at the top of a very high mountain, +on the way to the moon. It was so near that, on summer nights, when +the sky was clear, you could plainly see the moon's mountains and +valleys, lakes and seas from the terrace of the palace. Here the Fairy +studied the stars and read their secrets, for it was long since the +Earth had had anything to teach her. + +"This old planet no longer interests me!" she used to say to her +friends, the giants of the mountain. "The men upon it still live with +their eyes shut! Poor things, I pity them! I go down among them now +and then, but it is out of charity, to try and save the little +children from the fatal misfortune that awaits them in the darkness." + +This explains why she had come and knocked at the door of Daddy Tyl's +cottage on Christmas Eve. + +And now to return to our travellers. They had hardly reached the +high-road, when the Fairy remembered that they could not walk like +that through the village, which was still lit up because of the +feast. But her store of knowledge was so great that all her wishes +were fulfilled at once. She pressed lightly on Tyltyl's head and +willed that they should all be carried by magic to her palace. Then +and there, a cloud of fireflies surrounded our companions and wafted +them gently towards the sky. They were at the Fairy's palace before +they had recovered from their surprise. + +"Follow me," she said and led them through chambers and passages all +in gold and silver. + +They stopped in a large room surrounded with mirrors on every side and +containing an enormous wardrobe with light creeping through its +chinks. The Fairy Bérylune took a diamond key from her pocket and +opened the wardrobe. One cry of amazement burst from every throat. +Precious stuffs were seen piled one on the top of the other: mantles +covered with gems, dresses of every sort and every country, pearl +coronets, emerald necklaces, ruby bracelets.... Never had the Children +beheld such riches! As for the Things, their state was rather one of +utter bewilderment; and this was only natural, when you think that +they were seeing the world for the first time and that it showed +itself to them in such a queer way. + +The Fairy helped them make their choice. Fire, Sugar and the Cat +displayed a certain decision of taste. Fire, who only cared for red, +at once chose a splendid bright red dress, with gold spangles. He put +nothing on his head, for his head was always very hot. Sugar could not +stand anything except white and pale blue: bright colors jarred on his +sweet nature. The long blue and white dress which he selected and the +pointed hat, like a candle extinguisher, which he wore on his head +made him look perfectly ridiculous; but he was too silly to notice it +and kept spinning before the glass like a top and admiring himself in +blissful ignorance. + +The Cat, who was always a lady and who was used to her dusky garments, +reflected that black always looks well, in any circumstance, +particularly now, when they were travelling without luggage. She +therefore put on a suit of black tights, with jet embroidery, hung a +long velvet cloak from her shoulders and perched a large cavalier hat, +with a long feather, on her neat little head. She next asked for a +pair of soft kid boots, in memory of Puss-in-Boots, her distinguished +ancestor, and put a pair of gloves on her fore-paws, to protect them +from the dust of the roads. + +Thus attired, she took a satisfied glance at the mirror. Then, a +little nervously, with an anxious eye and a quivering pink nose, she +hastily invited Sugar and Fire to take the air with her. So they all +three walked out, while the others went on dressing. Let us follow +them for a moment, for we have already grown to like our brave little +Tyltyl and we shall want to hear anything that is likely to help or +delay his undertaking. + +After passing through several splendid galleries, hung like balconies +in the sky, our three cronies stopped in the hall; and the Cat at once +addressed the meeting in a hushed voice: + +"I have brought you here," she said, "in order to discuss the position +in which we are placed. Let us make the most of our last moment of +liberty...." + +But she was interrupted by a furious uproar: + +"Bow, wow, wow!" + +"There now!" cried the Cat. "There's that idiot of a Dog! He has +scented us out! We can't get a minute's peace. Let us hide behind the +balustrade. He had better not hear what I have to say to you." + +"It's too late," said Sugar, who was standing by the door. + +And, sure enough, Tylô was coming up, jumping, barking, panting and +delighted. + +The Cat, when she saw him, turned away in disgust: + +"He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella's +coach.... It is just the thing for him: he has the soul of a +flunkey!" + +She ended these words with a "Fft! Fft!" and, stroking her whiskers, +took up her stand, with a defiant air, between Sugar and Fire. The +good Dog did not see her little game. He was wholly wrapped up in the +pleasure of being gorgeously arrayed; and he danced round and round. +It was really funny to see his velvet coat whirling like a +merry-go-round, with the skirts opening every now and then and showing +his little stumpy tail, which was all the more expressive as it had to +express itself very briefly. For I need hardly tell you that Tylô, +like every well-bred bull-dog, had had his tail and his ears cropped +as a puppy. + +Poor fellow, he had long envied the tails of his brother dogs, which +allowed them to use a much larger and more varied vocabulary. But +physical deficiencies and the hardships of fortune strengthen our +innermost qualities. Tylô's soul, having no outward means of +expressing itself, had only gained through silence; and his look, +which was always filled with love, had become very eloquent. + +To-day his big dark eyes glistened with delight; he had suddenly +changed into a man! He was all over magnificent clothes; and he was +about to perform a grand errand across the world in company with the +gods! + +"There!" he said. "There! Aren't we fine!... Just look at this lace +and embroidery!... It's real gold and no mistake!" + +He did not see that the others were laughing at him, for, to tell the +truth, he did look very comical; but, like all simple creatures, he +had no sense of humour. He was so proud of his natural garment of +yellow hair that he had put on no waistcoat, in order that no one +might have a doubt as to where he sprang from. For the same reason, he +had kept his collar, with his address on it. A big red velvet coat, +heavily braided with gold-lace, reached to his knees; and the large +pockets on either side would enable him, he thought, always to carry a +few provisions; for Tylô was very greedy. On his left ear, he wore a +little round cap with an osprey-feather in it and he kept it on his +big square head by means of an elastic which cut his fat, loose cheeks +in two. His other ear remained free. Cropped close to his head in the +shape of a little paper screw-bag, this ear was the watchful receiver +into which all the sounds of life fell, like pebbles disturbing its +rest. + +He had also encased his hind-legs in a pair of patent-leather +riding-boots, with white tops; but his fore-paws he considered of such +use that nothing would have induced him to put them into gloves. Tylô +had too natural a character to change his little ways all in a day; +and, in spite of his new-blown honours, he allowed himself to do +undignified things. He was at the present moment lying on the steps of +the hall, scratching the ground and sniffing at the wall, when +suddenly he gave a start and began to whine and whimper! His lower lip +shook nervously as though he were going to cry. + +"What's the matter with the idiot now?" asked the Cat, who was +watching him out of the corner of her eye. + +But she at once understood. A very sweet song came from the distance; +and Tylô could not endure music. The song drew nearer, a girl's fresh +voice filled the shadows of the lofty arches and Water appeared. Tall, +slender and white as a pearl, she seemed to glide rather than to walk. +Her movements were so soft and graceful that they were suspected +rather than seen. A beautiful silvery dress waved and floated around +her; and her hair decked with corals flowed below her knees. + +When Fire caught sight of her, like the rude and spiteful fellow that +he was, he sneered: + +"She's not brought her umbrella!" + +But Water, who was really quite witty and who knew that she was the +stronger of the two, chaffed him pleasantly and said, with a glance at +his glowing nose: + +"I beg your pardon?... I thought you might be speaking of a great red +nose I saw the other day!..." + +The others began to laugh and poke fun at Fire, whose face was always +like a red-hot coal. Fire angrily jumped to the ceiling, keeping his +revenge for later. Meanwhile, the Cat went up to Water, very +cautiously, and paid her ever so many compliments on her dress. I need +hardly tell you that she did not mean a word of it; but she wished to +be friendly with everybody, for she wanted their votes, to carry out +her plan; and she was anxious at not seeing Bread, because she did not +want to speak before the meeting was complete: + +"What can he be doing?" she mewed, time after time. + +"He was making an endless fuss about choosing his dress," said the +Dog. "At last, he decided in favour of a Turkish robe, with a scimitar +and a turban." + +[Illustration: They all looked at her with a bewildered air. They +understood that it was a solemn moment.] + +The words were not out of his mouth, when a shapeless and ridiculous +bulk, clad in all the colours of the rainbow, came and blocked the +narrow door of the hall. It was the enormous stomach of Bread, who +filled the whole opening. He kept on knocking himself, without knowing +why; for he was not very clever and, besides, he was not yet used to +moving about in human beings' houses. At last, it occurred to him +to stoop; and, by squeezing through sideways, he managed to make his +way into the hall. + +It was certainly not a triumphal entry, but he was pleased with it all +the same: + +"Here I am!" he said. "Here I am! I have put on Blue-beard's finest +dress.... What do you think of this?" + +The Dog began to frisk around him: he thought Bread magnificent! That +yellow velvet costume, covered all over with silver crescents, +reminded Tylô of the delicious horse-shoe rolls which he loved; and +the huge, gaudy turban on Bread's head was really very like a fairy +bun! + +"How nice he looks!" he cried. "How nice he looks!" + +Bread was shyly followed by Milk. Her simple mind had made her prefer +her cream dress to all the finery which the Fairy suggested to her. +She was really a model of humility. + +Bread was beginning to talk about the dresses of Tyltyl, Light and +Mytyl, when the Cat cut him short in a masterful voice: + +"We shall see them in good time," she said. "Stop chattering, listen +to me, time presses: our future is at stake...." + +They all looked at her with a bewildered air. They understood that it +was a solemn moment, but the human language was still full of mystery +to them. Sugar wriggled his long fingers as a sign of distress; Bread +patted his huge stomach; Water lay on the floor and seemed to suffer +from the most profound despair; and Milk only had eyes for Bread, who +had been her friend for ages and ages. + +The Cat, becoming impatient, continued her speech: + +"The Fairy has just said it, the end of this journey will, at the same +time, mark the end of our lives. It is our business, therefore, to +spin the journey out as long as possible and by every means in our +power...." + +Bread, who was afraid of being eaten as soon as he was no longer a +man, hastened to express approval; but the Dog, who was standing a +little way off, pretending not to hear, began to growl deep down in +his soul. He well knew what the Cat was driving at; and, when Tylette +ended her speech with the words, "We must at all costs prolong the +journey and prevent Blue Bird from being found, even if it means +endangering the lives of the Children," the good Dog, obeying only the +promptings of his heart, leapt at the Cat to bite her. Sugar, Bread +and Fire flung themselves between them: + +"Order! Order!" said Bread pompously. "I'm in the chair at this +meeting." + +"Who made you chairman?" stormed Fire. + +"Who asked you to interfere?" asked Water, whirling her wet hair over +Fire. + +"Excuse me," said Sugar, shaking all over, in conciliatory tones. +"Excuse me.... This is a serious moment.... Let us talk things over in +a friendly way." + +"I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat," said Bread, as though that +ended the matter. + +"This is ridiculous!" said the Dog, barking and showing his teeth. +"There is Man and that's all!... We have to obey him and do as he +tells us!... I recognise no one but him!... Hurrah for Man!... Man for +ever!... In life or death, all for Man!... Man is everything!..." + +But the Cat's shrill voice rose above all the others. She was full of +grudges against Man and she wanted to make use of the short spell of +humanity which she now enjoyed to avenge her whole race: + +"All of us here present," she cried, "Animals, Things and Elements, +possess a soul which Man does not yet know. That is why we retain a +remnant of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know +all, he will see all and we shall be completely at his mercy.... +Remember the time when we wandered at liberty upon the face of the +earth!..." But, suddenly her face changed, her voice sank to a whisper +and she hissed, "Look out! I hear the Fairy and Light coming. I need +hardly tell you that Light has taken sides with Man and means to stand +by him; she is our worst enemy.... Be careful!" + +But our friends had had no practice in trickery and, feeling +themselves in the wrong, took up such ridiculous and uncomfortable +attitudes that the Fairy, the moment she appeared upon the threshold, +exclaimed: + +"What are you doing in that corner?... You look like a pack of +conspirators!" + +Quite scared and thinking that the Fairy had already guessed their +wicked intentions, they fell upon their knees before her. Luckily for +them, the Fairy hardly gave a thought to what was passing through +their little minds. She had come to explain the first part of the +journey to the Children and to tell each of the others what to do. +Tyltyl and Mytyl stood hand in hand in front of her, looking a little +frightened and a little awkward in their fine clothes. They stared at +each other in childish admiration. + +The little girl was wearing a yellow silk frock embroidered with pink +posies and covered with gold spangles. On her head was a lovely orange +velvet cap; and a starched muslin tucker covered her little arms. +Tyltyl was dressed in a red jacket and blue knickerbockers, both of +velvet; and of course he wore the wonderful little hat on his head. + +[Illustration: Delighted with the importance of his duty, undid the +top of his robe, drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his +stomach] + +The Fairy said to them: + +"It is just possible that the Blue Bird is hiding at your +grandparents' in the Land of Memory; so you will go there first." + +"But how shall we see them, if they are dead?" asked Tyltyl. + +Then the good Fairy explained that they would not be really dead until +their grandchildren ceased to think of them: + +"Men do not know this secret," she added. "But, thanks to the diamond, +you, Tyltyl, will see that the dead whom we remember live as happily +as though they were not dead." + +"Are you coming with us?" asked the boy, turning to Light, who stood +in the doorway and lit up all the hall. + +"No," said the Fairy. "Light must not look at the past. Her energies +must be devoted to the future!" + +The two Children were starting on their way, when they discovered that +they were very hungry. The Fairy at once ordered Bread to give them +something to eat; and that big, fat fellow, delighted with the +importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar +and cut two slices out of his stomach. The Children screamed with +laughter. Tylô dropped his gloomy thoughts for a moment and begged +for a bit of bread; and everybody struck up the farewell chorus. +Sugar, who was very full of himself, also wanted to impress the +company and, breaking off two of his fingers, handed them to the +astonished Children. + +As they were all moving towards the door, the Fairy Bérylune stopped +them: + +"Not to-day," she said. "The children must go alone. It would be +indiscreet to accompany them; they are going to spend the evening with +their late family. Come, be off! Good-bye, dear children, and mind +that you are back in good time: it is extremely important!" + +[Illustration: Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, breaking +off two of his fingers, handed them to the astonished Children] + +The two Children took each other by the hand and, carrying the big +cage, passed out of the hall; and their companions, at a sign from the +Fairy, filed in front of her to return to the palace. Our friend Tylô +was the only one who did not answer to his name. The moment he heard +the Fairy say that the Children were to go alone, he had made up his +mind to go and look after them, whatever happened; and, while the +others were saying good-bye, he hid behind the door. But the poor +fellow had reckoned without the all-seeing eyes of the Fairy Bérylune. + +"Tylô!" she cried. "Tylô! Here!" + +And the poor Dog, who had so long been used to obey, dared not resist +the command and came, with his tail between his legs, to take his +place among the others. He howled with despair when he saw his little +master and mistress swallowed up in the great gold staircase. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE LAND OF MEMORY + + +The Fairy Bérylune had told the Children that the Land of Memory was +not far off; but to reach it you had to go through a forest that was +so dense and so old that your eyes could not see the tops of the +trees. It was always shrouded in a heavy mist; and the Children would +certainly have lost their way, if the Fairy had not said to them +beforehand: + +"It is straight ahead; and there is only one road." + +The ground was carpeted with flowers which were all alike: they were +snow-white pansies and very pretty; but, as they never saw the sun, +they had no scent. + +Those little flowers comforted the Children, who felt extremely +lonely. A great mysterious silence surrounded them; and they trembled +a little with a very pleasant sense of fear which they had never felt +before. + +"Let's take Granny a bunch of flowers," said Mytyl. + +"That's a good idea! She will be pleased!" cried Tyltyl. + +And, as they walked along, the Children gathered a beautiful white +nosegay. The dear little things did not know that every pansy (which +means "a thought") that they picked brought them nearer to their +grandparents; and they soon saw before them a large oak with a +notice-board nailed to it. + +"Here we are!" cried the boy in triumph, as, climbing up on a root, he +read: + + "_The Land of Memory._" + +They had arrived; but they turned to every side without seeing a +thing: + +"I can see nothing at all!" whimpered Mytyl. "I'm cold!... I'm +tired!... I don't want to travel any more!" + +Tyltyl, who was wholly wrapped up in his errand, lost his temper: + +"Come, don't keep on crying just like Water!... You ought to be +ashamed of yourself!" he said. "There! Look! Look! The fog is +lifting!" + +And, sure enough, the mist parted before their eyes, like veils torn +by an invisible hand; the big trees faded away, everything vanished +and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage, +covered with creepers and standing in a little garden filled with +flowers and with trees all over fruit. + +[Illustration: Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared a +pretty little peasant's cottage] + +The Children at once knew the dear cow in the orchard, the watch-dog +at the door, the blackbird in his wicker cage; and everything was +steeped in a pale light and a warm and balmy air. + +Tyltyl and Mytyl stood amazed. So that was the Land of Memory! What +lovely weather it was! And how nice it felt to be there! They at once +made up their minds to come back often, now that they knew the way. +But how great was their happiness when the last veil disappeared and +they saw, at a few steps from them, Grandad and Granny sitting on a +bench, sound asleep. They clapped their hands and called out +gleefully: + +"It's Grandad! It's Granny!... There they are! There they are!" + +But they were a little scared by this great piece of magic and dared +not move from behind the tree; and they stood looking at the dear old +couple, who woke up gently and slowly under their eyes. Then they +heard Granny Tyl's trembling voice say: + +"I have a notion that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming +to see us to-day." + +And Gaffer Tyl answered: + +"They are certainly thinking of us, for I feel queer and I have pins +and needles in my legs." + +"I think they must be quite near," said Granny, "for I see tears of +joy dancing before my eyes and...." + +Granny had not time to finish her sentence. The Children were in her +arms!... What joy! What wild kisses and huggings! What a wonderful +surprise! The happiness was too great for words. They laughed and +tried to speak and kept on looking at one another with delighted eyes: +it was so glorious and so unexpected to meet again like this. When the +first excitement was over, they all began to talk at once: + +"How tall and strong you've grown, Tyltyl!" said Granny. + +And Grandad cried: + +"And Mytyl! Just look at her! What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!" + +And the Children danced and clapped their hands and flung themselves +by turns into the arms of one or the other. + +At last, they quieted down a little; and, with Mytyl nestling against +Grandad's chest and Tyltyl comfortably perched on Granny's knees, they +began to talk of family affairs: + +"How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?" asked Granny. + +"Quite well, Granny," said Tyltyl. "They were asleep when we went +out." + +Granny gave them fresh kisses and said: + +"My word, how pretty they are and how nice and clean!... Why don't you +come to see us oftener? It is months and months now that you have +forgotten us and that we have seen nobody...." + +"We couldn't, Granny," said Tyltyl, "and to-day it's only because of +the Fairy...." + +"We are always here," said Granny Tyl, "waiting for a visit from those +who are alive. The last time you were here was on All-hallows...." + +"All-hallows? We didn't go out that day, for we both had colds!" + +"But you thought of us! And, every time you think of us, we wake up +and see you again." + +Tyltyl remembered that the Fairy had told him this. He had not thought +it possible then; but now, with his head on the heart of the dear +Granny whom he had missed so much, he began to understand things and +he felt that his grandparents had not left him altogether. He asked: + +"So you are not really dead?..." + +The old couple burst out laughing. When they exchanged their life on +earth for another and a much nicer and more beautiful life, they had +forgotten the word "dead." + +"What does that word 'dead' mean?" asked Gaffer Tyl. + +"Why, it means that one's no longer alive!" said Tyltyl. + +Grandad and Granny only shrugged their shoulders: + +"How stupid the Living are, when they speak of the Others!" was all +they said. + +And they went over their memories again, rejoicing in being able to +chat. + +All old people love discussing old times. The future is finished, as +far as they are concerned; and so they delight in the present and the +past. But we are growing impatient, like Tyltyl; and, instead of +listening to them, we will follow our little friend's movements. + +He had jumped off Granny's knees and was poking about in every corner, +delighted at finding all sorts of things which he knew and remembered: + +"Nothing is changed, everything is in its old place!" he cried. And, +as he had not been to the old people's home for so long, everything +struck him as much nicer; and he added, in the voice of one who knows, +"Only everything is prettier!... Hullo, there's the clock with the big +hand which I broke the point off and the hole which I made in the +door, the day I found Grandad's gimlet...." + +"Yes, you've done some damage in your time!" said Grandad. "And +there's the plum-tree which you were so fond of climbing, when I +wasn't looking...." + +Meantime, Tyltyl was not forgetting his errand: + +"You haven't the Blue Bird here by chance, I suppose?" + +At the same moment, Mytyl, lifting her head, saw a cage: + +"Hullo, there's the old blackbird!... Does he still sing?" + +As she spoke, the blackbird woke up and began to sing at the top of +his voice. + +"You see," said Granny, "as soon as one thinks of him...." + +Tyltyl was simply amazed at what he saw: + +"But he's blue!" he shouted. "Why, that's the bird, the Blue Bird!... +He's blue, blue, blue as a blue glass marble!... Will you give him to +me?" + +The grandparents gladly consented; and, full of triumph, Tyltyl went +and fetched the cage which he had left by the tree. He took hold of +the precious bird with the greatest of care; and it began to hop about +in its new home. + +"How pleased the Fairy will be!" said the boy, rejoicing at his +conquest. "And Light too!" + +"Come along," said the grandparents. "Come and look at the cow and the +bees." + +As the old couple were beginning to toddle across the garden, the +children suddenly asked if their little dead brothers and sisters were +there too. At the same moment, seven little children, who, up to then, +had been sleeping in the house, came tearing like mad into the garden. +Tyltyl and Mytyl ran up to them. They all hustled and hugged one +another and danced and whirled about and uttered screams of joy. + +"Here they are, here they are!" said Granny. "As soon as you speak of +them, they are there, the imps!" + +Tyltyl caught a little one by the hair: + +"Hullo, Pierrot! So we're going to fight again, as in the old days!... +And Robert!... I say, Jean, what's become of your top?... Madeleine +and Pierrette and Pauline!... And here's Riquette!..." + +Mytyl laughed: + +"Riquette's still crawling on all fours!" + +Tyltyl noticed a little dog yapping around them: + +"There's Kiki, whose tail I cut off with Pauline's scissors.... He +hasn't changed either...." + +"No," said Gaffer Tyl, in a voice of great importance, "nothing +changes here!" + +But, suddenly, amid the general rejoicings, the old people stopped +spell-bound: they had heard the small voice of the clock indoors +strike eight! + +[Illustration: The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper] + +"How's this?" they asked. "It never strikes nowadays...." + +"That's because we no longer think of the time," said Granny. "Was any +one thinking of the time?" + +"Yes, I was," said Tyltyl. "So it's eight o'clock?... Then I'm off, +for I promised Light to be back before nine...." + +He was going for the cage, but the others were too happy to let him +run away so soon: it would be horrid to say good-bye like that! Granny +had a good idea: she knew what a little glutton Tyltyl was. It was +just supper-time and, as luck would have it, there was some capital +cabbage-soup and a beautiful plum-tart. + +"Well," said our hero, "as I've got the Blue Bird!... And cabbage-soup +is a thing you don't have every day!..." + +They all hurried and carried the table outside and laid it with a nice +white table-cloth and put a plate for each; and, lastly, Granny +brought out the steaming soup-tureen in state. The lamp was lit and +the grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper, jostling and +elbowing one another and laughing and shouting with pleasure. Then, +for a time, nothing was heard but the sound of the wooden spoons +noisily clattering against the soup-plates. + +"How good it is! Oh, how good it is!" shouted Tyltyl, who was eating +greedily. "I want some more! More! More! More!" + +"Come, come, a little more quiet," said Grandad. "You're just as +ill-behaved as ever; and you'll break your plate...." + +Tyltyl took no notice of the remark, stood up on his stool, caught +hold of the tureen and dragged it towards him and upset it; and the +hot soup trickled all over the table and down upon everybody's lap. +The children yelled and screamed with pain. Granny was quite scared; +and Grandad was furious. He dealt our friend Tyltyl a tremendous box +on the ear. + +Tyltyl was staggered for a moment; and then he put his hand to his +cheek with a look of rapture and exclaimed: + +"Grandad, how good, how jolly! It was just like the slaps you used to +give me when you were alive!... I must give you a kiss for it!..." + +Everybody laughed. + +"There's more where that came from, if you like them!" said Grandad, +grumpily. + +But he was touched, all the same, and turned to wipe a tear from his +eyes. + +"Goodness!" cried Tyltyl, starting up. "There's half-past eight +striking!... Mytyl, we've only just got time!..." + +Granny in vain implored them to stay a few minutes longer. + +"No, we can't possibly," said Tyltyl firmly; "I promised Light!" + +And he hurried to take up the precious cage. + +"Good-bye, Grandad.... Good-bye, Granny.... Good-bye, brothers and +sisters, Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette and you, too, +Kiki.... We can't stay.... Don't cry, Granny; we will come back +often!" + +Poor old Grandad was very much upset and complained lustily: + +"Gracious me, how tiresome the Living are, with all their fuss and +excitement!" + +Tyltyl tried to console him and again promised to come back very +often. + +"Come back every day!" said Granny. "It is our only pleasure; and it's +such a treat for us when your thoughts pay us a visit!" + +"Good-bye! Good-bye!" cried the brothers and sisters in chorus. "Come +back very soon! Bring us some barley sugar!" + +There were more kisses; all waved their handkerchiefs; all shouted a +last good-bye. But the figures began to fade away; the little voices +could no longer be heard; the two Children were once more wrapped in +mist; and the old forest covered them with its great dark mantle. + +"I'm so frightened!" whimpered Mytyl. "Give me your hand, little +brother! I'm so frightened!" + +Tyltyl was shaking too, but it was his duty to try and comfort and +console his sister: + +"Hush!" he said. "Remember that we are bringing back the Blue Bird!" + +As he spoke, a thin ray of light pierced the gloom; and the little boy +hurried towards it. He was holding his cage tight in his arms; and the +first thing he did was to look at his bird.... Alas and alack, what a +disappointment awaited him! The beautiful Blue Bird of the Land of +Memory had turned quite black! Stare at it as hard as Tyltyl might, +the bird was black! Oh, how well he knew the old blackbird that used +to sing in its wicker prison, in the old days, at the door of the +house! What had happened? How painful it was! And how cruel life +seemed to him just then! + +He had started on his journey with such zest and delight that he had +not thought for a moment of the difficulties and dangers. Full of +confidence, pluck and kindness, he had marched off, certain of +finding the beautiful Blue Bird which would bring happiness to the +Fairy's little girl. And now all his hopes were shattered! For the +first time, our poor friend understood the trials, the vexations and +the obstacles that awaited him! Alas, was he attempting an impossible +thing? Was the Fairy making fun of him? Would he ever find the Blue +Bird? All his courage seemed to be leaving him.... + +To add to his misfortunes, he could not find the straight road by +which he had come. There was not a single white pansy on the ground; +and he began to cry. + +Luckily, our little friends were not to remain in trouble long. The +Fairy had promised that Light would watch over them. The first trial +was over; and, just as outside the old people's house a little while +ago, the mist now suddenly lifted. But, instead of disclosing a +peaceful picture, a gentle, homely scene, it revealed a marvellous +temple, with a blinding glare streaming from it. + +On the threshold stood Light, fair and beautiful in her +diamond-coloured dress. She smiled when Tyltyl told her of his first +failure. She knew what the little ones were seeking; she knew +everything. For Light surrounds all mortals with her love, though none +of them is fond enough of her ever to receive her thoroughly and thus +to learn all the secrets of Truth. Now, for the first time, thanks to +the diamond which the Fairy had given to the boy, she was going to try +and conquer a human soul: + +"Do not be sad," she said to the Children. "Are you not pleased to +have seen your grandparents? Is that not enough happiness for one day? +Are you not glad to have restored the old blackbird to life? Listen to +him singing!" + +For the old blackbird was singing with might and main; and his little +yellow eyes sparkled with pleasure as he hopped about his big cage. + +"As you look for the Blue Bird, dear Children, accustom yourselves to +love the grey birds which you find on your way." + +She nodded her fair head gravely; and it was quite clear that she knew +where the Blue Bird was. But life is often full of beautiful +mysteries, which we must respect, lest we should destroy them; and, if +Light had told the Children where the Blue Bird was, well, they would +never have found him! I will tell you why at the end of this story. + +And now let us leave our little friends to sleep on beautiful white +clouds under Light's watchful care. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PALACE OF NIGHT + + +Some time after, the Children and their friends met at the first dawn +to go to the Palace of Night, where they hoped to find the Blue Bird. +Several of the party failed to answer to their names when the roll was +called. Milk, for whom any sort of excitement was bad, was keeping her +room. Water sent an excuse: she was accustomed always to travel in a +bed of moss, was already half-dead with fatigue and was afraid of +falling ill. As for Light, she had been on bad terms with Night since +the world began; and Fire, as a relation, shared her dislike. Light +kissed the Children and told Tylô the way, for it was his business to +lead the expedition; and the little band set out upon its road. + +You can imagine dear Tylô trotting ahead, on his hind legs, like a +little man, with his nose in the air, his tongue dangling down his +chin, his front paws folded across his chest. He fidgets, sniffs +about, runs up and down, covering twice the ground without minding how +tired it makes him. He is so full of his own importance that he +disdains the temptations on his path: he neglects the rubbish heaps, +pays no attention to anything he sees and cuts all his old friends. + +Poor Tylô! He was so delighted to become a man; and yet he was no +happier than before! Of course, life was the same to him, because his +nature had remained unchanged. What was the use of his being a man, if +he continued to feel and think like a dog? In fact, his troubles were +increased a hundred-fold by the sense of responsibility that now +weighed upon him. + +"Ah!" he said, with a sigh, for he was joining blindly in his little +gods' search, without for a moment reflecting that the end of the +journey would mean the end of his life. "Ah," he said, "if I got hold +of that rascal of a Blue Bird, trust me, I wouldn't touch him even +with the tip of my tongue, not if he were as plump and sweet as a +quail!" + +Bread followed solemnly, carrying the cage; the two Children came +next; and Sugar brought up the rear. + +But where was the Cat? To discover the reason of her absence, we must +go a little way back and read her thoughts. At the time when Tylette +called a meeting of the Animals and Things in the Fairy's hall, she +was contemplating a great plot which would aim at prolonging the +journey; but she had reckoned without the stupidity of her hearers: + +"The idiots," she thought, "have very nearly spoiled the whole thing +by foolishly throwing themselves at the Fairy's feet, as though they +were guilty of a crime. It is better to rely upon one's self alone. In +my cat-life, all our training is founded on suspicion; I can see that +it is just the same in the life of men. Those who confide in others +are only betrayed; it is better to keep silent and to be treacherous +one's self." + +[Illustration: The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and +rather dangerous] + +As you see, my dear little readers, the Cat was in the same position +as the Dog: she had not changed her soul and was simply continuing her +former existence; but, of course, she was very wicked, whereas our +dear Tylô was, if anything, too good. Tylette, therefore, resolved to +act on her own account and went, before daybreak, to call on Night, +who was an old friend of hers. + +The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and rather dangerous. +It had precipices on either side of it; you had to climb up and climb +down and then climb up again among high rocks that always seemed +waiting to crush the passers-by. At last, you came to the edge of a +dark circle; and there you had to go down thousands of steps to reach +the black-marble underground palace in which Night lived. + +The Cat, who had often been there before, raced along the road, light +as a feather. Her cloak, borne on the wind, streamed like a banner +behind her; the plume in her hat fluttered gracefully; and her little +grey kid boots hardly touched the ground. She soon reached her +destination and, in a few bounds, came to the great hall where Night +was. + +It was really a wonderful sight. Night, stately and grand as a Queen, +reclined upon her throne; she slept; and not a glimmer, not a star +twinkled around her. But we know that the night has no secrets for +cats and that their eyes have the power of piercing the darkness. So +Tylette saw Night as though it were broad daylight. + +Before waking her, she cast a loving glance at that motherly and +familiar face. It was white and silvery as the moon; and its unbending +features inspired both fear and admiration. Night's figure, which was +half visible through her long black veils, was as beautiful as that of +a Greek statue. She had long arms and a pair of enormous wings, now +furled in sleep, came from her shoulders to her feet and gave her a +look of majesty beyond compare. Still, in spite of her affection for +her best of friends, Tylette did not waste too much time in gazing at +her: it was a critical moment; and time was short. Tired and jaded and +overcome with anguish, she sank upon the steps of the throne and +mewed, plaintively: + +"It is I, Mother Night!... I am worn out!" + +[Illustration: Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat +around her; and she questioned Tylette in a trembling voice] + +Night is of an anxious nature and easily alarmed. Her beauty, built up +of peace and repose, possesses the secret of Silence, which life is +constantly disturbing: a star shooting through the sky, a leaf falling +to the ground, the hoot of an owl, a mere nothing is enough to tear +the black velvet pall which she spreads over the earth each evening. +The Cat, therefore, had not finished speaking, when Night sat up, all +quivering. Her immense wings beat around her; and she questioned +Tylette in a trembling voice. As soon as she had learned the danger +that threatened her, she began to lament her fate. What! A man's son +coming to her palace! And, perhaps, with the help of the magic +diamond, discovering her secrets! What should she do? What would +become of her? How could she defend herself? And, forgetting that she +was sinning against Silence, her own particular god, Night began to +utter piercing screams. It was true that falling into such a commotion +was hardly likely to help her find a cure for her troubles. Luckily +for her, Tylette, who was accustomed to the annoyances and worries of +human life, was better armed. She had worked out her plan when going +ahead of the children; and she was hoping to persuade Night to adopt +it. She explained this plan to her in a few words: + +"I see only one thing for it, Mother Night: as they are children, we +must give them such a fright that they will not dare to insist on +opening the great door at the back of the hall, behind which the Birds +of the Moon live and generally the Blue Bird too. The secrets of the +other caverns will be sure to scare them. The hope of our safety lies +in the terror which you will make them feel." + +There was clearly no other course to take. But Night had not time to +reply, for she heard a sound. Then her beautiful features contracted; +her wings spread out angrily; and everything in her attitude told +Tylette that Night approved of her plan. + +"Here they are!" cried the Cat. + +The little band came marching down the steps of Night's gloomy +staircase. Tylô pranced bravely in front, whereas Tyltyl looked around +him with an anxious glance. He certainly found nothing to comfort him. +It was all very magnificent, but very terrifying. Picture a huge and +wonderful black marble hall, of a stern and tomb-like splendour. There +is no ceiling visible; and the ebony pillars that surround the +amphitheatre shoot up to the sky. It is only when you lift your eyes +up there that you catch the faint light falling from the stars. +Everywhere, the thickest darkness reigns. Two restless flames--no +more--flicker on either side of Night's throne, before a monumental +door of brass. Bronze doors show through the pillars to the right and +left. + +The Cat rushed up to the Children: + +"This way, little master, this way!... I have told Night; and she is +delighted to see you." + +Tylette's soft voice and smile made Tyltyl feel himself again; and he +walked up to the throne with a bold and confident step, saying: + +"Good-day, Mrs. Night!" + +Night was offended by the word, "Good-day," which reminded her of her +eternal enemy Light, and answered drily: + +"Good-day?... I am not used to that!... You might say, Good-night, or, +at least, Good-evening!" + +Our hero was not prepared to quarrel. He felt very small in the +presence of that stately lady. He quickly begged her pardon, as nicely +as he could; and very gently asked her leave to look for the Blue Bird +in her palace. + +"I have never seen him, he is not here!" exclaimed Night, flapping her +great wings to frighten the boy. + +But, when he insisted and gave no sign of fear, she herself began to +dread the diamond, which, by lighting up her darkness, would +completely destroy her power; and she thought it better to pretend to +yield to an impulse of generosity and at once to point to the big key +that lay on the steps of the throne. + +Without a moment's hesitation, Tyltyl seized hold of it and ran to the +first door of the hall. + +Everybody shook with fright. Bread's teeth chattered in his head; +Sugar, who was standing some way off, moaned with mortal anguish; +Mytyl howled: + +"Where is Sugar?... I want to go home!" + +Meanwhile, Tyltyl, pale and resolute, was trying to open the door, +while Night's grave voice, rising above the din, proclaimed the first +danger. + +"It's the Ghosts!" + +"Oh, dear!" thought Tyltyl. "I have never seen a ghost: it must be +awful!" + +The faithful Tylô, by his side, was panting with all his might, for +dogs hate anything uncanny. + +At last, the key grated in the lock. Silence reigned as dense and +heavy as the darkness. No one dared draw a breath. Then the door +opened; and, in a moment, the gloom was filled with white figures +running in every direction. Some lengthened out right up to the sky; +others twined themselves round the pillars; others wriggled ever so +fast along the ground. They were something like men, but it was +impossible to distinguish their features; the eye could not catch +them. The moment you looked at them, they turned into a white mist. +Tyltyl did his best to chase them; for Mrs. Night kept to the plan +contrived by the Cat and pretended to be frightened. She had been the +Ghosts' friend for hundreds and hundreds of years and had only to say +a word to drive them in again; but she was careful to do nothing of +the sort and, flapping her wings like mad, she called upon all her +gods and screamed: + +"Drive them away! Drive them away! Help! Help!" + +But the poor Ghosts, who hardly ever come out now that Man no longer +believes in them, were much too happy at taking a breath of air; and, +had it not been that they were afraid of Tylô, who tried to bite their +legs, they would never have been put back indoors. + +"Oof!" gasped the Dog, when the door was shut at last. "I have strong +teeth, goodness knows; but chaps like those I never saw before! When +you bite them, you'd think their legs were made of cotton!" + +By this time, Tyltyl was making for the second door and asking: + +"What's behind this one?" + +Night made a gesture as though to put him off. Did the obstinate +little fellow really want to see everything? + +"Must I be careful when I open it?" asked Tyltyl. + +"No," said Night, "it is not worth while. It's the Sicknesses. They +are very quiet, the poor little things! Man, for some time, has been +waging such war upon them!... Open and see for yourself...." + +Tyltyl threw the door wide open and stood speechless with +astonishment: there was nothing to be seen.... + +He was just about to close the door again, when he was hustled aside +by a little body in a dressing-gown and a cotton night-cap, who began +to frisk about the hall, wagging her head and stopping every minute to +cough, sneeze and blow her nose ... and to pull on her slippers, which +were too big for her and kept dropping off her feet. Sugar, Bread and +Tyltyl were no longer frightened and began to laugh like anything. But +they had no sooner come near the little person in the cotton night-cap +than they themselves began to cough and sneeze. + +"It's the least important of the Sicknesses," said Night. "It's +Cold-in-the-Head." + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" thought Sugar. "If my nose keeps on running like +this, I'm done for: I shall melt!" + +[Illustration: Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, +sneeze and blow her nose] + +Poor Sugar! He did not know where to hide himself. He had become very +much attached to life since the journey began, for he had fallen over +head and ears in love with Water! And yet this love caused him the +greatest worry. Miss Water was a tremendous flirt, expected a lot +of attention and was not particular with whom she mixed; but mixing +too much with Water was an expensive luxury, as poor Sugar found to +his cost; for, at every kiss he gave her, he left a bit of himself +behind, until he began to tremble for his life. + +When he suddenly found himself attacked by Cold-in-the-Head, he would +have had to fly from the palace, but for the timely aid of our dear +Tylô, who ran after the little minx and drove her back to her cavern, +amidst the laughter of Tyltyl and Mytyl, who thought gleefully that, +so far, the trial had not been very terrible. + +The boy, therefore, ran to the next door with still greater courage. + +"Take care!" cried Night, in a dreadful voice. "It's the Wars! They +are more powerful than ever! I daren't think what would happen, if one +of them broke loose! Stand ready, all of you, to push back the door!" + +Night had not finished uttering her warnings, when the plucky little +fellow repented his rashness. He tried in vain to shut the door which +he had opened: an invincible force was pushing it from the other side, +streams of blood flowed through the cracks; flames shot forth; shouts, +oaths and groans mingled with the roar of cannon and the rattle of +musketry. Everybody in the Palace of Night was running about in wild +confusion. Bread and Sugar tried to take to flight, but could not find +the way out; and they now came back to Tyltyl and put their shoulders +to the door with despairing force. + +The Cat pretended to be anxious, while secretly rejoicing: + +"This may be the end of it," she said, curling her whiskers. "They +won't dare to go on after this." + +Dear Tylô made superhuman efforts to help his little master, while +Mytyl stood crying in a corner. + +At last, our hero gave a shout of triumph: + +"Hurrah! They're giving way! Victory! Victory! The door is shut!" + +At the same time, he dropped on the steps, utterly exhausted, dabbing +his forehead with his poor little hands which shook with terror. + +"Well?" asked Night, harshly. "Have you had enough? Did you see them?" + +"Yes, yes!" replied the little fellow, sobbing. "They are hideous and +awful.... I don't think they have the Blue Bird...." + +"You may be sure they haven't," answered Night, angrily. "If they had, +they would eat him at once.... You see there is nothing to be +done...." + +Tyltyl drew himself up proudly: + +"I must see everything," he declared. "Light said so...." + +"It's an easy thing to say," retorted Night, "when one's afraid and +stays at home!" + +"Let us go to the next door," said Tyltyl, resolutely. "What's in +here?" + +"This is where I keep the Shades and the Terrors!" + +Tyltyl reflected for a minute: + +"As far as Shades go," he thought, "Mrs. Night is poking fun at me. +It's more than an hour since I've seen anything but shade in this +house of hers; and I shall be very glad to see daylight again. As for +the Terrors, if they are anything like the Ghosts, we shall have +another good joke." + +Our friend went to the door and opened it, before his companions had +time to protest. For that matter, they were all sitting on the floor, +exhausted with the last fright; and they looked at one another in +astonishment, glad to find themselves alive after such a scare. +Meanwhile, Tyltyl threw back the door and nothing came out: + +"There's no one there!" he said. + +"Yes, there is! Yes, there is! Look out!" said Night, who was still +shamming fright. + +She was simply furious. She had hoped to make a great impression with +her Terrors; and, lo and behold, the wretches, who had so long been +snubbed by Man, were afraid of him! She encouraged them with kind +words and succeeded in coaxing out a few tall figures covered with +grey veils. They began to run all around the hall until, hearing the +Children laugh, they were seized with fear and rushed indoors again. +The attempt had failed, as far as Night was concerned, and the dread +hour was about to strike. Already, Tyltyl was moving towards the big +door at the end of the hall. A few last words took place between them: + +"Do not open that one!" said Night, in awe-struck tones. + +"Why not?" + +"Because it's not allowed!" + +"Then it's here that the Blue Bird is hidden!" + +"Go no farther, do not tempt fate, do not open that door!" + +"But why?" again asked Tyltyl, obstinately. + +Thereupon, Night, irritated by his persistency, flew into a rage, +hurled the most terrible threats at him, and ended by saying: + +"Not one of those who have opened it, were it but by a hair's breadth, +has ever returned alive to the light of day! It means certain death; +and all the horrors, all the terrors, all the fears of which men speak +on earth are as nothing compared with those which await you if you +insist on touching that door!" + +"Don't do it, master dear!" said Bread, with chattering teeth. "Don't +do it! Take pity on us! I implore you on my knees!" + +"You are sacrificing the lives of all of us," mewed the Cat. + +"I won't! I sha'n't!" sobbed Mytyl. + +"Pity! Pity!" whined Sugar, wringing his fingers. + +All of them were weeping and crying, all of them crowded round Tyltyl. +Dear Tylô alone, who respected his little master's wishes, dared not +speak a word, though he fully believed that his last hour had come. +Two big tears rolled down his cheeks; and he licked Tyltyl's hands in +despair. It was really a most touching scene; and for a moment, our +hero hesitated. His heart beat wildly, his throat was parched with +anguish, he tried to speak and could not get out a sound: besides, he +did not wish to show weakness in the presence of his hapless +companions! + +"If I have not the strength to fulfil my task," he said to himself, +"who will fulfil it? If my friends behold my distress, it is all up +with me: they will not let me go through with my mission and I shall +never find the Blue Bird!" + +At this thought, the boy's heart leaped within his breast and all his +generous nature rose in rebellion. It would never do to be, perhaps, +within arm's length of happiness and not to try for it, at the risk of +dying in the attempt, to try for it and hand it over at last to all +mankind! + +That settled it! Tyltyl resolved to sacrifice himself. Like a true +hero, he brandished the heavy golden key and cried: + +"I must open the door!" + +He ran up to the great door, with Tylô panting by his side. The poor +Dog was half-dead with fright, but his pride and his devotion to +Tyltyl obliged him to smother his fears: + +"I shall stay," he said to his master, "I'm not afraid! I shall stay +with my little god!" + +In the meantime, all the others had fled. Bread was crumbling to bits +behind a pillar; Sugar was melting in a corner with Mytyl in his arms; +Night and the Cat, both shaking with fury, kept to the far end of the +hall. + +[Illustration: A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden +filled with flowers that shone like stars] + +Then Tyltyl gave Tylô a last kiss, pressed him to his heart and, with +never a tremble, put the key in the lock. Yells of terror came from +all the corners of the hall, where the runaways had taken shelter, +while the two leaves of the great door opened by magic in front of our +little friend, who was struck dumb with admiration and delight. What +an exquisite surprise! A wonderful garden lay before him, a +dream-garden filled with flowers that shone like stars, waterfalls +that came rushing from the sky and trees which the moon had clothed in +silver. And then there was something whirling like a blue cloud among +the clusters of roses. Tyltyl rubbed his eyes; he could not believe +his senses. He waited, looked again and then dashed into the garden, +shouting like mad: + +"Come quickly!... Come quickly!... They are here!... We have them at +last!... Millions of blue birds!... Thousands of millions!... Come, +Mytyl!... Come, Tylô!... Come, all!... Help me!... You can catch them +by handfuls!..." + +Reassured at last, his friends came running up and all darted in among +the birds, seeing who could catch the most: + +"I've caught seven already!" cried Mytyl. "I can't hold them!" + +"Nor can I!" said Tyltyl. "I have too many of them!... They're +escaping from my arms!... Tylô has some too!... Let us go out, let us +go!... Light is waiting for us!... How pleased she will be!... This +way, this way!..." + +And they all danced and scampered away in their glee, singing songs of +triumph as they went. + +Night and the Cat, who had not shared in the general rejoicing, crept +back anxiously to the great door; and Night whimpered: + +"Haven't they got him?..." + +"No," said the Cat, who saw the real Blue Bird perched high up on a +moonbeam.... "They could not reach him, he kept too high...." + +Our friends in all haste ran up the numberless stairs between them and +the daylight. Each of them hugged the birds which he had captured, +never dreaming that every step which brought them nearer to the light +was fatal to the poor things, so that, by the time they came to the +top of the staircase, they were carrying nothing but dead birds. + +Light was waiting for them anxiously: + +"Well, have you caught him?" she asked. + +"Yes, yes!" said Tyltyl. "Lots of them! There are thousands! Look!" + +As he spoke, he held out the dear birds to her and saw, to his dismay, +that they were nothing more than lifeless corpses: their poor little +wings were broken and their heads drooped sadly from their necks! The +boy, in his despair, turned to his companions. Alas, they too were +hugging nothing but dead birds! + +Then Tyltyl threw himself sobbing into Light's arms. Once more, all +his hopes were dashed to the ground. + +"Do not cry, my child," said Light. "You did not catch the one that is +able to live in broad daylight.... We shall find him yet...." + +"Of course, we shall find him," said Bread and Sugar, with one voice. + +They were great boobies, both of them; but they wanted to console the +boy. As for friend Tylô, he was so much put out that he forgot his +dignity for a moment and, looking at the dead birds, exclaimed: + +"Are they good to eat, I wonder?" + +The party set out to walk back and sleep in the Temple of Light. It +was a melancholy journey; all regretted the peace of home and felt +inclined to blame Tyltyl for his want of caution. Sugar edged up to +Bread and whispered in his ear: + +"Don't you think, Mr. Chairman, that all this excitement is very +useless?" + +And Bread, who felt flattered at receiving so much attention, +answered, pompously: + +"Never you fear, my dear fellow, I shall put all this right. Life +would be unbearable if we had to listen to all the whimsies of that +little madcap!... To-morrow, we shall stay in bed!..." + +They forgot that, but for the boy at whom they were sneering, they +would never have been alive at all; and that, if he had suddenly told +Bread that he must go back to his pan to be eaten and Sugar that he +was to be cut into small lumps to sweeten Daddy Tyl's coffee and Mummy +Tyl's syrups, they would have thrown themselves at their benefactor's +feet and begged for mercy. In fact, they were incapable of +appreciating their good luck until they were brought face to face with +bad. + +Poor things! The Fairy Bérylune, when making them a present of their +human life, ought to have thrown in a little wisdom. They were not so +much to blame. Of course, they were only following Man's example. +Given the power of speaking, they jabbered; knowing how to judge, they +condemned; able to feel, they complained. They had hearts which +increased their sense of fear, without adding to their happiness. As +to their brains, which could easily have arranged all the rest, they +made so little of them that they had already grown quite rusty; and, +if you could have opened their heads and looked at the works of their +life inside, you would have seen the poor brains, which were their +most precious possession, jumping about at every movement they made +and rattling in their empty skulls like dry peas in a pod. + +Fortunately, Light, thanks to her wonderful insight, knew all about +their state of mind. She determined, therefore, to employ the Elements +and Things no more than she was obliged to: + +"They are useful," she thought, "to feed the children and amuse them +on the way; but they must have no further share in the trials, because +they have neither courage nor conviction." + +Meanwhile, the party walked on, the road widened out and became +resplendent; and, at the end, the Temple of Light stood on a crystal +height, shedding its beams around. The tired Children made the Dog +carry them pick-a-back by turns; and they were almost asleep when they +reached the shining steps. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE KINGDOM OF THE FUTURE + + +Tyltyl and Mytyl woke up next morning, feeling very gay; with childish +carelessness, they had forgotten their disappointment. Tyltyl was very +proud of the compliments which Light had paid him: she seemed as happy +as though he had brought the Blue Bird with him: + +She said, with a smile, as she stroked the lad's dark curls: + +"I am quite satisfied. You are such a good, brave boy that you will soon +find what you are looking for." + +Tyltyl did not understand the deep meaning of her words; but, for all +that, he was very glad to hear them. And, besides, Light had promised +him that to-day he would have nothing to fear in their new expedition. +On the contrary, he would meet millions and millions of little +children who would show him the most wonderful toys of which no one on +earth had the least idea. She also told him that he and his little +sister would travel alone with her this time and that all the others +would take a rest while they were gone. + +That is why, at the moment when our chapter opens, they had all met in +the underground vaults of the temple. Light thought it as well to lock +up the Elements and Things. She knew that, if they were left to do as +they pleased, they might escape and get into mischief. It was not so +very cruel of her, because the vaults of her temple are even lighter +and lovelier than the upper floors of human houses; but you cannot get +out without her leave. She alone has the power of widening, with a +stroke of her wand, a little cleft in an emerald wall at the end of +the passage, through which you go down a few crystal steps till you +come to a sort of cave, all green and transparent like a forest when +the sunlight sweeps through its branches. + +Usually, this great hall was quite empty; but now it had sofas in it +and a gold table laid with fruits and cakes and creams and delicious +wines, which Light's servants had just finished setting out. Light's +servants were very odd! They always made the Children laugh: with +their long white satin dresses and their little black caps with a +flame at the top, they looked like lighted candles. Their mistress +sent them away and then told the Animals and Things to be very good +and asked them if they would like some books and games to play with; +they answered, with a laugh, that nothing amused them more than +eating and sleeping and that they were very glad to stay where they +were. + +[Illustration: Light's servants were very odd] + +Tylô, of course, did not share this view. His heart spoke louder than +his greed or his laziness; and his great dark eyes turned in entreaty +on Tyltyl, who would have been only too pleased to take his faithful +companion with him, if Light had not absolutely forbidden it: + +"I can't help it," said the boy, giving him a kiss. "It seems that +dogs are not admitted where we are going." + +Suddenly, Tylô sprang up with delight: a great idea had struck him. He +had not left his real, doggy life long enough to forget any part of +it, especially his troubles. Which was the greatest of these? Was it +not the chain? What melancholy hours Tylô had spent fastened to an +iron ring! And what humiliation he endured when the woodcutter used to +take him to the village and, with unspeakable silliness, keep him on +the lead in front of everybody, thus depriving him of the pleasure of +greeting his friends and sniffing the smells provided for his benefit +at every street-corner and in every gutter: + +"Well," he said to himself, "I shall have to submit to that +humiliating torture once again, to go with my little god!" + +Faithful to his traditions, he had, in spite of his fine clothes, +kept his dog-collar, but not his lead. What was to be done? He was +once more in despair, when he saw Water lying on a sofa and playing, +in an absent-minded sort of way, with her long strings of coral. He +ran up to her as prettily as he could and, after paying her a heap of +compliments, begged her to lend him her biggest necklace. She was in a +good temper and not only did what he asked, but was kind enough to +fasten the end of the coral string to his collar. Tylô gaily went up +to his master, handed him this necklace chain and, kneeling at his +feet, said: + +"Take me with you like this, my little god! Men never say a word to a +poor dog when he is on his chain!" + +"Alas, even like this, you cannot come!" said Light, who was much +touched by this act of self-sacrifice; and, to cheer him up, she told +him that fate would soon provide a trial for the Children in which his +assistance would be of great use. + +As she spoke these words, she touched the emerald wall, which opened +to let her pass through with the Children. + +Her chariot was waiting outside the entrance to the temple. It was a +lovely shell of jade, inlaid with gold. They all three took their +seats; and the two great white birds harnessed to it at once flew off +through the clouds. The chariot travelled very fast; and they were not +long on the road, much to the regret of the Children, who were +enjoying themselves and laughing like anything; but other and even +more beautiful surprises awaited them. + +The clouds vanished around them; and, suddenly, they found themselves +in a dazzling azure palace. Here, all was blue: the light, the +flagstones, the columns, the vaults; everything, down to the smallest +objects, was of an intense and fairy-like blue. There was no seeing +the end of the palace; the eyes were lost in the infinite sapphire +vistas. + +"How lovely it all is!" said Tyltyl, who could not get over his +astonishment. "Goodness me, how lovely!... Where are we?" + +"We are in the Kingdom of the Future," said Light, "in the midst of +the children who are not yet born. As the diamond allows us to see +clearly in this region which is hidden from men, we shall perhaps find +the Blue Bird here.... Look! Look at the children running up!" + +From every side came bands of little children dressed from head to +foot in blue; they had beautiful dark or golden hair and they were all +exquisitely pretty. They shouted gleefully: + +"Live Children!... Come and look at the little Live Children!" + +"Why do they call us the little Live Children?" asked Tyltyl, of +Light. + +"It is because they themselves are not alive yet. They are awaiting +the hour of their birth, for it is from here that all the children +come who are born upon our earth. When the fathers and mothers want +children, the great doors which you see over there, at the back, are +opened; and the little ones go down...." + +"What a lot there are! What a lot there are!" cried Tyltyl. + +"There are many more," said Light. "No one could count them. But go a +little further: you will see other things." + +Tyltyl did as he was told and elbowed his way through; but it was +difficult for him to move, because a crowd of Blue Children pressed +all around them. At last, by mounting on a step, our little friend was +able to look over the throng of inquisitive heads and see what was +happening in every part of the hall. It was most extraordinary! Tyltyl +had never dreamed of anything like it! He danced with joy; and Mytyl, +who was hanging on to him and standing on tip-toe so that she might +see too, clapped her little hands and gave loud cries of wonder. + +All around were millions of Children in blue, some playing, others +walking about, others talking or thinking. Many were asleep; many also +were at work; and their instruments, their tools, the machines which +they were building, the plants, the flowers and the fruits which they +were growing or gathering were of the same bright and heavenly blue as +the general appearance of the palace. Among the Children moved tall +persons also dressed in blue: they were very beautiful and looked just +like angels. They came up to Light and smiled and gently pushed aside +the Blue Children, who went back quietly to what they were doing, +though still watching our friends with astonished eyes. + +One of them, however, remained standing close to Tyltyl. He was quite +small. From under his long sky-blue silk dress peeped two little pink +and dimpled bare feet. His eyes stared in curiosity at the little Live +Boy; and he went up to him as though in spite of himself. + +"May I talk to him?" asked Tyltyl, who felt half-glad and +half-frightened. + +"Certainly," said Light. "You must make friends.... I will leave you +alone; you will be more at ease by yourselves...." + +So saying, she went away and left the two Children face to face, shyly +smiling. Suddenly, they began to talk: + +"How do you do?" said Tyltyl, putting out his hand to the Child. + +But the Child did not understand what that meant and stood without +moving. + +"What's that?" continued Tyltyl, touching the Child's blue dress. + +The Child, who was absorbed in what he was looking at, did not answer, +but gravely touched Tyltyl's hat with his finger: + +"And that?" he lisped. + +"That?... That's my hat," said Tyltyl. "Have you no hat?" + +"No; what is it for?" asked the Child. + +"It's to say How-do-you-do with," Tyltyl answered. "And then for when +it's cold...." + +"What does that mean, when it's cold?" asked the Child. + +"When you shiver like this: Brrr! Brrr!" said Tyltyl. "And when you go +like this with your arms," vigorously beating his arms across his +chest. + +"Is it cold on earth?" asked the Child. + +"Yes, sometimes, in winter, when there is no fire." + +"Why is there no fire?..." + +"Because it's expensive; and it costs money to buy wood...." + +The Child looked at Tyltyl again as though he did not understand a +word that Tyltyl was saying; and Tyltyl in his turn looked amazed: + +"It's quite clear that he knows nothing of the most everyday things," +thought our hero, while the child stared with no small respect at "the +little Live Boy" who knew everything. + +Then he asked Tyltyl what money was. + +"Why, it's what you pay with!" said Tyltyl, scorning to give any +further explanation. + +"Oh!" said the Child, seriously. + +Of course, he did not understand. How _could_ he know, a little boy +like that, who lived in a paradise where his least wishes were granted +before he had learned to put them into words? + +"How old are you?" asked Tyltyl, continuing the conversation. + +"I am going to be born soon," said the Child. "I shall be born in +twelve years.... Is it nice to be born?" + +"Oh, yes," cried Tyltyl, without thinking. "It's great fun!" + +But he was very much at a loss when the little boy asked him "how he +managed." His pride did not allow him to be ignorant of anything in +another child's presence; and it was quite droll to see him with his +hands in his breeches-pockets, his legs wide apart, his face upturned +and his whole attitude that of a man who is in no hurry to reply. At +last, he answered, with a shrug of the shoulders: + +"Upon my word, I can't remember! It's so long ago!" + +"They say it's lovely, the earth and the Live People!" remarked the +Child. + +"Yes, it's not bad," said Tyltyl. "There are birds and cakes and +toys.... Some have them all; but those who have none can look at the +others!" + +This reflection shows us the whole character of our little friend. He +was proud and inclined to be rather high-and-mighty; but he was never +envious and his generous nature made up to him for his poverty by +allowing him to enjoy the good fortune of others. + +[Illustration: Other Blue Children opened great big books] + +The two Children talked a good deal more; but it would take too long +to tell you all they said, because what they said was sometimes only +interesting to themselves. After a while, Light, who was watching them +from a distance, hurried up to them a little anxiously: Tyltyl was +crying! Big tears came rolling down his cheeks and falling on his +smart coat. She understood that he was talking of his grandmother and +that he could not keep back his tears at the thought of the love which +he had lost. He was turning away his head, to hide his feelings; +but the inquisitive Child kept asking him questions: + +"Do the grannies die?... What does that mean, dying?" + +"They go away one evening and do not come back." + +"Has yours gone?" + +"Yes," said Tyltyl. "She was very kind to me." + +And, at these words, the poor little fellow began to cry again. + +The Blue Child had never seen any one cry. He lived in a world where +grief did not exist. His surprise was great; and he exclaimed: + +"What's the matter with your eyes?... Are they making pearls?" + +To him those tears were wonderful things. + +"No, it's not pearls," said Tyltyl, sheepishly. + +"What is it then?" + +But our poor friend would not admit what he looked upon as a weakness. +He rubbed his eyes awkwardly and put everything down to the dazzling +blue of the palace. + +The puzzled Child insisted: + +"What's that falling down?" + +"Nothing; it's a little water," said Tyltyl, impatiently, hoping to +cut short the explanation. + +But that was out of the question. The Child was very obstinate, +touched Tyltyl's cheeks with his finger and asked, in a tone of +curiosity: + +"Does it come from the eyes?..." + +"Yes, sometimes, when one cries." + +"What does that mean, crying?" asked the Child. + +"I have not been crying," said Tyltyl proudly. "It's the fault of that +blue!... But, if I had cried, it would be the same thing...." + +"Do you often cry on earth?..." + +"Not little boys, but little girls do.... Don't you cry here?" + +"No, I don't know how...." + +"Well, you will learn...." + +At that moment, a great breath of wind made him turn his head and he +saw, at a few steps away from him, a large piece of machinery which he +had not noticed at first, as he was taken up with his interest in the +little Child. It was a grand and magnificent thing, but I cannot tell +you its name, because the inventions of the Kingdom of the Future will +not be christened by Man until they reach the earth. I can only say +that Tyltyl, when he looked at it, thought that the enormous azure +wings that whizzed so swiftly before his eyes were like the windmills +in his part of the world and that, if he ever found the Blue Bird, +its wings would certainly be no more delicate, dainty or dazzling. +Full of admiration, he asked his new acquaintance what they were. + +"Those?" said the Child. "That's for the invention which I shall make +on earth." + +And, seeing Tyltyl stare with wide-open eyes, he added: + +"When I am on earth, I shall have to invent the thing that gives +happiness.... Would you like to see it?... It is over there, between +those two columns...." + +Tyltyl turned round to look; but all the Children at once rushed at +him, shouting: + +"No, no, come and see mine!..." + +"No, mine is much finer!..." + +"Mine is a wonderful invention!..." + +"Mine is made of sugar!..." + +"His is no good!..." + +"I'm bringing a light which nobody knows of!..." + +And, so saying, the last Child lit himself up entirely with a most +extraordinary flame. + +Amid these joyous exclamations, the Live Children were dragged towards +the blue workshops, where each of the little inventors set his machine +going. It was a great blue whirl of disks and pulleys and straps and +fly-wheels and driving-wheels and cog-wheels and all kinds of wheels, +which sent every sort of machine skimming over the ground or shooting +up to the ceiling. Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or +opened great big books, or uncovered azure statues, or brought +enormous flowers and gigantic fruits that seemed made of sapphires and +turquoises. + +Our little friends stood with their mouths wide open and their hands +clasped together: they thought themselves in paradise. Mytyl bent over +to look at a huge flower and laughed into its cup, which covered up +her head like a hood of blue silk. A pretty Child, with dark hair and +thoughtful eyes, held it by the stalk and said, proudly: + +"The flowers will all grow like that, when I am on earth!" + +"When will that be?" asked Tyltyl. + +"In fifty-three years, four months and nine days." + +Next came two Blue Children bending under the weight of a pole from +which was slung a bunch of grapes each larger than a pear. + +"A bunch of pears!" cried Tyltyl. + +"No, they are grapes," said the Child. "They will all be like that +when I am thirty: I have found the way...." + +Tyltyl would have loved to taste them, but another Child came along +almost hidden under a basket which one of the tall persons was helping +him to carry. His fair-haired, rosy face smiled through the leaves +that hung over the wicker-work. + +[Illustration: Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or brought +enormous flowers] + +"Look!" he said. "Look at my apples...." + +"But those are melons!" said Tyltyl. + +"No, no!" said the Child. "They are my apples! They will all be alike +when I am alive! I have discovered the process!..." + +I should never finish if I were to try and describe to my little +readers all the wonderful and incredible things that appeared before +our hero's eyes. But, suddenly, a loud burst of laughter rang through +the hall. A Child had spoken of the King of the Nine Planets; and +Tyltyl, very much puzzled and perplexed, looked on every side. All the +faces, bright with laughter, were turned to some spot which Tyltyl +could not see; every finger pointed in the same direction; but our +friend looked in vain. They had spoken of a king! He was looking for a +throne with a tall, dignified personage on it, wielding a golden +sceptre. + +"Over there ... over there ... lower down ... behind you!" said a +thousand little voices together. + +"But where is the King?" Tyltyl and Mytyl repeated, greatly +interested. + +Then, suddenly, a louder and more serious voice sounded above the +silvery murmur of the others: + +"Here I am!" it said proudly. + +And, at the same time, Tyltyl discovered a chubby baby which he had +not yet remarked, for it was the smallest and had kept out of the way +till then, sitting at the foot of a column in an attitude of +indifference, seemingly rapt in contemplation. The little King was the +only one who had taken no notice of the "Live Children." His +beautiful, liquid eyes, eyes as blue as the palace, were pursuing +endless dreams; his right hand supported his head, which was already +heavy with thought; his short tunic showed his dimpled knees; and a +golden crown rested on his yellow locks. When he cried, "Here I am!" +the baby rose from the step on which he was sitting and tried to climb +on to it at one stride; but he was still so awkward that he lost his +balance and fell upon his nose. He at once picked himself up with so +much dignity that nobody dared make fun of him; and, this time, he +scrambled up on all fours and then, putting his legs wide apart, stood +and eyed Tyltyl from top to toe. + +"You're not very big!" said Tyltyl, doing his best to keep from +laughing. + +"I shall do great things when I am!" retorted the King, in a tone that +admitted of no reply. + +"And what will you do?" asked Tyltyl. + +"I shall found the General Confederation of the Solar Planets," said +the King, in a very pompous voice. + +Our friend was so much impressed that he could not find a word to say; +and the King continued: + +"All the Planets will belong to it, except Uranus, Saturn and Neptune, +which are too ridiculously far away." + +Thereupon, he toddled off the step again and resumed his first +attitude, showing that he had said all that he meant to say. + +Tyltyl left him to his meditations; he was eager to know as many more +of the Children as he could. He was introduced to the discoverer of a +new sun, to the inventor of a new joy, to the hero who was to wipe out +injustice from the earth and to the wiseacre who was to conquer +Death.... There were such lots and lots of them that it would take +days and days to name them all. Our friend was rather tired and was +beginning to feel bored, when his attention was suddenly aroused by +hearing a Child's voice calling him: + +"Tyltyl!... Tyltyl!... How are you, Tyltyl, how are you?..." + +A little Blue Child came running up from the back of the hall, pushing +his way through the crowd. He was fair and slim and bright-eyed and +had a great look of Mytyl. + +"How do you know my name?" asked Tyltyl. + +"It's not surprising," said the Blue Child, "considering that I shall +be your brother!" + +This time, the Live Children were absolutely amazed. What an +extraordinary meeting! They must certainly tell Mummy as soon as they +got back! How astonished they would be at home! + +While they were making these reflections, the Child went on to +explain: + +"I am coming to you next year, on Palm Sunday," he said. + +And he put a thousand questions to his big brother: was it comfortable +at home? Was the food good? Was Daddy very severe? And Mummy? + +"Oh, Mummy is so kind!" said the little ones. + +And they asked him questions in their turn: what was he going to do on +earth? What was he bringing? + +"I am bringing three illnesses," said the little brother. "Scarlatina, +whooping-cough and measles...." + +"Oh, that's all, is it?" cried Tyltyl. + +He shook his head, with evident disappointment, while the other +continued: + +"After that, I shall leave you!" + +"It will hardly be worth while coming!" said Tyltyl, feeling rather +vexed. + +"We can't pick and choose!" said the little brother, pettishly. + +They would perhaps have quarrelled, without waiting till they were on +earth, if they had not suddenly been parted by a swarm of Blue +Children who were hurrying to meet somebody. At the same time, there +was a great noise, as if thousands of invisible doors were being +opened at the end of the galleries. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tyltyl. + +"It's Time," said one of the Blue Children. "He's going to open the +doors." + +And the excitement increased on every side. The Children left their +machines and their labours; those who were asleep woke up; and every +eye was eagerly and anxiously turned to the great opal doors at the +back, while every mouth repeated the same name. The word, "Time! +Time!" was heard all around; and the great mysterious noise kept on. +Tyltyl was dying to know what it meant. At last, he caught a little +Child by the skirt of his dress and asked him. + +"Let me be," said the Child, very uneasily. "I'm in a hurry: it may be +my turn to-day.... It is the Dawn rising. This is the hour when the +Children who are to be born to-day go down to earth.... You shall +see.... Time is drawing the bolts...." + +"Who is Time?" asked Tyltyl. + +"An old man who comes to call those who are going," said another +Child. "He is not so bad; but he won't listen or hear. Beg as they +may, if it's not their turn, he pushes back all those who try to +go.... Let me be! It may be my turn now!" + +Light now hastened towards our little friends in a great state of +alarm: + +"I was looking for you," she said. "Come quick: it will never do for +Time to discover you." + +As she spoke these words, she threw her gold cloak around the Children +and dragged them to a corner of the hall, where they could see +everything, without being seen. + +Tyltyl was very glad to be so well protected. He now knew that he who +was about to appear possessed so great and tremendous a power that no +human strength was capable of resisting him. He was at the same time a +deity and an ogre; he bestowed life and he devoured it; he sped +through the world so fast that you had no time to see him; he ate and +ate, without stopping; he took whatever he touched. In Tyltyl's +family, he had already taken Grandad and Granny, the little brothers, +the little sisters and the old blackbird! He did not mind what he +took: joys and sorrows, winters and summers, all was fish that came to +his net!... + +Knowing this, our friend was astonished to see everybody in the +Kingdom of the Future running so fast to meet him: + +"I suppose he doesn't eat anything here," he thought. + +There he was! The great doors turned slowly on their hinges. There was +a distant music: it was the sounds of the earth. A red and green light +penetrated into the hall; and Time appeared on the threshold. He was a +tall and very thin old man, so old that his wrinkled face was all +grey, like dust. His white beard came down to his knees. In one hand, +he carried an enormous scythe; in the other, an hour-glass. Behind +him, some way out, on a sea the colour of the Dawn, was a magnificent +gold galley, with white sails. + +"Are they ready whose hour has struck?" asked Time. At the sound of +that voice, solemn and deep as a bronze gong, thousands of bright +children's voices, like little silver bells, answered: + +"Here we are!... Here we are!... Here we are!..." + +And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round the tall old +man, who pushed them all back and, in a gruff voice, said: + +"One at a time!... Once again, there are many more of you than are +wanted!... You can't deceive me!" + +Brandishing his scythe in one hand and holding out his cloak with the +other, he barred the way to the rash Children who tried to slip by +him. Not one of them escaped the horrid old man's watchful eye: + +"It's not your turn!" he said to one. "You're to be born to-morrow!... +Nor yours either, you've got ten years to wait.... A thirteenth +shepherd?... There are only twelve wanted; there is no need for +more.... More doctors?... There are too many already; they are +grumbling about it on earth.... And where are the engineers?... They +want an honest man; only one, as a wonderful being." + +Thereupon, a poor Child, who had hung back, until then, came forward +timidly, sucking his thumb. He looked pale and sad and walked with +tottering footsteps; he was so wretched that even Time felt a moment's +pity: + +"It's you!" he exclaimed. "You seem a very poor specimen!" + +[Illustration: And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round +the tall old man] + +And, lifting his eyes to the sky, with a look of discouragement, he +added: + +"You won't live long!" + +And the movement went on. Each Child, when denied, returned to his +employment with a downcast air. When one of them was accepted, the +others looked at him with envy. Now and then, something happened, as +when the hero who was to fight against injustice refused to go. He +clung to his playfellows, who called out to Time: + +"He doesn't want to, Sir!" + +"No, I don't want to go," cried the little fellow, with all his might. +"I would rather not be born." + +"And quite right too!" thought Tyltyl, who was full of common-sense +and who knew what things are like on earth. + +For people always get beatings which they have not deserved; and, when +they have done wrong, you may be sure that the punishment will fall on +one of their innocent friends. + +"I wouldn't care to be in his place," said our friend to himself. "I +would rather hunt for the Blue Bird, any day!" + +Meanwhile, the little seeker after justice went away sobbing, +frightened out of his life by Mr. Time. + +The excitement was now at its height. The Children ran all over the +hall: those who were going packed up their inventions; those who were +staying behind had a thousand requests to make: + +"Will you write to me?" + +"They say one can't!" + +"Oh, try, do try!" + +"Announce my idea!" + +"Good-bye, Jean.... Good-bye, Pierre!" + +"Have you forgotten anything?" + +"Don't lose your ideas!" + +"Try to tell us if it's nice!" + +"Enough! Enough!" roared Time, in a huge voice, shaking his big keys +and his terrible scythe, "Enough! The anchor's weighed...." + +Then the Children climbed into the gold galley, with the beautiful +white silk sails. They waved their hands again to the little friends +whom they were leaving behind them; but, on seeing the earth in the +distance, they cried out, gladly: + +"Earth! Earth!... I can see it!..." + +"How bright it is!..." + +"How big it is!..." + +And, at the same time, as though coming from the abyss, a song rose, a +distant song of gladness and expectation. + +Light, who was listening with a smile, saw the look of astonishment on +Tyltyl's face and bent over him: + +"It is the song of the mothers coming out to meet them," she said. + +At that moment, Time, who had shut the doors, saw our friends and +rushed at them angrily, shaking his scythe at them. + +"Hurry!" said Light. "Hurry! Take the Blue Bird, Tyltyl, and go in +front of me with Mytyl." + +She put into the boy's arms a bird which she held hidden under her +cloak and, all radiant, spreading her dazzling veil with her two +hands, she ran on, protecting her charges from the onslaught of Time. + +In this way, they passed through several turquoise and sapphire +galleries. It was magnificently beautiful, but they were in the +Kingdom of the Future, where Time was the great master, and they must +escape from his anger which they had braved. + +Mytyl was terribly frightened and Tyltyl kept nervously turning round +to Light. + +"Don't be afraid," she said. "I am the only person whom Time has +respected since the world began. Only mind that you take care of the +Blue Bird. He's gorgeous! He is quite, quite blue!" + +This thought enraptured the boy. He felt the precious treasure +fluttering in his arms; his hands dared not press the pretty +creature's soft, warm wings; and his heart beat against its heart. +This time, he held the Blue Bird! Nothing could touch it, because it +was given to him by Light herself. What a triumph when he returned +home!... + +He was so bewildered by his happiness that he hardly knew where he was +going; his joy rang a victorious peal in his head that made him feel +giddy; he was mad with pride; and this, worse luck, made him lose his +coolness and his presence of mind! They were just about to cross the +threshold of the palace, when a gust of wind swept through the +entrance-hall, lifting up Light's veil and at last revealing the two +Children to the eyes of Time, who was still pursuing them. With a roar +of rage, he darted his scythe at Tyltyl, who cried out. Light warded +off the blow; and the door of the palace closed behind them with a +thud. They were saved!... But alas, Tyltyl, taken by surprise, had +opened his arms and now, through his tears, saw the Bird of the Future +soaring above their heads, mingling with the azure sky its dream-wings +so blue, so light and so transparent that soon the boy could make out +nothing more.... + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN THE TEMPLE OF LIGHT + + +Tyltyl had enjoyed himself thoroughly in the Kingdom of the Future. He +had seen many wonderful things and thousands of little playfellows and +then, without taking the least pains or trouble, had found the Blue +Bird in his arms in the most magical way. He had never pictured +anything more beautiful, more blue or brilliant; and he still felt it +fluttering against his heart and kept hugging his arms to his breast +as though the Blue Bird were there. + +Alas, it had vanished like a dream! + +He was thinking sadly of this latest disappointment as he walked +hand-in-hand with Light. They were back in the Temple and were going +to the vaults where the Animals and Things had been shut up. What a +sight met their eyes! The wretches had eaten and drunk such a lot that +they were lying on the floor quite tipsy! Tylô himself had lost all +his dignity. He had rolled under the table and was snoring like a +porpoise. His instinct remained; and the sound of the door made him +prick up his ears. He opened one eye, but his sight was troubled by +all that he had had to drink and he did not know his little master +when he saw him. He dragged himself to his feet with a great effort, +turned round several times and then dropped on the floor again with a +grunt of satisfaction. + +Bread and the others were as bad; and the only exception was the Cat, +who was sitting up prettily on a marble and gold bench and seemed in +full possession of her senses. She sprang nimbly to the ground and +stepped up to Tyltyl with a smile: + +"I have been longing to see you," she said, "for I have been very +unhappy among all these vulgar people. They first drank all the wine +and then started shouting and singing and dancing, quarrelling and +fighting and making such a noise that I was very glad when, at last, +they fell into a tipsy sleep." + +The children praised her warmly for her good behaviour. As a matter of +fact, there was no great merit in this, for she could not stand +anything stronger than milk; but we are seldom rewarded when by rights +we ought to be and sometimes are when we have not deserved it. + +After fondly kissing the children, Tylette asked a favour of Light: + +"I have had such a wretched time," she whined. "Let me go out for a +little while; it will do me good to be alone." + +[Illustration: The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, opened the +door and ran and bounded out into the forest] + +Light gave her consent without suspecting anything; and the Cat at +once draped her cloak round her, put her hat straight, pulled up her +soft grey boots over her knees, opened the door and ran and bounded +out into the forest. We shall know, a little later, where treacherous +Tylette was going so gaily and what was the horrid plot which she was +mysteriously concocting. + +As on the other days, the Children had their dinner with Light in a +large room all encrusted with diamonds. The servants bustled around +them smiling and brought delicious dishes and cakes. + +After dinner, our little friends began to yawn. They felt sleepy very +early, after all their adventures; and, Light--ever kind and +thoughtful--made them live as they were accustomed to on earth. So as +not to injure their health by altering their habits, she had set up +their little beds in a part of the temple where the darkness would +seem like night to them. + +They went through any number of rooms to reach their bedroom. They had +first to pass all the lights known to Man and then those which Man did +not yet know. + +There were great sumptuous apartments in splendid marble, lit up by +rays so white and strong that the children were quite dazzled. + +"That is the Light of the Rich," said Light to Tyltyl. "You see how +dangerous it is. People run the risk of going blind when they live too +much in its rays, which leave no room for soft and kindly shade." + +And she hurried them on so that they might rest their eyes in the +gentle Light of the Poor. Here, the Children suddenly felt as if they +were in their parents' cottage, where everything was so humble and +peaceful. The faint light was very pure and clear, but always +flickering and ready to go out at the least breath. + +Next they came to the beautiful Light of the Poets, which they liked +immensely, for it had all the colours of the rainbow; and, when you +passed through it, you saw lovely pictures, lovely flowers and lovely +toys which you were unable to take hold of. Laughing merrily, the +children ran after birds and butterflies, but everything faded away as +soon as it was touched. + +"Well, I never!" said Tyltyl, as he came panting back to Light. "This +beats everything! I can't understand it!" + +"You will understand later," she replied, "and, if you understand it +properly, you will be among the very few human beings who know the +Blue Bird when they see him." + +After leaving the region of the Poets, our friends reached the Light +of the Learned, which lies on the borders of the known and the unknown +lights: + +"Let's get on," said Tyltyl. "This is boring." + +To tell the truth, he was a little bit frightened, for they were in a +long row of cold and forbidding arches, which were streaked at every +moment by dazzling lightning-flashes; and, at each flash, you saw +out-of-the-way things that had no name as yet. + +After these arches, they came to the Lights Unknown to Man; and +Tyltyl, in spite of the sleep that pressed upon his eyelids, could not +help admiring the hall with its violet columns and the gallery with +its red rays. And the violet of the columns was such a dark violet and +the red of the rays such a pale red that it was hardly possible to see +either of them. + +At last, they arrived at the room of smooth, unflecked Black Light, +which men call Darkness because their eyes are not yet able to make it +out. And here the Children fell asleep without delay on two soft beds +of clouds. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE GRAVEYARD + + +When the Children were not going on an expedition, they played about +in the Realms of Light; and this was a great treat for them, for the +gardens and the country around the temple were as wonderful as the +halls and galleries of silver and gold. + +The leaves of some of the plants were so broad and strong that they +were able to lie down on them; and, when a breath of wind stirred the +leaves, the Children swung as in a hammock. It was always summer there +and never a moment was darkened by the night; but the hours were known +by their different colours; there were pink, white, blue, lilac, green +and yellow hours; and, according to their hues, the flowers, the +fruits, the birds, the butterflies and the scents changed, causing +Tyltyl and Mytyl a constant surprise. They had all the toys that they +could wish for. When they were tired of playing, they stretched +themselves out on the backs of the lizards, which were as long and +wide as little boats, and quickly, quickly raced round the +garden-paths, over the sand which was as white and as good to eat as +sugar. When they were thirsty, Water shook her tresses into the cup of +the enormous flowers; and the Children drank straight out of the +lilies, tulips and morning-glories. If they were hungry, they picked +radiant fruits which revealed the taste of Light to them and which had +juice that shone like the rays of the sun. + +There was also, in a clump of bushes, a white marble pond which +possessed a magic power: its clear waters reflected not the faces, but +the souls of those who looked into it. + +"It's a ridiculous invention," said the Cat, who steadily refused to +go near the pond. + +You, my dear little readers, who know her thoughts as well as I do, +will not be surprised at her refusal. And you will also understand why +our faithful Tylô was not afraid to go and quench his thirst there: he +need not fear to reveal his thoughts, for he was the only creature +whose soul never altered. The dear Dog had no feelings but those of +love and kindness and devotion. + +When Tyltyl bent over the magic mirror, he almost always saw the +picture of a splendid Blue Bird, for the constant wish to find him +filled his mind entirely. Then he would run to Light and entreat her: + +"Tell me where he is!... You know everything: tell me where to find +him!" + +But she replied, in a tone of mystery: + +"I cannot tell you anything. You must find him for yourself." And, +kissing him, she added, "Cheer up; you are getting nearer to him at +each trial." + +Now there came a day on which she said to him: + +"I have received a message from the Fairy Bérylune telling me that the +Blue Bird is probably hidden in the graveyard.... It appears that one +of the Dead in the graveyard is keeping him in his tomb...." + +"What shall we do?" asked Tyltyl. + +"It is very simple: at midnight you will turn the diamond and you +shall see the Dead come out of the ground." + +At these words, Milk, Water, Bread and Sugar began to yell and scream +and chatter their teeth. + +"Don't mind them," said Light to Tyltyl, in a whisper. "They are +afraid of the Dead." + +"I'm not afraid of them!" said Fire, frisking about. "Time was when I +used to burn them; that was much more amusing than nowadays." + +"Oh, I feel I am going to turn," wailed Milk. + +"I'm not afraid," said the Dog, trembling in every limb, "but if you +run away.... I shall run away too ... and with the greatest +pleasure...." + +The Cat sat pulling at her whiskers: + +"I know what's what," she said, in her usual mysterious way. + +"Be quiet," said Light. "The Fairy gave strict orders. You are all to +stay with me, at the gate of the graveyard; the Children are to go in +alone." + +Tyltyl felt anything but pleased. He asked: + +"Aren't you coming with us?" + +"No," said Light. "The time for that has not arrived. Light cannot yet +enter among the Dead. Besides, there is nothing to fear. I shall not +be far away; and those who love me and whom I love always find me +again...." + +She had not finished speaking, when everything around the Children +changed. The wonderful temple, the dazzling flowers, the splendid +gardens vanished to make way for a poor little country cemetery, which +lay in the soft moonlight. Near the Children were a number of graves, +grassy mounds, wooden crosses and tombstones. Tyltyl and Mytyl were +seized with terror and hugged each other: + +"I am frightened!" said Mytyl. + +"I am never frightened," stammered Tyltyl, who was shaking with fear, +but did not like to say so. + +"I say," asked Mytyl, "are the Dead wicked?" + +"Why, no," said Tyltyl, "they're not alive!..." + +"Have you ever seen one?" + +"Yes, once, long ago, when I was very young...." + +"What was it like?" + +"Quite white, very still and very cold; and it didn't talk...." + +"Are we going to see them?" + +Tyltyl shuddered at this question and made an unsuccessful effort to +steady his voice as he answered: + +"Why, of course, Light said so!" + +"Where are the Dead?" asked Mytyl. + +Tyltyl cast a frightened look around him, for the Children had not +dared to stir since they were alone: + +"The Dead are here," he said, "under the grass or under those big +stones." + +"Are those the doors of their houses?" asked Mytyl, pointing to the +tombstones. + +"Yes." + +"Do they go out when it's fine?" + +"They can only go out at night." + +"Why?" + +"Because they are in their night-shirts." + +"Do they go out also when it rains?" + +"When it rains, they stay at home." + +"Is it nice in their homes?" + +"They say it's very cramped." + +"Have they any little children?" + +"Why, yes, they have all those who die." + +"And what do they live on?" + +Tyltyl stopped to think, before answering. As Mytyl's big brother, he +felt it his duty to know everything; but her questions often puzzled +him. Then he reflected that, as the Dead live under ground, they can +hardly eat anything that is above it; and so he answered very +positively: + +"They eat roots!" + +Mytyl was quite satisfied and returned to the great question that was +occupying her little mind: + +"Shall we see them?" she asked. + +"Of course," said Tyltyl, "we see everything when I turn the diamond." + +"And what will they say?" + +Tyltyl began to grow impatient: + +"They will say nothing, as they don't talk." + +"Why don't they talk?" asked Mytyl. + +"Because they have nothing to say," said Tyltyl, more cross and +perplexed than ever. + +"Why have they nothing to say?" + +This time, the little big brother lost all patience. He shrugged his +shoulders, gave Mytyl a push and shouted angrily: + +"You're a nuisance!..." + +Mytyl was greatly upset and confused. She sucked her thumb and +resolved to hold her tongue for ever after, as she had been so badly +treated! But a breath of wind made the leaves of the trees whisper and +suddenly recalled the Children to their fears and their sense of +loneliness. They hugged each other tight and began to talk again, so +as not to hear the horrible silence: + +"When will you turn the diamond?" asked Mytyl. + +"You heard Light say that I was to wait until midnight, because that +disturbs them less; it is when they come out to take the air...." + +"Isn't it midnight yet...." + +Tyltyl turned round, saw the church clock and hardly had the strength +to answer, for the hands were just upon the hour: + +"Listen," he stammered, "listen.... It is just going to strike.... +There!... Do you hear?..." + +And the clock struck twelve. + +Then Mytyl, frightened out of her life, began to stamp her feet and +utter piercing screams: + +"I want to go away!... I want to go away!..." + +Tyltyl, though stiff with fright, was able to say: + +"Not now.... I am going to turn the diamond...." + +"No, no, no!" cried Mytyl. "I am so frightened, little brother!... +Don't do it!... I want to go away!..." + +Tyltyl vainly tried to lift his hand: he could not reach the diamond +with Mytyl clinging to him, hanging with all her weight on her +brother's arm and screaming at the top of her voice: + +"I don't want to see the Dead!... They will be awful!... I can't +possibly!... I am much too frightened!..." + +Poor Tyltyl was quite as much terrified as Mytyl, but at each trial, +his will and courage were becoming greater; he was learning to master +himself; and nothing could induce him to fail in his mission. The +eleventh stroke rang out. + +"The hour is passing!" he exclaimed. "It is time!" + +And releasing himself resolutely from Mytyl's arms, he turned the +diamond.... + +A moment of terrible silence followed for the poor little children. +Then they saw the crosses totter, the mounds open, the slabs rise +up.... + +Mytyl hid her face against Tyltyl's chest: + +"They're coming out!" she cried. "They're there!... They're +there!..." + +The agony was more than the plucky little fellow could endure. He shut +his eyes and only kept himself from fainting by leaning against a tree +beside him. He remained like that for a minute that seemed to him like +a century, not daring to move, not daring to breathe. Then he heard +birds singing; a warm and scented breeze fanned his face; and, on his +hands, on his neck, he felt the soft heat of the balmy summer sun. Now +quite reassured, but unable to believe in so great a miracle, he +opened his eyes and at once began to shout with happiness and +admiration. + +From all the open tombs came thousands of splendid flowers. They +spread everywhere, on the paths, on the trees, on the grass; and they +went up and up until it seemed that they would touch the sky. They +were great full-blown roses, showing their hearts, wonderful golden +hearts from which came the hot, bright rays which had wrapped Tyltyl +in that summer warmth. Round the roses, birds sang and bees buzzed +gaily. + +"I can't believe it! It's not possible!" said Tyltyl. "What has become +of the tombs and the stone crosses?" + +Dazzled and bewildered, the two children walked hand in hand through +the graveyard, of which not a trace remained, for there was nothing +but a wonderful garden on every side. They were as glad and happy as +could be, after their terrible fright. They had thought that ugly +skeletons would rise from the earth and run after them, pulling horrid +faces; they had imagined all sorts of awful things. And now, in the +presence of the truth, they saw that all that they had been told was a +great big story and that Death does not exist. They saw that there are +no Dead and that Life goes on always, always, but under fresh forms. +The fading rose sheds its pollen, which gives birth to other roses, +and its scattered petals scent the air. The fruits come when the +blossoms fall from the trees; and the dingy, hairy caterpillar turns +into a brilliant butterfly. Nothing perishes ... there are only +changes.... + +Beautiful birds circled all round Tyltyl and Mytyl. There were no blue +ones among them, but the two Children were so glad of their discovery +that they asked for nothing more. Astonished and delighted, they kept +on repeating: + +"There are no Dead!... There are no Dead!..." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FOREST + + +As soon as Tyltyl and Mytyl were in bed, Light kissed them and faded +away at once, so as not to disturb their sleep with the rays that +always streamed from her beautiful self. + +It must have been about midnight, when Tyltyl, who was dreaming of the +little Blue Children, felt a soft velvet paw pass to and fro over his +face. He was surprised and sat up in bed in a bit of a fright; but he +was soon reassured when he saw his friend Tylette's glowing eyes +glittering in the dark. + +"Hush!" said the Cat in his ear. "Hush! Don't wake anybody. If we can +arrange to slip out without being seen, we shall catch the Blue Bird +to-night. I have risked my life, O my dearest master, in preparing a +plan which will certainly lead us to victory!" + +"But," said the boy, kissing Tylette, "Light would be so glad to help +us ... and besides I should be ashamed to disobey her...." + +"If you tell her," said the Cat, sharply, "all is lost, believe me. Do +as I say; and the day is ours." + +As she spoke these words, she hastened to dress him and also Mytyl, +who had heard a noise and was asking to go with them. + +"You don't understand," groaned Tyltyl. "You are too small: you don't +know what a wicked thing we are doing...." + +But the treacherous Cat answered all his arguments, saying that the +reason why he had not found the Blue Bird so far was just the fault of +Light, who always brought brightness with her. Let the Children only +go hunting by themselves, in the dark, and they would soon find all +the Blue Birds that make men's happiness. The traitress displayed such +cleverness that, before long, Tyltyl's disobedience became a very fine +thing in his own eyes. Each of Tylette's words provided a good excuse +for his action or adorned it with a generous thought. He was too weak +to set his will against trickery, allowed himself to be persuaded and +walked out of the temple with a firm and cheerful step. Poor little +fellow: if he could only have foreseen the terrible trap that awaited +him! + +Our three companions set out across the fields in the white light of +the moon. The Cat seemed greatly excited, did nothing but talk and +went so fast that the children were hardly able to keep up with her: + +"This time," she declared, "we shall have the Blue Bird, I am sure of +it! I asked all the Trees in the very oldest forest; they know him, +because he hides among them. Then, in order to have everybody there, I +sent the Rabbit to beat the assembly and call the principal Animals in +the country." + +They reached the edge of the dark forest in an hour's time. Then, at a +turn in the road, they saw, in the distance, some one who seemed to be +hurrying towards them. Tylette arched her back: she felt that it was +her old time enemy. She quivered with rage: was he once more going to +thwart her plans? Had he guessed her secret? Was he coming, at the +last moment, to save the Children's lives? + +She leaned over to Tyltyl and whispered to him, in her most honeyed +voice: + +"I am sorry to say it is our worthy friend the Dog. It is a thousand +pities, because his presence will make us fail in our object. He is on +the worst of terms with everybody, even the Trees. Do tell him to go +back!" + +"Go away, you ugly thing!" said Tyltyl, shaking his fist at the Dog. + +Dear old faithful Tylô, who had come because he suspected the Cat's +plans, was much hurt by these hard words. He was ready to cry, was +still out of breath from running and could think of nothing to say. + +"Go away, I tell you!" said Tyltyl again. "We don't want you here and +there's an end of it.... You're a nuisance, there!..." + +The Dog was an obedient animal and, at any other time, he would have +gone; but his affection told him what a serious business it was and he +stood stock still. + +"Do you allow this disobedience?" said the Cat to Tyltyl, in a +whisper. "Hit him with your stick." + +Tyltyl beat the Dog, as the Cat suggested: + +"There, that will teach you to be more obedient!" he said. + +The poor Dog howled at receiving the blows; but there was no limit to +his self-sacrifice. He went up to his young master pluckily and, +taking him in his arms, cried: + +"I must kiss you now you've beaten me!" + +Tyltyl, who was a good-hearted little fellow, did not know what to do; +and the Cat swore between her teeth like a wild beast. Fortunately, +dear little Mytyl interfered on our friend's behalf: + +"No, no; I want him to stay," she pleaded. "I'm frightened when Tylô's +not with us." + +Time was short and they had to come to a decision. + +"I'll find some other way to get rid of the idiot!" thought the Cat. +And, turning to the Dog, she said, in her most gracious manner, "We +shall be _so_ pleased if you will join us!" + +As they entered the great forest, the Children stuck close together, +with the Cat and the Dog on either side of them. They were awed by the +silence and the darkness and they felt much relieved when the Cat +exclaimed: + +"Here we are! Turn the diamond!" + +Then the light spread around them and showed them a wonderful sight. +They were standing in the middle of a large round space in the heart +of the forest, where all the old, old Trees seemed to reach up to the +sky. Wide avenues formed a white star amidst the dark green of the +wood. Everything was peaceful and still; but suddenly a strange shiver +ran through the foliage; the branches moved and stretched like human +arms; the roots raised the earth that covered them, came together, +took the shapes of legs and feet and stood on the ground; a tremendous +crash rang through the air; the trunks of the Trees burst open and +each of them let out its soul, which made its appearance like a funny +human figure. + +Some stepped slowly from their trunks; others came out with a jump; +and all of them gathered inquisitively round our friends. + +The talkative Poplar began to chatter like a magpie: + +"Little Men! We shall be able to talk to them! We have done with +silence!... Where do they come from?... Who are they?" + +And so he rattled on. + +The Lime-tree, who was a jolly, fat fellow, came up calmly, smoking +his pipe; the conceited and dandified Chestnut-tree screwed his glass +into his eye to stare at the Children. He wore a coat of green silk +embroidered with pink and white flowers. He thought the little ones +too poor-looking and turned away in derision. + +"He thinks he's everybody, since he has taken to living in town! He +despises us!" sneered the Poplar, who was jealous of him. + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" wept the Willow, a wretched little stunted +fellow, who came clattering along in a pair of wooden shoes too big +for him. "They have come to cut off my head and arms for firewood!" + +Tyltyl could not believe his eyes. He never stopped asking the Cat +questions: + +"Who's this?... Who's that?..." + +And Tylette introduced the soul of each Tree to him. + +There was the Elm, who was a sort of short-winded, paunchy, crabby +gnome; the Beech, an elegant, sprightly person; the Birch, who looked +like the ghosts in the Palace of Night, with his white flowing +garments and his restless gestures. The tallest figure was the +Fir-tree: Tyltyl found it very difficult to see his face perched right +at the top of his long, thin body; but he looked gentle and sad, +whereas the Cypress, who stood near him, dressed all in black, +frightened Tyltyl terribly. + +However, so far nothing very dreadful had happened. The Trees, +delighted at being able to talk, were all chattering together; and our +young friend was simply going to ask them where the Blue Bird was +hidden, when, all of a sudden, silence reigned. The Trees bowed +respectfully and stood aside to make way for an immensely old Tree, +dressed in a long gown embroidered with moss and lichen. He leaned +with one hand on a stick and with the other on a young Oak Sapling who +acted as his guide, for the Old Oak was blind. His long white beard +streamed in the wind. + +"It's the King!" said Tyltyl to himself, when he saw his mistletoe +crown. "I will ask him the secret of the forest." + +And he was just going up to him, when he stopped, seized with surprise +and joy: there sat the Blue Bird before him, perched on the old Oak's +shoulder. + +"He has the Blue Bird!" cried the boy, gleefully. "Quick! Quick! Give +him to me!" + +"Silence! Hold your tongue!" said the greatly shocked Trees. + +"Take off your hat, Tyltyl," said the Cat. "It's the Oak!" + +The poor Child at once obeyed with a smile; he did not understand the +danger that threatened him and he did not hesitate to answer, "Yes, +Sir," when the Oak asked him if he was Tyl the woodcutter's son. + +Then the Oak, trembling with rage, began to lay a terrible charge +against Daddy Tyl: + +"In my family alone," he said, "your father has put to death six +hundred of my sons, four hundred and seventy-five uncles and aunts, +twelve hundred cousins of both sexes, three hundred and eighty +daughters-in-law and twelve thousand great-grandsons!" + +No doubt his anger made him exaggerate a little; but Tyltyl listened +without protest and said, very politely: + +"I beg your pardon, Sir, for disturbing you.... The Cat said that you +would tell us where the Blue Bird is." + +The Oak was too old not to know all there was to know about Men and +Animals. He smiled in his beard when he guessed the trap laid by the +Cat and he felt very glad at it, for he had long wished to revenge the +whole forest for the slavery to which Man had subjected it. + +"It's for the Fairy Bérylune's little girl, who is very ill," the boy +continued. + +"Enough!" said the Oak, silencing him. "I do not hear the Animals.... +Where are they?... All this concerns them as much as us.... We, the +Trees, must not assume the responsibility alone for the grave measures +that have become necessary." + +"Here they come!" said the Fir-tree, looking over the top of the other +Trees. "They are following the Rabbit.... I can see the souls of the +Horse, the Bull, the Ox, the Cow, the Wolf, the Sheep, the Pig, the +Goat, and the Bear...." + +All the Animals now arrived. They walked on their hind-legs and were +dressed like human beings. They solemnly took up their positions in a +circle among the Trees, all except the frivolous Goat, who began to +skip down the avenues, and the Pig, who hoped to find some glorious +truffles among the roots that had newly left the ground. + +"Are all here present?" asked the Oak. + +"The Hen could not leave her eggs," said the Rabbit, "the Hare was out +for a run, the Stag has pains in his horns and his corns, the Fox is +ill--here is the doctor's certificate--the Goose did not understand +and the Turkey flew into a passion...." + +"Look!" whispered Tyltyl to Mytyl. "Aren't they funny? They are just +like the rich children's fine toys in the windows at Christmas-time." + +The Rabbit especially made them laugh, with his cocked hat over his +big ears, his blue, embroidered coat and his drum slung in front of +him. + +Meanwhile, the Oak was explaining the situation to his brothers the +Trees and to the Animals. Treacherous Tylette had been quite right in +reckoning on their hatred. + +"The child you see before you," said the Oak, "thanks to a talisman +stolen from the powers of Earth, is able to take possession of our +Blue Bird and thus to snatch from us the secret which we have kept +since the origin of life.... Now we know enough of Man to entertain no +doubt as to the fate which he reserves for us, once he is in +possession of this secret.... Any hesitation would be both foolish and +criminal.... It is a serious moment; the child must be done away with +before it is too late...." + +"What is he saying?" asked Tyltyl, who could not make out what the old +Tree was driving at. + +The Dog was prowling round the Oak and now showed his fangs: + +"Do you see my teeth, you old cripple?" he growled. + +"He is insulting the Oak!" said the Beech indignantly. + +"Drive him out!" shouted the Oak, angrily. "He's a traitor!" + +"What did I tell you?" whispered the Cat to Tyltyl. "I will arrange +things.... But send him away." + +"Will you be off!" said Tyltyl to the Dog. + +"Do let me worry the gouty old beggar's moss slippers!" begged Tylô. + +Tyltyl tried in vain to prevent him. The rage of Tylô, who understood +the danger, knew no bounds; and he would have succeeded in saving his +master, if the Cat had not thought of calling in the Ivy, who till +then had kept his distance. The Dog pranced about like a madman, +abusing everybody. He railed at the Ivy: + +"Come on, if you dare, you old ball of twine, you!" + +The onlookers growled; the Oak was pale with fury at seeing his +authority denied; the Trees and the Animals were indignant, but, as +they were cowards, not one of them dared protest; and the Dog would +have settled all of them, if he had gone on with his rebellion. But +Tyltyl threatened him harshly; and, suddenly yielding to his docile +instincts, Tylô lay down at his master's feet. Thus it is that our +finest virtues are treated as faults, when we exercise them without +discrimination. + +From that moment, the Children were lost. The Ivy gagged and bound +the poor Dog, who was then taken behind the Chestnut-tree and tied to +his biggest root. + +"Now," cried the Oak, in a voice of thunder, "we can take counsel +quietly.... This is the first time that it is given us to judge Man! I +do not think that, after the monstrous injustice which we have +suffered, there can remain the least doubt as to the sentence that +awaits him...." + +One cry rang from every throat: + +"Death! Death! Death!" + +The poor Children did not at first understand their doom, for the +Trees and Animals, who were more accustomed to talking their own +special language, did not speak very distinctly; and, besides, the +innocent Children could never imagine such cruelty! + +"What is the matter with them?" asked the boy. "Are they displeased?" + +"Don't be alarmed," said the Cat. "They are a little annoyed because +Spring is late...." + +And she went on talking into Tyltyl's ear, to divert his attention +from what was happening. + +While the trusting lad was listening to her fibs, the others were +discussing which form of execution would be the most practical and the +least dangerous. The Bull suggested a good butt with the horns; the +Beech offered his highest branch to hang the little Children on; and +the Ivy was already preparing a slip-knot! The Fir-tree was willing to +give the four planks for the coffin and the Cypress the perpetual +grant of a tomb. + +"By far the simplest way," whispered the Willow, "would be to drown +them in one of my rivers." + +And the Pig grunted between his teeth: + +"In my opinion, the great thing would be to eat the little girl.... +She ought to be very tender...." + +"Silence!" roared the Oak. "What we have to decide is which of us +shall have the honour of striking the first blow!" + +"That honour falls to you, our King!" said the Fir-tree. + +"Alas, I am too old!" replied the Oak. "I am blind and infirm! To you, +my evergreen brother, be the glory, in my place, of striking the +decisive blow that shall set us free." + +But the Fir-tree declined the honour on the pretext that he was +already to have the pleasure of burying the two victims and that he +was afraid of rousing jealousy. He suggested the Beech, as owning the +best club. + +"It is out of the question," said the Beech. "You know I am +worm-eaten! Ask the Elm and the Cypress." + +Thereupon the Elm began to moan and groan: a mole had twisted his +great toe the night before and he could hardly stand upright; and the +Cypress excused himself and so did the Poplar, who declared that he +was ill and shivering with fever. Then the Oak's indignation flared +up: + +"You are afraid of Man!" he exclaimed. "Even those unprotected and +unarmed little Children inspire you with terror!... Well, I shall go +forth alone, old and shaky and blind as I am, against the hereditary +enemy!... Where is he?..." + +And groping his way with his stick, he moved towards Tyltyl, growling +as he went. + +Our poor little friend had been very much afraid during the last few +minutes. The Cat had left him suddenly, saying that she wanted to +smooth down the excitement, and had not come back. Mytyl nestled +trembling against him; and he felt very lonely, very unhappy among +those dreadful people whose anger he was beginning to notice. When he +saw the Oak marching on him with a threatening air, he drew his +pocket-knife and defied him like a man: + +"Is it I he's after, that old one, with his big stick?" he cried. + +But, at the sight of the knife, Man's irresistible weapon, all the +Trees shook with fright and rushed at the Oak to hold him back. There +was a struggle; and the old King, conquered by the weight of years, +threw away his stick: + +"Shame on us!" he shouted. "Shame on us! Let the Animals deliver +us!..." + +The Animals were only waiting for this! All wanted to be revenged +together. Fortunately, their very eagerness caused a scrimmage which +delayed the murder of the dear little ones. + +Mytyl uttered piercing screams. + +"Don't be afraid," said Tyltyl, doing his best to protect her. "I have +my knife." + +"The little chap means to die game!" said the Cock. + +"That's the one I shall eat first," said the Pig, eyeing Mytyl +greedily. + +"What have I done to all of you?" asked Tyltyl. + +"Nothing at all, my little man," said the Sheep. "Eaten my little +brother, my two sisters, my three uncles, my aunt, my grandpapa and my +grandmamma.... Wait, wait, when you're down, you shall see that I have +teeth also...." + +And so the Sheep and the Horse, who were the greatest cowards, waited +for the little fellow to be knocked down before they dared take their +share in the spoil. + +While they were talking, the Wolf and the Bear treacherously attacked +Tyltyl from behind and pushed him over. It was an awful moment. All +the Animals, seeing him on the ground, tried to get at him. The boy +raised himself to one knee and brandished his knife. Mytyl uttered +yells of distress; and, to crown all, it suddenly became dark. + +Tyltyl called wildly for assistance: + +"Help! Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... To the rescue!... Where is Tylette?... +Come! Come!..." + +The Cat's voice was heard in the distance, where she was craftily +keeping out of sight: + +"I can't come!" she whined. "I'm wounded!" + +All this time, plucky little Tyltyl was defending himself as best he +could, but he was alone against all of them, felt that he was going to +be killed and, in a faltering voice, cried once more: + +"Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... I can't hold out!... There are too many of +them!... The Bear!... The Pig! The Wolf! The Fir-tree! The Beech!... +Tylô! Tylô! Tylô!..." + +Then the Dog came leaping along, dragging his broken bonds and +elbowing his way through the Trees and Animals and flung himself +before his master, whom he defended furiously: + +"Here, my little god! Don't be afraid! Have at them! I know how to use +my teeth!" + +All the Trees and Animals raised a loud outcry: + +"Renegade!... Idiot!... Traitor!... Felon!... Simpleton!... Sneak!... +Leave him!... He's a dead man!... Come over to us!..." + +The Dog fought on: + +"Never! Never!... I alone against all of you!... Never! Never!... True +to the gods, to the best, to the greatest!... Take care, my little +master, here's the Bear!... Look out for the Bull!" + +Tyltyl vainly tried to defend himself: + +"I'm done for, Tylô! It was a blow from the Elm! My hand's bleeding!" +And he dropped to the ground. "No, I can hold out no longer!" + +"They are coming!" said the Dog. "I hear somebody!... We are saved! It +is Light!... Saved! Saved!... See, they're afraid, they're +retreating!... Saved, my little king!..." + +And, sure enough, Light was coming towards them; and with her the dawn +rose over the forest, which became light as day. + +"What is it?... What has happened?" she asked, quite alarmed at the +sight of the little ones and their dear Tylô covered with wounds and +bruises. "Why, my poor boy, didn't you know? Turn the diamond +quickly!" + +Tyltyl hastened to obey; and immediately the souls of all the Trees +rushed back into their trunks, which closed upon them. The souls of +the Animals also disappeared; and there was nothing to be seen but a +cow and a sheep browsing peacefully in the distance. The forest became +harmless once more; and Tyltyl looked around him in amazement: + +"No matter," he said, "but for the Dog ... and if I hadn't had my +knife!..." + +Light thought that he had been punished enough and did not scold him. +Besides, she was very much upset by the horrible danger which he had +run. + +Tyltyl, Mytyl and the Dog, glad to meet again safe and sound, +exchanged wild kisses. They laughingly counted their wounds, which +were not very serious. + +Tylette was the only one to make a fuss: + +"The Dog's broken my paw!" she mewed. + +Tylô felt as if he could have made a mouthful of her: + +"Never mind!" he said. "It'll keep!" + +"Leave her alone, will you, you ugly beast?" said Mytyl. + +Our friends went back to the Temple of Light to rest after their +adventure. Tyltyl, repenting of his disobedience, dared not even +mention the Blue Bird of which he had caught a glimpse; and Light said +to the Children, gently: + +"Let this teach you, dears, that Man is all alone against all in this +world. Never forget that." + +[Illustration: A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her +eyes, flooding all around her] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE LEAVE-TAKING + + +Weeks and months had passed since the children's departure on their +journey; and the hour of separation was at hand. Light had been very +sad lately; she had counted the days in sorrow, without a word to the +Animals and Things, who had no idea of the misfortune that threatened +them. + +On the day when we see them for the last time, they were all out in +the gardens of the temple. Light stood watching them from a marble +terrace, with Tyltyl and Mytyl sleeping by her side. Much had happened +in the past twelve months; but the life of the Animals and Things, +which had no intelligence to guide it, had made no progress, on the +contrary. Bread had eaten so much that he was now not able to walk: +Milk, devoted as ever, dragged him along in a Bath chair. Fire's nasty +temper had made him quarrel with everybody and he had become very +lonely and unhappy in consequence. Water, who had no will of her own, +had ended by yielding to Sugar's sweet entreaties: they were now +married; and Sugar presented a most piteous sight. The poor fellow +was reduced to a shadow of his former self, shrank visibly day by day +and was sillier than ever, while Water, in marrying, had lost her +principal charm, her simplicity. The Cat had remained the liar that +she always was; and our dear friend Tylô had never been able to +overcome his hatred for her. + +"Poor things!" thought Light, with a sigh. "They have not gained much +by receiving the benefit of life! They have travelled and seen nothing +of all the wonders that surrounded them in my peaceful temple; they +were either quarrelling with one another or over-eating themselves +until they fell ill. They were too foolish to enjoy their happiness +and they will recognize it for the first time presently, when they are +about to lose it...." + +At that moment, a pretty dove, with silver wings, alighted on her +knees. It wore an emerald collar round its neck, with a note fastened +to the clasp. The dove was the Fairy Bérylune's messenger. Light +opened the letter and read these few words: + +"Remember that the year is over." + +Then Light stood up, waved her wand and everything disappeared from +sight. + +A few seconds later, the whole company were gathered together outside +a high wall with a small door in it. The first rays of the dawn were +gilding the tree-tops. Tyltyl and Mytyl, whom Light was fondly +supporting with her arms, woke up, rubbed their eyes and looked around +them in astonishment. + +"What?" said Light to Tyltyl. "Don't you know that wall and that +little door?" + +The sleepy boy shook his head: he remembered nothing. Then Light +assisted his memory: + +"The wall," she said, "surrounds a house which we left one evening +just a year ago to-day...." + +"Just a year ago?... Why, then...." And, clapping his hands with glee, +Tyltyl ran to the door. "We must be near Mummy!... I want to kiss her +at once, at once, at once!" + +But Light stopped him. It was too early, she said: Mummy and Daddy +were still asleep and he must not wake them with a start. + +"Besides," she added, "the door will not open till the hour strikes." + +"What hour?" asked the boy. + +"The hour of separation," Light answered, sadly. + +"What!" said Tyltyl, in great distress. "Are you leaving us?" + +"I must," said Light. "The year is past. The Fairy will come back and +ask you for the Blue Bird." + +"But I haven't got the Blue Bird!" cried Tyltyl. "The one of the Land +of Memory turned quite black, the one of the Future flew away, the +Night's are dead, those in the Graveyard were not blue and I could not +catch the one in the Forest!... Will the Fairy be angry?... What will +she say?..." + +"Never mind, dear," said Light. "You did your best. And, though you +did not find the Blue Bird, you deserved to do so, for the good-will, +pluck and courage which you showed." + +Light's face beamed with happiness as she spoke these words, for she +knew that to deserve to find the Blue Bird was very much the same +thing as finding it; but she was not allowed to say this, for it was a +beautiful mystery, which Tyltyl had to solve for himself. She turned +to the Animals and Things, who stood weeping in a corner, and told +them to come and kiss the Children. + +Bread at once put down the cage at Tyltyl's feet and began to make a +speech: + +"In the name of all, I crave permission...." + +"You sha'n't have mine!" cried Fire. + +"Order!" cried Water. + +"We still have tongues of our own!" roared Fire. + +"Yes! Yes!" screamed Sugar, who, knowing that his end was at hand, +kept kissing Water and melting before the others' eyes. + +Poor Bread in vain tried to make his voice heard above the din. Light +had to interfere and command silence. Then Bread spoke his last words: + +"I am leaving you," he said, between his sobs. "I am leaving you, my +dear Children, and you will no longer see me in my living form.... +Your eyes are about to close to the invisible life of Things; but I +shall be always there, in the bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table, +beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, the most faithful +companion, the oldest friend of Man...." + +"Well, and what about me?" shouted Fire, angrily. + +"Silence!" said Light. "The hour is passing.... Be quick and say +good-bye to the Children...." + +Fire rushed forward, took hold of the Children, one after the other, +and kissed them so violently that they screamed with pain: + +"Oh! Oh!... He's burning me!..." + +"Oh! Oh!... He's scorched my nose!..." + +"Let me kiss the place and make it well," said Water, going up to the +children gently. + +This gave Fire his chance: + +"Take care," he said, "you'll get wet." + +"I am loving and gentle," said Water. "I am kind to human beings...." + +"What about those you drown?" asked Fire. + +But Water pretended not to hear: + +"Love the wells, listen to the brooks," she said. "I shall always be +there. When you sit down in the evening, beside the springs, try to +understand what they are trying to say...." + +Then she had to break off, for a regular waterfall of tears came +gushing from her eyes, flooding all around her. However, she resumed: + +"Think of me when you see the water-bottle.... You will find me also +in the ewer, the watering-can, the cistern and the tap...." + +Then Sugar came up, with a limping walk, for he could hardly stand on +his feet. He uttered a few words of sorrow, in an affected voice and +then stopped, for tears, he said, were not in harmony with his +temperament. + +"Humbug!" cried Bread. + +"Sugar-plum! Lollipop! Caramel!" yelped Fire. + +[Illustration: Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her with +bites, blows and kicks] + +And all began to laugh, except the two children, who were very sad: + +"Where are Tylette and Tylô gone to?" asked our hero. + +At that moment, the Cat came running up, in a terrible state: her hair +was on end and dishevelled, her clothes were torn and she was holding +a handkerchief to her cheek, as though she had the tooth-ache. She +uttered terrible groans and was closely pursued by the Dog, who +overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks. The others rushed in +between them to separate them, but the two enemies continued to insult +and glare at each other. The Cat accused the Dog of pulling her tail +and putting tin tacks in her food and beating her. The Dog simply +growled and denied none of his actions: + +"You've had some," he kept saying, "you've had some and you're going +to have some more!" + +But, suddenly, he stopped and, as he was panting with excitement, it +could be seen that his tongue turned quite white: Light had told him +to kiss the Children for the last time. + +"For the last time?" stammered poor Tylô. "Are we to part from these +poor Children?" + +His grief was such that he was incapable of understanding anything. + +"Yes," said Light. "The hour which you know of is at hand.... We are +going to return to silence...." + +Thereupon the Dog, suddenly realizing his misfortune, began to utter +real howls of despair and fling himself upon the Children, whom he +loaded with mad and violent caresses: + +"No! No!" he cried. "I refuse!... I refuse!... I shall always talk!... +And I shall be very good.... You will keep me with you and I shall +learn to read and write and play dominoes!... And I shall always be +very clean.... And I shall never steal anything in the kitchen +again...." + +He went on his knees before the two Children, sobbing and entreating, +and, when Tyltyl, with his eyes full of tears, remained silent, dear +Tylô had a last magnificent idea: running up to the Cat, he offered, +with smiles that looked like grins, to kiss her. Tylette, who did not +possess his spirit of self-sacrifice, leaped back and took refuge by +Mytyl's side. Then Mytyl said, innocently: + +"You, Tylette, are the only one that hasn't kissed us yet." + +The Cat put on a mincing tone: + +"Children," said she, "I love you both as much as you deserve." + +There was a pause. + +"And now," said Light, "let me, in my turn, give you a last kiss...." + +As she spoke, she spread her veil round them as if she would have +wrapped them for the last time in her luminous might. Then she gave +them each a long and loving kiss. Tyltyl and Mytyl hung on to her +beseechingly: + +"No, no, no, Light!" they cried. "Stay here with us!... Daddy won't +mind.... We will tell Mummy how kind you have been.... Where will you +go all alone?"... + +"Not very far, my Children," said Light. "Over there to the Land of +the Silence of Things." + +"No, no," said Tyltyl. "I won't have you go...." + +But Light quieted them with a motherly gesture and said words to them +which they never forgot. Long after, when they were a grandfather and +grandmother in their turn, Tyltyl and Mytyl still remembered them and +used to repeat them to their grandchildren. + +Here are Light's touching words: + +"Listen, Tyltyl. Do not forget, child, that everything that you see in +this world has neither beginning nor end. If you keep this thought in +your heart and let it grow up with you, you will always, in all +circumstances, know what to say, what to do and what to hope for." + +And, when our two friends began to sob, she added, lovingly: + +"Do not cry, my dear little ones.... I have not a voice like Water; I +have only my brightness, which Man does not understand.... But I watch +over him to the end of his days.... Never forget that I am speaking to +you in every spreading moonbeam, in every twinkling star, in every +dawn that rises, in every lamp that is lit, in every good and bright +thought of your soul...." + +At that moment, the grandfather's clock in the cottage struck eight +o'clock. Light stopped for a moment and then, in a voice that grew +suddenly fainter, whispered: + +"Good-bye!... Good-bye!... The hour is striking!... Good-bye!" + +Her veil faded away, her smile became paler, her eyes closed, her form +vanished and, through their tears, the children saw nothing but a thin +ray of light dying away at their feet. Then they turned to the others +... but these had disappeared.... + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE AWAKENING + + +The grandfather's clock in Tyl the woodcutter's cottage had struck +eight; and his two little Children, Tyltyl and Mytyl, were still +asleep in their little beds. Mummy Tyl stood looking at them, with her +arms akimbo and her apron tucked up, laughing and scolding in the same +breath: + +"I can't let them go on sleeping till mid-day," she said. "Come, get +up, you little lazybones!" + +But it was no use shaking them, kissing them or pulling the +bed-clothes off them: they kept on falling back upon their pillows, +with their noses pointing at the ceiling, their mouths wide open, +their eyes shut and their cheeks all pink. + +At last, after receiving a gentle thump in the ribs, Tyltyl opened one +eye and murmured: + +"What?... Light?... Where are you?... No, no, don't go away...." + +"Light!" cried Mummy Tyl, laughing. "Why, of course, it's light.... +Has been for ever so long!... What's the matter with you?... You look +quite blinded...." + +"Mummy!... Mummy!" said Tyltyl, rubbing his eyes. "It's you!..." + +"Why, of course, it's I!... Why do you stare at me in that way?... Is +my nose turned upside down, by any chance?" + +Tyltyl was quite awake by this time and did not trouble to answer the +question. He was beside himself with delight! It was ages and ages +since he had seen his Mummy and he never tired of kissing her. + +Mummy Tyl began to be uneasy. What could the matter be? Had her boy +lost his senses? Here he was suddenly talking of a long journey in the +company of the Fairy and Water and Milk and Sugar and Fire and Bread +and Light! He made believe that he had been away a year!... + +"But you haven't left the room!" cried Mummy Tyl, who was now nearly +beside herself with fright. "I put you to bed last night and here you +are this morning! It's Christmas Day: don't you hear the bells in the +village?..." + +"Of course, it's Christmas Day," said Tyltyl, obstinately, "seeing +that I went away a year ago, on Christmas Eve!... You're not angry +with me?... Did you feel very sad?... And what did Daddy say?..." + +"Come, you're still asleep!" said Mummy Tyl, trying to take comfort. +"You've been dreaming!... Get up and put on your breeches and your +little jacket...." + +"Hullo, I've got my shirt on!" said Tyltyl. + +And, leaping up, he knelt down on the bed and began to dress, while +his mother kept on looking at him with a scared face. + +The little boy rattled on: + +"Ask Mytyl, if you don't believe me.... Oh, we have had such +adventures!... We saw Grandad and Granny ... yes, in the Land of +Memory ... it was on our way. They are dead, but they are quite well, +aren't they, Mytyl?" + +And Mytyl, who was now beginning to wake up, joined her brother in +describing their visit to the grandparents and the fun which they had +had with their little brothers and sisters. + +This was too much for Mummy Tyl. She ran to the door of the cottage +and called with all her might to her husband, who was working on the +edge of the forest: + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" she cried. "I shall lose them as I lost the +others!... Do come!... Come quick...." + +Daddy Tyl soon entered the cottage, with his axe in his hand; he +listened to his wife's lamentations, while the two Children told the +story of their adventures over again and asked him what he had done +during the year. + +"You see, you see!" said Mummy Tyl, crying. "They have lost their +heads, something will happen to them; run and fetch the doctor...." + +But the woodcutter was not the man to put himself out for such a +trifle. He kissed the little ones, calmly lit his pipe and declared +that they looked very well and that there was no hurry. + +At that moment, there came a knock at the door and the neighbour +walked in. She was a little old woman leaning on a stick and very much +like the Fairy Bérylune. The Children at once flung their arms around +her neck and capered round her, shouting merrily: + +"It's the Fairy Bérylune!" + +The neighbour, who was a little hard of hearing, paid no attention to +their cries and said to Mummy Tyl: + +"I have come to ask for a bit of fire for my Christmas stew.... It's +very chilly this morning.... Good-morning, children...." + +Meanwhile, Tyltyl had become a little thoughtful. No doubt, he was +glad to see the old Fairy again; but what would she say when she heard +that he had not the Blue Bird? He made up his mind like a man and +went up to her boldly: + +"Fairy Bérylune, I could not find the Blue Bird...." + +"What is he saying?" asked the neighbor, quite taken aback. + +Thereupon Mummy Tyl began to fret again: + +"Come, Tyltyl, don't you know Goody Berlingot?" + +"Why, yes, of course," said Tyltyl, looking the neighbor up and down. +"It's the Fairy Bérylune." + +"Béry ... what?" asked the neighbor. + +"Bérylune," answered Tyltyl, calmly. + +"Berlingot," said the neighbor. "You mean Berlingot." + +Tyltyl was a little put out by her positive way of talking; and he +answered: + +"Bérylune or Berlingot, as you please, ma'am, but I know what I'm +saying...." + +Daddy Tyl was beginning to have enough of it: + +"We must put a stop to this," he said. "I will give them a smack or +two." + +"Don't," said the neighbor; "it's not worth while. It's only a little +fit of dreaming; they must have been sleeping in the moonbeams.... My +little girl, who is very ill, is often like that...." + +Mummy Tyl put aside her own anxiety for a moment and asked after the +health of Neighbor Berlingot's little girl. + +"She's only so-so," said the neighbor, shaking her head. "She can't +get up.... The doctor says it's her nerves.... I know what would cure +her, for all that. She was asking me for it only this morning, for her +Christmas present...." + +She hesitated a little, looked at Tyltyl with a sigh and added, in a +disheartened tone: + +"What can I do? It's a fancy she has...." + +The others looked at one another in silence: they knew what the +neighbor's words meant. Her little girl had long been saying that she +would get well if Tyltyl would only give her his dove; but he was so +fond of it that he refused to part with it.... + +"Well," said Mummy Tyl to her son, "won't you give your bird to that +poor little thing? She has been dying to have it for ever so long!..." + +"My bird!" cried Tyltyl, slapping his forehead as though they had +spoken of something quite out of the way. "My bird!" he repeated. +"That's true, I was forgetting about him!... And the cage!... Mytyl, +do you see the cage?... It's the one which Bread carried.... Yes, yes, +it's the same one, there it is, there it is!" + +[Illustration: "It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have been +miles and miles and miles and he was here all the time!"] + +Tyltyl would not believe his eyes. He took a chair, put it under the +cage and climbed on to it gaily, saying: + +"Of course, I'll give him to her, of course, I will!..." + +Then he stopped, in amazement: + +"Why, he's blue!" he said. "It's my dove, just the same, but he has +turned blue while I was away!" + +And our hero jumped down from the chair and began to skip for joy, +crying: + +"It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have been miles and miles +and miles and he was here all the time!... He was here, at home!... +Oh, but how wonderful!... Mytyl, do you see the bird? What would Light +say?... There, Madame Berlingot, take him quickly to your little +girl...." + +While he was talking, Mummy Tyl threw herself into her husband's arms +and moaned: + +"You see?... You see?... He's taken bad again.... He's wandering...." + +Meantime, Neighbor Berlingot beamed all over her face, clasped her +hands together and mumbled her thanks. When Tyltyl gave her the bird, +she could hardly believe her eyes. She hugged the boy in her arms and +wept with joy and gratitude: + +"Do you give it me?" she kept saying. "Do you give it me like that, +straight away and for nothing?... Goodness, how happy she will be!... +I fly, I fly!... I will come back to tell you what she says...." + +"Yes, yes, go quickly," said Tyltyl, "for some of them change their +color!" + +Neighbour Berlingot ran out and Tyltyl shut the door after her. Then +he turned round on the threshold, looked at the walls of the cottage, +looked all around him and seemed wonderstruck: + +"Daddy, Mummy, what have you done to the house?" he asked. "It's just +as it was, but it's much prettier." + +His parents looked at each other in bewilderment; and the little boy +went on: + +"Why, yes, everything has been painted and made to look like new; +everything is clean and polished.... And look at the forest outside +the window!... How big and fine it is!... One would think it was quite +new!... How happy I feel here, oh, how happy I feel!" + +The worthy woodcutter and his wife could not make out what was coming +over their son; but you, my dear little readers, who have followed +Tyltyl and Mytyl through their beautiful dream, will have guessed what +it was that altered everything in our young hero's view. + +It was not for nothing that the Fairy, in his dream, had given him a +talisman to open his eyes. He had learned to see the beauty of things +around him; he had passed through trials that had developed his +courage; while pursuing the Blue Bird, the Bird of Happiness that was +to bring happiness to the Fairy's little girl, he had become +open-handed and so good-natured that the mere thought of giving +pleasure to others filled his heart with joy. And, while travelling +through endless, wonderful, imaginary regions, his mind had opened out +to life. + +The boy was right, when he thought everything more beautiful, for, to +his richer and purer understanding, everything must needs seem +infinitely fairer than before. + +Meanwhile, Tyltyl continued his joyful inspection of the cottage. He +leaned over the bread-pan to speak a kind word to the Loaves; he +rushed at Tylô, who was sleeping in his basket, and congratulated him +on the good fight which he had made in the forest. + +Mytyl stooped down to stroke Tylette, who was snoozing by the stove, +and said: + +"Well, Tylette?... You know me, I see, but you have stopped talking." + +Then Tyltyl put his hand up to his forehead: + +"Hullo!" he cried. "The diamond's gone!... Who's taken my little green +hat?... Never mind, I don't want it any more!... Ah, there's Fire! +Good-morning, sir! He'll be crackling to make Water angry!" He ran to +the tap, turned it on and bent down over the water. "Good-morning, +Water, good-morning!... What does she say?... She still talks, but I +don't understand her as well as I did.... Oh, how happy I am, how +happy I am!..." + +"So am I, so am I!" cried Mytyl. + +And our two young friends took each other's hands and began to scamper +round the kitchen. + +Mummy Tyl felt a little relieved at seeing them so full of life and +spirits. Besides, Daddy Tyl was so calm and placid. He sat eating his +porridge and laughing: + +"You see, they are _playing_ at being happy!" he said. + +Of course, the poor dear man did not know that a wonderful dream had +taught his little children not to play at being happy, but to _be_ +happy, which is the greatest and most difficult of lessons. + +"I like Light best of all," said Tyltyl to Mytyl, standing on tip-toe +by the window. "You can see her over there, through the trees of the +forest. To-night, she will be in the lamp. Dear, oh, dear, how lovely +it all is and how glad I feel, how glad I...." + +He stopped and listened. Everybody lent an ear. They heard laughter +and merry voices; and the sounds came nearer. + +"It's her voice!" cried Tyltyl. "Let me open the door!" + +As a matter of fact, it was the little girl, with her mother, Neighbor +Berlingot. + +"Look at her," said Goody Berlingot, quite overcome with joy. "She can +run, she can dance, she can fly! It's a miracle! When she saw the +bird, she jumped, just like that...." + +And Goody Berlingot hopped from one leg to the other at the risk of +falling and breaking her long, hooked nose. + +The Children clapped their hands and everybody laughed. + +The little girl was there, in her long white night-dress, standing in +the middle of the kitchen, a little surprised to find herself on her +feet after so many months' illness. She smiled and pressed Tyltyl's +dove to her heart. + +Tyltyl looked first at the child and then at Mytyl: + +"Don't you think she's very like Light?" he asked. + +"She is much smaller," said Mytyl. + +"Yes, indeed!" said Tyltyl. "But she will grow!..." + +And the three Children tried to put a little food down the Bird's +beak, while the parents began to feel easier in their minds and looked +at them and smiled. + +Tyltyl was radiant. I will not conceal from you, my dear little +readers, that the Dove had hardly changed colour at all and that it +was joy and happiness that decked him with a magnificent bright blue +plumage in our hero's eyes. No matter! Tyltyl, without knowing it, had +discovered Light's great secret, which is _that we draw nearer to +happiness by trying to give it to others_. + +But now something happened. Everybody became excited, the Children +screamed, the parents threw up their arms and rushed to the open door: +the Bird had suddenly escaped! He was flying away as fast as he could. + +"My bird! My bird!" sobbed the little girl. + +But Tyltyl was the first to run to the staircase and he returned in +triumph: + +"It's all right!" he said. "Don't cry! He is still in the house and we +shall find him again." + +And he gave a kiss to the little girl, who was already smiling through +her tears: + +"You'll be sure to catch him again, won't you?" she asked. + +"Trust me," replied our friend, confidentially. "I now know where he +is." + +You also, my dear little readers, now know where the Blue Bird is. +Dear Light revealed nothing to the woodcutter's Children, but she +showed them the road to happiness by teaching them to be good and kind +and generous. + +Suppose that, at the beginning of this story, she had said to them: + +"Go straight back home. The Blue Bird is there, in the humble cottage, +in the wicker cage, with your dear father and mother who love you." + +The Children would never have believed her: + +"What!" Tyltyl would have answered. "The Blue Bird, my dove? Nonsense: +my dove is grey!... Happiness, in the cottage? With Daddy and Mummy? +Oh, I say! There are no toys at home and it's awfully boring there: we +want to go ever so far and meet with tremendous adventures and have +all sorts of fun...." + +That is what he would have said; and he and Mytyl would have set out +in spite of everything, without listening to Light's advice, for the +most certain truths are good for nothing if we do not put them to the +test ourselves. It only takes a moment to tell a child all the wisdom +in the world, but our whole lives are not long enough to help us +understand it, because our own experience is our only light. + +Each of us must seek out happiness for himself; and he has to take +endless pains and undergo many a cruel disappointment before he learns +to become happy by appreciating the simple and perfect pleasures that +are always within easy reach of his mind and heart. + + THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Blue Bird for Children, by Georgette Leblanc + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRD FOR CHILDREN *** + +***** This file should be named 27991-8.txt or 27991-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/9/27991/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Blue Bird for Children + The Wonderful Adventures of Tyltyl and Mytyl in Search of Happiness + +Author: Georgette Leblanc + +Editor: Frederick Orville Perkins + +Translator: Alexander Teixeira de Mattos + +Release Date: February 4, 2009 [EBook #27991] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRD FOR CHILDREN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="top5"></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> + +<img src="images/covers.jpg" width="500" height="567" alt="Book Cover" title="Book Cover" /> +</div> + + +<p class="top5"> +<a name="Frontis" id="Frontis"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="500" height="490" +alt="The Land of Memory" title="The Land of Memory" /> +<br /><span class="caption">The Land of Memory</span> +</div> + +<p class="top5"></p> +<div class="bbox"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="title"> +<tr> +<td colspan="3" class="center"><h1>THE · BLUE · BIRD</h1></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="center"><img src="images/tpa.jpg" width="150" height="87" +alt="Bluebird" title="Bluebird" /></td> +<td class="center"><h2 class="bigfont">FOR CHILDREN</h2></td> +<td class="center"><img src="images/tpa.jpg" width="150" height="87" +alt="Bluebird" title="Bluebird" /></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<h2>THE · WONDERFUL · ADVENTURES<br /> +OF · TYLTYL · AND · MYTYL · IN<br /> +SEARCH · OF · HAPPINESS</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>GEORGETTE LEBLANC</h2> +<h3>[MADAME MAURICE MAETERLINCK]</h3> + +<h4><br />EDITED AND ARRANGED FOR SCHOOLS</h4> +<h5>BY</h5> +<h4>FREDERICK ORVILLE PERKINS</h4> + +<h6>TRANSLATED BY</h6> +<h6>ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS</h6> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/tpb.jpg" width="150" height="174" alt="logo" title="logo" /> +</div> + +<h2>SILVER · BURDETT & COMPANY</h2> +<h5>BOSTON · NEW YORK · CHICAGO · ATLANTA</h5> +<h5>DALLAS · SAN FRANCISCO</h5> + +</div> + +<h6 class="top10"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1913</span></h6> +<h5>BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY</h5> + +<h6><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1913</span></h6> +<h5>BY DODD, MEAD & COMPANY</h5> + +<h6><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914</span></h6> +<h5>BY SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY</h5> + +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top10" src="images/dedicate.jpg" width="500" height="231" +alt="This School Edition of The Blue +Bird for Children is affectionately +dedicated to the School Children +of America" title="Dedication to School Children of America" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter5" > +<img class="top10" src="images/atoteachers.jpg" width="463" height="237" +alt="To The Teacher +"The Blue Bird, inhabitant of the +Pays Bleu, the fabulous blue country +of our dreams is an ancient symbol +in the folk lore of Lorraine and +stands for happiness."" +title="To The Teacher +"The Blue Bird, inhabitant of the +Pays Bleu, the fabulous blue country +of our dreams is an ancient symbol +in the folk lore of Lorraine and +stands for happiness."" /> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> of the strongest pieces of imaginative writing for children that +the past decade has produced and one of the most delicate and +beautiful of all times, is "The Blue Bird," by Maurice Maeterlinck, +written as a play, and very successfully produced on the stage.</p> + +<p>Georgette Leblanc (Madame Maurice Maeterlinck), has rendered this play +in story form for children, under the title "The Children's Blue +Bird," and in this form it has now been carefully edited and arranged +for schools.</p> + +<p>Maurice Maeterlinck was born in Ghent, Belgium, August 29, 1862. +Although trained for the practice of the law and moderately successful +in it, he very early became dissatisfied with the prospect of a career +at the bar. In 1887, the young man moved to Paris and turned his +attention to writing. Shortly after, at the death of his father, +Maeterlinck returned to Belgium where he has since resided most of the +time. His career as an author practically began in 1889, when he +published two plays. At this time he was quite unknown, except to a +small circle, but soon, because of his remarkable originality, we find +him being called "The Belgian Shakespeare," and his reputation firmly +established.</p> + +<p>Amidst his Belgian roses he continued to work and dream, and upon his +youthful dreams he built his plays. They are all shadowy, brief +transcripts of emotion, and illustrate beautifully his unity of +purpose, of mood and of thought. Whether in philosophy, drama or +poetry, Maeterlinck is exclusively occupied in revealing or indicating +the mystery which lies only just out of sight beneath the ordinary +life. In order to produce this effect of the mysterious he aims at +extreme simplicity of style and a very realistic symbolism. He allows +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span> +life itself to astonish us by its strangeness, by its inexplicable +elements. Many of his plays are really pathetic records of unseen +emotions.</p> + +<p>Of all his writings, it is conceded that "The Blue Bird" makes the +strongest appeal to children. Maeterlinck has always had much in +common with the young. He has the child's mysticism and awe of the +unknown, the same delight in mechanical inventions, the same gift of +"making believe."</p> + +<p>In "The Blue Bird" Maeterlinck takes little account of external fact. +All along he has kept the child's capacity for wonder; all along he +has preserved youth's freshness of heart. He has, therefore, never +lost the key which unlocks the sympathies of childhood; he still +possesses the passport that makes him free of the kingdom of +Fairyland.</p> + +<p>This story of "The Blue Bird" may remind one somewhat of "Hansel and +Gretel," for here Maeterlinck, like Grimm, shows to us the adventures +of two peasant children as they pass through regions of enchantment +where they would be at the mercy of treacherous foes, but for the aid +of a supernatural friend. But the originality, the charm and the +interest of "The Blue Bird" depend on the way in which the author, +while adapting his language and his legends to the intelligence of +youthful readers, manages to show them the wonders and romance of +Nature. He enlists among his characters a whole series of inanimate +objects, such as Bread, Sugar, Milk, Light, Water, Fire and Trees, +besides the Cat, the Dog and other animals, investing them all with +individuality,—making for instance, with characteristic bias, the Dog +the faithful friend of his boy and girl companions and the Cat their +stealthy enemy.</p> + +<p>We may not understand his characters, we may not be informed whence +they came or whither they move; there is nothing concrete or +circumstantial about them; their life is intense and consistent, but +it is wholly in a spiritual character. They are mysterious with the +mystery of the movements of the soul.</p> + +<p>All through the story we are led to feel that Maeterlinck's spirit is +one of grave and disinterested attachment to the highest moral beauty, +and his seriousness, his serenity and his extreme originality impress +even those who are bewildered by his graces and his mysticism.</p> + +<p>"The Blue Bird" will forever live among Maeterlinck's greatest works +and will linger long in the memory of all children, continuing +throughout their lives to symbolize that ideal of ideals, true +happiness,—the happiness that comes from right seeking.</p> + +<h2><br /><br /><br /><i>Contents</i></h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents with Hyperlinks"> +<tr class="weefont"><td class="td1" >CHAPTER</td> + <td class="td3" colspan="2">PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>I</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Woodcutter's Cottage</span></td> + <td class="td3">3</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>II</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">At the Fairy's</span></td> + <td class="td3">31</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>III</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Land of Memory</span></td> + <td class="td3">49</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>IV</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Palace of Night</span></td> + <td class="td3">65</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>V</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Kingdom of the Future</span></td> + <td class="td3">89</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>VI</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">In the Temple of Light</span></td> + <td class="td3">117</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>VII</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Graveyard</span></td> +<td class="td3">125</td></tr> + <tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>VIII</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Forest</span></td> + <td class="td3">137</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>IX</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Leave-Taking</span></td> + <td class="td3">157</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>X</b></a></td> + <td class="td2"><span class="smcap2">The Awakening</span></td> + <td class="td3">169</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<h2 class="top3"><i>Illustrations</i></h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" width="70%" summary="List of Illustrations with Hyperlinks"> +<tr><td class="td2">The Land of Memory</td> + <td class="td3"><i><a href="#Frontis">Frontispiece</a></i></td></tr> +<tr class="weefont"><td class="td3" colspan="2">FACING PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">She herself helped Mytyl</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page10pic">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">They all looked at her with a bewildered air. +They understood that it was a solemn moment</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page38pic">38</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Delighted with the importance of his duty, +undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his stomach</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page42pic">42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, breaking off two of +his fingers, handed them to the astonished Children</td> +<td class="td3"><a href="#page44pic">44</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Everything vanished and, instead, there +appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page50pic">50</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page56pic">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and rather dangerous</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page66pic">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat around her; +and she questioned Tylette in a trembling voice</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page68pic">68</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, +sneeze and blow her nose</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page74pic">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden +filled with flowers that shone like stars</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page80pic">80</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Light's servants were very odd</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page90pic">90</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Other Blue Children opened great big books</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page98pic">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or brought +enormous flowers</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page102pic">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round +the tall old man</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page110pic">110</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, +opened the door and ran and bounded out into the forest</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page119pic">119</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her eyes, +flooding all around her</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page154pic">154</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her with bites, +blows and kicks</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page162pic">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td2">"It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have been miles +and miles and miles and he was here all the time!"</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#page174pic">174</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE WOODCUTTER'S COTTAGE</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Once</span> upon a time, a woodcutter and his wife lived in their cottage on +the edge of a large and ancient forest. They had two dear little +children who met with a most wonderful adventure.</p> + +<p>But, before telling you all about it, I must describe the children to +you and let you know something of their character; for, if they had +not been so sweet and brave and plucky, the curious story which you +are about to hear would never have happened at all.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl—that was our hero's name—was ten years old; and Mytyl, his +little sister, was only six.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was a fine, tall little fellow, stout and well-set-up, with +curly black hair which was often in a tangle, for he was fond of a +romp. He was a great favorite because of his smiling and good-tempered +face and the bright look in his eyes; but, best of all, he had the +ways of a bold and fearless little man, which showed the noble +qualities of his heart. When, early in the morning, he trotted along +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +forest-road by the side of his daddy, Tyl the woodcutter, for all +his shabby clothes he looked so proud and gallant that every beautiful +thing on the earth and in the sky seemed to lie in wait for him to +smile upon him as he passed.</p> + +<p>His little sister was very different, but looked ever so sweet and +pretty in her long frock, which Mummy Tyl kept neatly patched for her. +She was as fair as her brother was dark; and her large timid eyes were +blue as the forget-me-nots in the fields. Anything was enough to +frighten her and she would cry at the least thing; but her little +child soul already held the highest womanly qualities: she was loving +and gentle and so fondly devoted to her brother that, rather than +abandon him, she did not hesitate to undertake a long and dangerous +journey in his company.</p> + +<p>What happened and how our little hero and heroine went off into the +world one night in search of happiness: that is the subject of my +story.</p> + +<p>Daddy Tyl's cottage was the poorest of the countryside; and it seemed +even more wretched because it stood opposite a splendid hall in which +rich children lived. From the windows of the cottage you could see +what went on inside the Hall when the dining-room and drawing-rooms +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +were lit up in the evening. And, in the daytime, you saw the little +children playing on the terraces, in the gardens and in the hot-houses +which people came all the way from town to visit because they were +always filled with the rarest flowers.</p> + +<p>Now, one evening which was not like other evenings, for it was +Christmas Eve, Mummy Tyl put her little ones to bed and kissed them +even more lovingly than usual. She felt a little sad because, owing to +the stormy weather, Daddy Tyl was not able to go to work in the +forest; and so she had no money to buy presents with which to fill +Tyltyl and Mytyl's stockings. The Children soon fell asleep, +everything was still and silent and not a sound was heard but the +purring of the cat, the snoring of the dog and the ticking of the +great grandfather's clock. But suddenly a light as bright as day crept +through the shutters, the lamp upon the table lit again of itself and +the two Children awoke, yawned, rubbed their eyes, stretched out their +arms in bed and Tyltyl, in a cautious voice called:</p> + +<p>"Mytyl?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Tyltyl?" was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Are you asleep?"</p> + +<p>"Are you?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said Tyltyl. "How can I be asleep, when I'm talking to you?"</p> + +<p>"I say, is this Christmas Day?" asked his sister.</p> + +<p>"Not yet; not till to-morrow. But Father Christmas won't bring us +anything this year."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"I heard Mummy say that she couldn't go to town to tell him. But he +will come next year."</p> + +<p>"Is next year far off?"</p> + +<p>"A good long while," said the boy. "But he will come to the rich +children to-night."</p> + +<p>"Really?"</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" cried Tyltyl of a sudden. "Mummy's forgotten to put out the +lamp!... I've an idea!"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"Let's get up."</p> + +<p>"But we mustn't," said Mytyl, who always remembered.</p> + +<p>"Why, there's no one about!... Do you see the shutters?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, how bright they are!..."</p> + +<p>"It's the lights of the party," said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"What party?"</p> + +<p>"The rich children opposite. It's the Christmas-tree. Let's open the +shutters...."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Can we?" asked Mytyl, timidly.</p> + +<p>"Of course we can; there's no one to stop us.... Do you hear the +music?... Let us get up."</p> + +<p>The two Children jumped out of bed, ran to the window, climbed on the +stool in front of it and threw back the shutters. A bright light +filled the room; and the Children looked out eagerly:</p> + +<p>"We can see everything!" said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"I can't," said poor little Mytyl, who could hardly find room on the +stool.</p> + +<p>"It's snowing!" said Tyltyl. "There are two carriages, with six horses +each!"</p> + +<p>"There are twelve little boys getting out!" said Mytyl, who was doing +her best to peep out of the window.</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly!... They're little girls...."</p> + +<p>"They've got knickerbockers on...."</p> + +<p>"Do be quiet!... And look!..."</p> + +<p>"What are those gold things there, hanging from the branches?"</p> + +<p>"Why, toys, to be sure!" said Tyltyl. "Swords, guns, soldiers, +cannons...."</p> + +<p>"And what's that, all round the table?"</p> + +<p>"Cakes and fruit and cream-tarts." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, how pretty the children are!" cried Mytyl, clapping her hands.</p> + +<p>"And how they're laughing and laughing!" answered Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"And the little ones dancing!..."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; let's dance too!" shouted Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>And the two Children began to stamp their feet for joy on the stool:</p> + +<p>"Oh, what fun!" said Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"They're getting the cakes!" cried Tyltyl. "They can touch them!... +They're eating, they're eating, they're eating!... Oh, how lovely, how +lovely!..."</p> + +<p>Mytyl began to count imaginary cakes:</p> + +<p>"I have twelve!..."</p> + +<p>"And I four times twelve!" said Tyltyl. "But I'll give you some...."</p> + +<p>And our little friends, dancing, laughing and shrieking with delight, +rejoiced so prettily in the other children's happiness that they +forgot their own poverty and want. They were soon to have their +reward. Suddenly, there came a loud knocking at the door. The startled +Children ceased their romp and dared not move a limb. Then the big +wooden latch lifted of itself, with a loud creak; the door opened +slowly; and in crept a little old woman, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +dressed all in green, with a +red hood over her head. She was hump-backed and lame and had only one +eye; her nose and chin almost touched; and she walked leaning on a +stick. She was surely a fairy.</p> + +<p>She hobbled up to the Children and asked, in a snuffling voice:</p> + +<p>"Have you the grass here that sings or the bird that is blue?"</p> + +<p>"We have some grass," replied Tyltyl, trembling all over his body, +"but it can't sing...."</p> + +<p>"Tyltyl has a bird," said Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"But I can't give it away, because it's mine," the little fellow +added, quickly.</p> + +<p>Now wasn't that a capital reason?</p> + +<p>The Fairy put on her big, round glasses and looked at the bird:</p> + +<p>"He's not blue enough," she exclaimed. "I must absolutely have the +Blue Bird. It's for my little girl, who is very ill.... Do you know +what the Blue Bird stands for? No? I thought you didn't; and, as you +are good children, I will tell you."</p> + +<p>The Fairy raised her crooked finger to her long, pointed nose, and +whispered, in a mysterious tone:</p> + +<p>"The Blue Bird stands for happiness; and I want you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +to understand +that my little girl must be happy in order to get well. That is why I +now command you to go out into the world and find the Blue Bird for +her. You will have to start at once.... Do you know who I am?"</p> + +<p>The Children exchanged puzzled glances. The fact was that they had +never seen a fairy before; and they felt a little scared in her +presence. However, Tyltyl soon said politely:</p> + +<p>"You are rather like our neighbor, Madame Berlingot...."</p> + +<p><a name="page10pic" id="page10pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus020.jpg" width="500" height="544" +alt="She herself helped Mytyl" title="She herself helped Mytyl" /> +<br /><span class="caption">She herself helped Mytyl</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">Tyltyl thought that, in saying this, he was paying the Fairy a +compliment; for Madame Berlingot's shop, which was next door to their +cottage, was a very pleasant place. It was stocked with sweets, +marbles, chocolate cigars and sugar dolls and hens; and, at fair-time, +there were big gingerbread dolls covered all over with gilt paper. +Goody Berlingot had a nose that was quite as ugly as the Fairy's; she +was old also; and, like the Fairy, she walked doubled up in two; but +she was very kind and she had a dear little girl who used to play on +Sundays with the woodcutter's Children. Unfortunately, the poor little +pretty, fair-haired thing was always suffering from some unknown +complaint, which often kept her in bed. When this happened, she +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +used to beg and pray for Tyltyl's dove to play with; but Tyltyl was +so fond of the bird that he would not give it to her. All this, +thought the little boy, was very like that which the Fairy told him; +and that was why he called her Berlingot.</p> + +<p>Much to his surprise, the Fairy turned crimson with rage. It was a +hobby of hers to be like nobody, because she was a fairy and able to +change her appearance, from one moment to the next, as she pleased. +That evening, she happened to be ugly and old and hump-backed; she had +lost one of her eyes; and two lean wisps of grey hair hung over her +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"What do I look like?" she asked Tyltyl. "Am I pretty or ugly? Old or +young?"</p> + +<p>Her reason for asking these questions was to try the kindness of the +little boy. He turned away his head and dared not say what he thought +of her looks. Then she cried:</p> + +<p>"I am the Fairy Bérylune!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right!" answered Tyltyl, who, by this time, was +shaking in every limb.</p> + +<p>This satisfied the Fairy; and, as the Children were still in their +night-shirts, she told them to get dressed. She herself helped Mytyl +and, while she did so, asked: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Where are your Father and Mother?"</p> + +<p>"In there," said Tyltyl, pointing to the door on the right. "They're +asleep."</p> + +<p>"And your Grandad and Granny?"</p> + +<p>"They're dead...."</p> + +<p>"And your little brothers and sisters.... Have you any?..."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, three little brothers!" said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"And four little sisters," added Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"Where are they?" asked the Fairy.</p> + +<p>"They are dead, too," answered Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"Would you like to see them again?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes!... At once!... Show them to us!..."</p> + +<p>"I haven't them in my pocket," said the Fairy. "But this is very +lucky; you will see them when you go through the Land of Memory. It's +on the way to the Blue Bird, just on the left, past the third +turning.... What were you doing when I knocked?"</p> + +<p>"We were playing at eating cakes," said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"Have you any cakes?... Where are they?..."</p> + +<p>"In the house of the rich children.... Come and look, it's so lovely!"</p> + +<p>And Tyltyl dragged the Fairy to the window.</p> + +<p>"But it's the others who are eating them!" said she. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, but we can see them eat," said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"Aren't you cross with them?"</p> + +<p>"What for?"</p> + +<p>"For eating all the cakes. I think it's very wrong of them not to give +you any."</p> + +<p>"Not at all; they're rich!... I say, isn't it beautiful over there?"</p> + +<p>"It's just the same here, only you can't see...."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I can," said Tyltyl. "I have very good eyes. I can see the time +on the church clock; and Daddy can't!"</p> + +<p>The Fairy suddenly grew angry:</p> + +<p>"I tell you that you can't see!" she said.</p> + +<p>And she grew angrier and angrier. As though it mattered about seeing +the time on the church clock!</p> + +<p>Of course, the little boy was not blind; but, as he was kind-hearted +and deserved to be happy, she wanted to teach him to see what is good +and beautiful in all things. It was not an easy task, for she well +knew that most people live and die without enjoying the happiness that +lies all around them. Still, as she was a fairy, she was all-powerful; +and so she decided to give him a little hat adorned with a magic +diamond that would possess the extraordinary property of always +showing him the truth, which would help him to see the inside of +Things and thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +teach him that each of them has a life and an +existence of its own, created to match and gladden ours.</p> + +<p>The Fairy took the little hat from a great bag hanging by her side. It +was green and had a white cockade, with the big diamond shining in the +middle of it. Tyltyl was beside himself with delight. The Fairy +explained to him how the diamond worked. By pressing the top, you saw +the soul of Things; if you gave it a little turn to the right, you +discovered the Past; and, when you turned it to the left, you beheld +the Future.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl beamed all over his face and danced for joy; and then he at +once became afraid of losing the little hat:</p> + +<p>"Daddy will take it from me!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"No," said the Fairy, "for no one can see it as long as it's on your +head.... Will you try it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" cried the Children, clapping their hands.</p> + +<p>The hat was no sooner on the little boy's head than a magic change +came over everything. The old Fairy turned into a young and beautiful +princess, dressed all in silk and covered with sparkling jewels; the +walls of the cottage became transparent and gleamed like precious +stones; the humble deal furniture shone like marble. The two children +ran from right to left clapping their hands and shouting with +delight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, how lovely, how lovely!" exclaimed Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>And Mytyl, like the vain little thing she was, stood spell-bound +before the beauty of the fair princess' dress.</p> + +<p>But further and much greater surprises were in store for them. Had not +the Fairy said that the Things and the Animals would come to life, +talk and behave like everybody else? Lo and behold, suddenly the door +of the grandfather's clock opened, the silence was filled with the +sweetest music and twelve little daintily-dressed and laughing dancers +began to skip and spin all around the Children.</p> + +<p>"They are the Hours of your life," said the Fairy.</p> + +<p>"May I dance with them?" asked Tyltyl, gazing with admiration at those +pretty creatures, who seemed to skim over the floor like birds.</p> + +<p>But just then he burst into a wild fit of laughter! Who was that funny +fat fellow, all out of breath and covered with flour, who came +struggling out of the bread-pan and bowing to the children? It was +Bread! Bread himself, taking advantage of the reign of liberty to go +for a little walk on earth! He looked like a stout, comical old +gentleman; his face was puffed out with dough; and his large hands, at +the end of his thick arms, were not able to meet, when he laid them on +his great, round stomach. He was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +dressed in a tight-fitting +crust-coloured suit, with stripes across the chest like those on the +nice buttered rolls which we have for breakfast in the morning. On his +head—just think of it!—he wore an enormous bun, which made a funny +sort of turban.</p> + +<p>He had hardly tumbled out of his pan, when other loaves just like him, +but smaller, followed after and began to frisk about with the Hours, +without giving a thought to the flour which they scattered over those +pretty ladies and which wrapped them in great white clouds.</p> + +<p>It was a queer and charming dance; and the Children were delighted. +The Hours waltzed with the loaves; the plates, joining in the fun, +hopped up and down on the dresser, at the risk of falling off and +smashing to pieces; the glasses in the cupboard clinked together, to +drink the health of one and all. As to the forks, they chattered so +loudly with the knives that you could not hear yourself speak for the +noise....</p> + +<p>There is no knowing what would have happened if the din had lasted +much longer. Daddy and Mummy Tyl would certainly have waked up. +Fortunately, when the romp was at its height, an enormous flame darted +out of the chimney and filled the room with a great red glow, as +though the house were on fire. Everybody bolted into the corners in +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +dismay, while Tyltyl and Mytyl, sobbing with fright, hid their heads +under the good Fairy's cloak.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," she said. "It's only Fire, who has come to join in +your fun. He is a good sort, but you had better not touch him, for he +has a hot temper."</p> + +<p>Peeping anxiously through the beautiful gold lace that edged the +Fairy's cloak, the Children saw a tall, red fellow looking at them and +laughing at their fears. He was dressed in scarlet tights and +spangles; from his shoulders hung silk scarves that were just like +flames when he waved them with his long arms; and his hair stood up on +his head in straight, flaring locks. He started flinging out his arms +and legs and jumping round the room like a madman.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl, though feeling a little easier, dared not yet leave his +refuge. Then the Fairy Bérylune had a capital idea: she pointed her +wand at the tap; and at once there appeared a young girl who wept like +a regular fountain. It was Water. She was very pretty, but she looked +extremely sad; and she sang so sweetly that it was like the rippling +of a spring. Her long hair, which fell to her feet, might have been +made of sea-weed. She had nothing on but her bed-gown; but the water +that streamed over her clothed her in shimmering colours. She +hesitated at first and gave a glance around her; then, catching sight +of Fire still whirling about like a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> + great madcap, she made an angry +and indignant rush at him, spraying his face, splashing and wetting +him with all her might. Fire flew into a rage and began to smoke. +Nevertheless, as he found himself suddenly thwarted by his old enemy, +he thought it wiser to retire to a corner. Water also beat a retreat; +and it seemed as though peace would be restored once more.</p> + +<p>The two Children, at last recovering from their alarm, were asking the +Fairy what was going to happen next, when a startling noise of +breaking crockery made them look round towards the table. What a +surprise! The milk-jug lay on the floor, smashed into a thousand +fragments, and from the pieces rose a charming lady, who gave little +screams of terror and clasped her hands and turned up her eyes with a +beseeching glance.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl hastened to console her, for he at once knew that she was Milk; +and, as he was very fond of her, he gave her a good kiss. She was as +fresh and pretty as a little dairy-maid; and a delicious scent of hay +came from her white frock all covered with cream.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Mytyl was watching the sugar-loaf, which also seemed to be +coming to life. Packed in its blue paper wrapper, on a shelf near the +door, it was swaying from left to right and from right to left without +any result. But at +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> + last a long thin arm was seen to come out, +followed by a peaked head, which split the paper, and by another arm +and two long legs that seemed never to end!... Oh, you should have +seen how funny Sugar looked: so funny, indeed, that the Children could +not help laughing in his face! And yet they would have liked to be +civil to him, for they heard the Fairy introducing him in these words:</p> + +<p>"This, Tyltyl, is the soul of Sugar. His pockets are crammed with +sugar and each of his fingers is a sugar-stick."</p> + +<p>How wonderful to have a friend all made of sugar, off whom you can +bite a piece whenever you feel inclined!</p> + +<p>"Bow, wow, wow!... Good-morning! Good-morning, my little god!... At +last, at last we can talk!... Bark and wag my tail as I might, you +never understood!... I love you! I love you!"</p> + +<p>Who can this extraordinary person be, who jostles everybody and fills +the house with his noisy gaiety? We know him at once. It is Tylô, the +good Dog who tries his hardest to understand mankind, the good-natured +Animal who goes with the Children to the forest, the faithful guardian +who protects the door, the staunch friend who is ever true and ever +loyal! Here he comes walking on his hind-paws, as on a pair of legs +too short for him, and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> + beating the air with the two others, making +gestures like a clumsy little man. He has not changed: he still has +his smooth, mustard-coloured coat and his jolly bull-dog head, with +the black muzzle, but he is much bigger and then he talks! He talks as +fast as he can, as though he wanted in one moment to avenge his whole +race, which has been doomed to silence for centuries. He talks of +everything, now that he is at last able to explain himself; and it is +a pretty sight to see him kissing his little master and mistress and +calling them "his little gods!" He sits up, he jumps about the room, +knocking against the furniture, upsetting Mytyl with his big soft +paws, lolling his tongue, wagging his tail and puffing and panting as +though he were out hunting. We at once see his simple, generous +nature. Persuaded of his own importance, he fancies that he alone is +indispensable in the new world of Things.</p> + +<p>After making all the fuss he wanted of the Children, he started going +the round of the company, distributing the attentions which he thought +that none could do without. His joy, now set free, found vent without +restraint; and, because he was the most loving of creatures, he would +also have been the happiest, if, in becoming human, he had not, +unfortunately, retained his little doggy failings. He was jealous! He +was terribly jealous; and his heart felt a pang +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> + when he saw Tylette, +the Cat, coming to life in her turn and being petted and kissed by the +Children, just as he had been! Oh, how he hated the Cat! To bear the +sight of her beside him, to see her always sharing in the affection of +the family: that was the great sacrifice which fate demanded of him. +He accepted it, however, without a word, because it pleased his little +gods; and he went so far as to leave her alone. But he had had many a +crime on his conscience because of her! Had he not, one evening, crept +stealthily into Goody Berlingot's kitchen in order to throttle her old +tom-cat, who had never done him any harm? Had he not broken the back +of the Persian cat at the Hall opposite? Did he not sometimes go to +town on purpose to hunt cats and put an end to them, all to wreak his +spite? And now Tylette was going to talk, just like himself! Tylette +would be his equal in the new world that was opening before him!</p> + +<p>"Oh, there is no justice left on earth!" was his bitter thought. +"There is no justice left!"</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the Cat, who had begun by washing herself and +polishing her claws, calmly put out her paw to the little girl.</p> + +<p>She really was a very pretty cat; and, if our friend Tylô's jealousy +had not been such an ugly feeling, we might almost have overlooked it +for once! How could you fail to be attracted by Tylette's eyes, which +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +were like topaz set in emeralds? How could you resist the pleasure of +stroking the wonderful black velvet back? How could you not love her +grace, her gentleness and the dignity of her poses?</p> + +<p>Smiling gently and speaking in well-chosen language, she said to +Mytyl:</p> + +<p>"Good-morning, miss!... How well you look this morning!..."</p> + +<p>And the Children patted her like anything.</p> + +<p>Tylô kept watching the Cat from the other end of the room:</p> + +<p>"Now that she's standing on her hind-legs like a man," he muttered, +"she looks just like the Devil, with her pointed ears, her long tail +and her dress as black as ink!" And he could not help growling between +his teeth. "She's also like the village chimney-sweep," he went on, +"whom I loathe and detest and whom I shall never take for a real man, +whatever my little gods may say.... It's lucky," he added, with a +sigh, "that I know more about a good many things than they do!"</p> + +<p>But suddenly, no longer able to master himself, he flew at the Cat and +shouted, with a loud laugh that was more like a roar:</p> + +<p>"I'm going to frighten Tylette! Bow, wow, wow!" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the Cat, who was dignified even when still an animal, now thought +herself called to the loftiest destinies. She considered that the time +had come to raise a tall barrier between herself and the Dog, who had +never been more than an ill-bred person in her eyes; and, stepping +back in disdain, she just said:</p> + +<p>"Sir, I don't know you."</p> + +<p>Tylô gave a bound under the insult, whereupon the Cat bristled up, +twisting her whiskers under her little pink nose (for she was very +proud of those two pale blotches which gave a special touch to her +dark beauty); and then, arching her back and sticking up her tail, she +hissed out, "Fft! Fft!" and stood stock-still on the chest of drawers, +like a dragon on the lid of a Chinese vase.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl and Mytyl screamed with laughter; but the quarrel would +certainly have had a bad ending if, at that moment, a great thing had +not happened. At eleven o'clock in the evening, in the middle of that +winter's night, a great light, the light of the noon-day sun, glowing +and dazzling, burst into the cottage.</p> + +<p>"Hullo, there's daylight!" said the little boy, who no longer knew +what to make of things. "What will Daddy say?"</p> + +<p>But, before the Fairy had time to set him right, Tyltyl +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> understood; +and, full of wonderment, he knelt before the latest vision that +bewitched his eyes.</p> + +<p>At the window, in the center of a great halo of sunshine, there rose +slowly, like a tall golden sheaf, a maiden of surpassing loveliness! +Gleaming veils covered her figure without hiding its beauty; her bare +arms, stretched in the attitude of giving, seemed transparent; and her +great clear eyes wrapped all upon whom they fell in a fond embrace.</p> + +<p>"It's the Queen!" said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"It's a Fairy Princess!" cried Mytyl, kneeling beside her brother.</p> + +<p>"No, my Children," said the Fairy. "It is Light!"</p> + +<p>Smiling, Light stepped towards the two little ones. She, the Light of +Heaven, the strength and beauty of the Earth, was proud of the humble +mission entrusted to her; she, never before held captive, living in +space and bestowing her bounty upon all alike, consented to be +confined, for a brief spell, within a human shape, so as to lead the +Children out into the world and teach them to know that other Light, +the Light of the Mind, which we never see, but which helps us to see +all things that are.</p> + +<p>"It is Light!" exclaimed the Things and the Animals; and, as they all +loved her, they began to dance around her with cries of pleasure. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tyltyl and Mytyl capered with joy. Never had they pictured so amusing +and so pretty a party; and they shouted louder than all the rest.</p> + +<p>Then what was bound to happen came. Suddenly, three knocks were heard +against the wall, loud enough to throw the house down! It was Daddy +Tyl, who had been waked up by the din and who was now threatening to +come and put a stop to it.</p> + +<p>"Turn the diamond!" cried the Fairy to Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>Our hero hastened to obey, but he had not the knack of it yet; +besides, his hand shook at the thought that his father was coming. In +fact, he was so awkward that he nearly broke the works.</p> + +<p>"Not so quick, not so quick!" said the Fairy. "Oh dear, you've turned +it too briskly: they will not have time to resume their places and we +shall have a lot of bother!"</p> + +<p>There was a general stampede. The walls of the cottage lost their +splendour. All ran hither and thither, to return to their proper +shape: Fire could not find his chimney; Water ran about looking for +her tap; Sugar stood moaning in front of his torn wrapper; and Bread, +the biggest of the loaves, was unable to squeeze into his pan, in +which the other loaves had jumped higgledy-piggledy, taking up all the +room. As for the Dog, he had grown too large for the hole in his +kennel; and the Cat also could not get into her basket. The Hours +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +alone, who were accustomed always to run faster than Man wished, had +slipped back into the clock without delay.</p> + +<p>Light stood motionless and unruffled, vainly setting an example of +calmness to the others, who were all weeping and wailing around the +Fairy:</p> + +<p>"What is going to happen?" they asked. "Is there any danger?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said the Fairy, "I am bound to tell you the truth: all those +who accompany the two Children will die at the end of the journey."</p> + +<p>They began to cry like anything, all except the Dog, who was delighted +at remaining human as long as possible and who had already taken his +stand next to Light, so as to be sure of going in front of his little +master and mistress.</p> + +<p>At that moment, there came a knocking even more dreadful than before.</p> + +<p>"There's Daddy again!" said Tyltyl. "He's getting up, this time; I can +hear him walking...."</p> + +<p>"You see," said the Fairy, "you have no choice now; it is too late; +you must all start with us.... But you, Fire, don't come near anybody; +you, Dog, don't tease the Cat; you, Water, try not to run all over the +place; and you, Sugar, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> + stop crying, unless you want to melt. Bread +shall carry the cage in which to put the Blue Bird; and you shall all +come to my house, where I will dress the Animals and the Things +properly.... Let us go out this way!"</p> + +<p>As she spoke, she pointed her wand at the window, which lengthened +magically downwards, like a door. They all went out on tip-toe, after +which the window resumed its usual shape. And so it came about that, +on Christmas Night, in the clear light of the moon, while the bells +rang out lustily, proclaiming the birth of Jesus, Tyltyl and Mytyl +went in search of the Blue Bird that was to bring them happiness. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>AT THE FAIRY'S</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Fairy Bérylune's Palace stood at the top of a very high mountain, +on the way to the moon. It was so near that, on summer nights, when +the sky was clear, you could plainly see the moon's mountains and +valleys, lakes and seas from the terrace of the palace. Here the Fairy +studied the stars and read their secrets, for it was long since the +Earth had had anything to teach her.</p> + +<p>"This old planet no longer interests me!" she used to say to her +friends, the giants of the mountain. "The men upon it still live with +their eyes shut! Poor things, I pity them! I go down among them now +and then, but it is out of charity, to try and save the little +children from the fatal misfortune that awaits them in the darkness."</p> + +<p>This explains why she had come and knocked at the door of Daddy Tyl's +cottage on Christmas Eve.</p> + +<p>And now to return to our travellers. They had hardly reached the +high-road, when the Fairy remembered that they could not walk like +that through the village, which was still +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> + lit up because of the +feast. But her store of knowledge was so great that all her wishes +were fulfilled at once. She pressed lightly on Tyltyl's head and +willed that they should all be carried by magic to her palace. Then +and there, a cloud of fireflies surrounded our companions and wafted +them gently towards the sky. They were at the Fairy's palace before +they had recovered from their surprise.</p> + +<p>"Follow me," she said and led them through chambers and passages all +in gold and silver.</p> + +<p>They stopped in a large room surrounded with mirrors on every side and +containing an enormous wardrobe with light creeping through its +chinks. The Fairy Bérylune took a diamond key from her pocket and +opened the wardrobe. One cry of amazement burst from every throat. +Precious stuffs were seen piled one on the top of the other: mantles +covered with gems, dresses of every sort and every country, pearl +coronets, emerald necklaces, ruby bracelets.... Never had the Children +beheld such riches! As for the Things, their state was rather one of +utter bewilderment; and this was only natural, when you think that +they were seeing the world for the first time and that it showed +itself to them in such a queer way.</p> + +<p>The Fairy helped them make their choice. Fire, Sugar and the Cat +displayed a certain decision of taste. Fire, who +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> only cared for red, +at once chose a splendid bright red dress, with gold spangles. He put +nothing on his head, for his head was always very hot. Sugar could not +stand anything except white and pale blue: bright colors jarred on his +sweet nature. The long blue and white dress which he selected and the +pointed hat, like a candle extinguisher, which he wore on his head +made him look perfectly ridiculous; but he was too silly to notice it +and kept spinning before the glass like a top and admiring himself in +blissful ignorance.</p> + +<p>The Cat, who was always a lady and who was used to her dusky garments, +reflected that black always looks well, in any circumstance, +particularly now, when they were travelling without luggage. She +therefore put on a suit of black tights, with jet embroidery, hung a +long velvet cloak from her shoulders and perched a large cavalier hat, +with a long feather, on her neat little head. She next asked for a +pair of soft kid boots, in memory of Puss-in-Boots, her distinguished +ancestor, and put a pair of gloves on her fore-paws, to protect them +from the dust of the roads.</p> + +<p>Thus attired, she took a satisfied glance at the mirror. Then, a +little nervously, with an anxious eye and a quivering pink nose, she +hastily invited Sugar and Fire to take the air with her. So they all +three walked out, while the others +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> + went on dressing. Let us follow +them for a moment, for we have already grown to like our brave little +Tyltyl and we shall want to hear anything that is likely to help or +delay his undertaking.</p> + +<p>After passing through several splendid galleries, hung like balconies +in the sky, our three cronies stopped in the hall; and the Cat at once +addressed the meeting in a hushed voice:</p> + +<p>"I have brought you here," she said, "in order to discuss the position +in which we are placed. Let us make the most of our last moment of +liberty...."</p> + +<p>But she was interrupted by a furious uproar:</p> + +<p>"Bow, wow, wow!"</p> + +<p>"There now!" cried the Cat. "There's that idiot of a Dog! He has +scented us out! We can't get a minute's peace. Let us hide behind the +balustrade. He had better not hear what I have to say to you."</p> + +<p>"It's too late," said Sugar, who was standing by the door.</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, Tylô was coming up, jumping, barking, panting and +delighted.</p> + +<p>The Cat, when she saw him, turned away in disgust:</p> + +<p>"He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella's +coach.... It is just the thing for him: he has the soul of a +flunkey!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>She ended these words with a "Fft! Fft!" and, stroking her whiskers, +took up her stand, with a defiant air, between Sugar and Fire. The +good Dog did not see her little game. He was wholly wrapped up in the +pleasure of being gorgeously arrayed; and he danced round and round. +It was really funny to see his velvet coat whirling like a +merry-go-round, with the skirts opening every now and then and showing +his little stumpy tail, which was all the more expressive as it had to +express itself very briefly. For I need hardly tell you that Tylô, +like every well-bred bull-dog, had had his tail and his ears cropped +as a puppy.</p> + +<p>Poor fellow, he had long envied the tails of his brother dogs, which +allowed them to use a much larger and more varied vocabulary. But +physical deficiencies and the hardships of fortune strengthen our +innermost qualities. Tylô's soul, having no outward means of +expressing itself, had only gained through silence; and his look, +which was always filled with love, had become very eloquent.</p> + +<p>To-day his big dark eyes glistened with delight; he had suddenly +changed into a man! He was all over magnificent clothes; and he was +about to perform a grand errand across the world in company with the +gods!</p> + +<p>"There!" he said. "There! Aren't we fine!... Just +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> look at this lace +and embroidery!... It's real gold and no mistake!"</p> + +<p>He did not see that the others were laughing at him, for, to tell the +truth, he did look very comical; but, like all simple creatures, he +had no sense of humour. He was so proud of his natural garment of +yellow hair that he had put on no waistcoat, in order that no one +might have a doubt as to where he sprang from. For the same reason, he +had kept his collar, with his address on it. A big red velvet coat, +heavily braided with gold-lace, reached to his knees; and the large +pockets on either side would enable him, he thought, always to carry a +few provisions; for Tylô was very greedy. On his left ear, he wore a +little round cap with an osprey-feather in it and he kept it on his +big square head by means of an elastic which cut his fat, loose cheeks +in two. His other ear remained free. Cropped close to his head in the +shape of a little paper screw-bag, this ear was the watchful receiver +into which all the sounds of life fell, like pebbles disturbing its +rest.</p> + +<p>He had also encased his hind-legs in a pair of patent-leather +riding-boots, with white tops; but his fore-paws he considered of such +use that nothing would have induced him to put them into gloves. Tylô +had too natural a character to change his little ways all in a day; +and, in spite of his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> + new-blown honours, he allowed himself to do +undignified things. He was at the present moment lying on the steps of +the hall, scratching the ground and sniffing at the wall, when +suddenly he gave a start and began to whine and whimper! His lower lip +shook nervously as though he were going to cry.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with the idiot now?" asked the Cat, who was +watching him out of the corner of her eye.</p> + +<p>But she at once understood. A very sweet song came from the distance; +and Tylô could not endure music. The song drew nearer, a girl's fresh +voice filled the shadows of the lofty arches and Water appeared. Tall, +slender and white as a pearl, she seemed to glide rather than to walk. +Her movements were so soft and graceful that they were suspected +rather than seen. A beautiful silvery dress waved and floated around +her; and her hair decked with corals flowed below her knees.</p> + +<p>When Fire caught sight of her, like the rude and spiteful fellow that +he was, he sneered:</p> + +<p>"She's not brought her umbrella!"</p> + +<p>But Water, who was really quite witty and who knew that she was the +stronger of the two, chaffed him pleasantly and said, with a glance at +his glowing nose: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon?... I thought you might be speaking of a great red +nose I saw the other day!..."</p> + +<p>The others began to laugh and poke fun at Fire, whose face was always +like a red-hot coal. Fire angrily jumped to the ceiling, keeping his +revenge for later. Meanwhile, the Cat went up to Water, very +cautiously, and paid her ever so many compliments on her dress. I need +hardly tell you that she did not mean a word of it; but she wished to +be friendly with everybody, for she wanted their votes, to carry out +her plan; and she was anxious at not seeing Bread, because she did not +want to speak before the meeting was complete:</p> + +<p>"What can he be doing?" she mewed, time after time.</p> + +<p>"He was making an endless fuss about choosing his dress," said the +Dog. "At last, he decided in favour of a Turkish robe, with a scimitar +and a turban."</p> + +<p><a name="page38pic" id="page38pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus048.jpg" width="500" height="439" +alt="They all looked at her with a bewildered air. +They understood that it was a solemn moment." +title="They all looked at her with a bewildered air. +They understood that it was a solemn moment." /> +<br /><span class="caption">They all looked at her with a bewildered air.<br /> +They understood that it was a solemn moment.</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">The words were not out of his mouth, when a shapeless and ridiculous +bulk, clad in all the colours of the rainbow, came and blocked the +narrow door of the hall. It was the enormous stomach of Bread, who +filled the whole opening. He kept on knocking himself, without knowing +why; for he was not very clever and, besides, he was not yet used to +moving about in human beings' houses. At +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>last, it occurred to him +to stoop; and, by squeezing through sideways, he managed to make his +way into the hall.</p> + +<p>It was certainly not a triumphal entry, but he was pleased with it all +the same:</p> + +<p>"Here I am!" he said. "Here I am! I have put on Blue-beard's finest +dress.... What do you think of this?"</p> + +<p>The Dog began to frisk around him: he thought Bread magnificent! That +yellow velvet costume, covered all over with silver crescents, +reminded Tylô of the delicious horse-shoe rolls which he loved; and +the huge, gaudy turban on Bread's head was really very like a fairy +bun!</p> + +<p>"How nice he looks!" he cried. "How nice he looks!"</p> + +<p>Bread was shyly followed by Milk. Her simple mind had made her prefer +her cream dress to all the finery which the Fairy suggested to her. +She was really a model of humility.</p> + +<p>Bread was beginning to talk about the dresses of Tyltyl, Light and +Mytyl, when the Cat cut him short in a masterful voice:</p> + +<p>"We shall see them in good time," she said. "Stop chattering, listen +to me, time presses: our future is at stake...."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> +<p>They all looked at her with a bewildered air. They understood that it +was a solemn moment, but the human language was still full of mystery +to them. Sugar wriggled his long fingers as a sign of distress; Bread +patted his huge stomach; Water lay on the floor and seemed to suffer +from the most profound despair; and Milk only had eyes for Bread, who +had been her friend for ages and ages.</p> + +<p>The Cat, becoming impatient, continued her speech:</p> + +<p>"The Fairy has just said it, the end of this journey will, at the same +time, mark the end of our lives. It is our business, therefore, to +spin the journey out as long as possible and by every means in our +power...."</p> + +<p>Bread, who was afraid of being eaten as soon as he was no longer a +man, hastened to express approval; but the Dog, who was standing a +little way off, pretending not to hear, began to growl deep down in +his soul. He well knew what the Cat was driving at; and, when Tylette +ended her speech with the words, "We must at all costs prolong the +journey and prevent Blue Bird from being found, even if it means +endangering the lives of the Children," the good Dog, obeying only the +promptings of his heart, leapt at the Cat to bite her. Sugar, Bread +and Fire flung themselves between them:</p> + +<p>"Order! Order!" said Bread pompously. "I'm in the chair at this +meeting."</p> + +<p>"Who made you chairman?" stormed Fire. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Who asked you to interfere?" asked Water, whirling her wet hair over +Fire.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said Sugar, shaking all over, in conciliatory tones. +"Excuse me.... This is a serious moment.... Let us talk things over in +a friendly way."</p> + +<p>"I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat," said Bread, as though that +ended the matter.</p> + +<p>"This is ridiculous!" said the Dog, barking and showing his teeth. +"There is Man and that's all!... We have to obey him and do as he +tells us!... I recognise no one but him!... Hurrah for Man!... Man for +ever!... In life or death, all for Man!... Man is everything!..."</p> + +<p>But the Cat's shrill voice rose above all the others. She was full of +grudges against Man and she wanted to make use of the short spell of +humanity which she now enjoyed to avenge her whole race:</p> + +<p>"All of us here present," she cried, "Animals, Things and Elements, +possess a soul which Man does not yet know. That is why we retain a +remnant of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know +all, he will see all and we shall be completely at his mercy.... +Remember the time when we wandered at liberty upon the face of the +earth!..." But, suddenly her face changed, her voice sank to a whisper +and she hissed, "Look out! I hear the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +Fairy and Light coming. I need +hardly tell you that Light has taken sides with Man and means to stand +by him; she is our worst enemy.... Be careful!"</p> + +<p>But our friends had had no practice in trickery and, feeling +themselves in the wrong, took up such ridiculous and uncomfortable +attitudes that the Fairy, the moment she appeared upon the threshold, +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"What are you doing in that corner?... You look like a pack of +conspirators!"</p> + +<p>Quite scared and thinking that the Fairy had already guessed their +wicked intentions, they fell upon their knees before her. Luckily for +them, the Fairy hardly gave a thought to what was passing through +their little minds. She had come to explain the first part of the +journey to the Children and to tell each of the others what to do. +Tyltyl and Mytyl stood hand in hand in front of her, looking a little +frightened and a little awkward in their fine clothes. They stared at +each other in childish admiration.</p> + +<p>The little girl was wearing a yellow silk frock embroidered with pink +posies and covered with gold spangles. On her head was a lovely orange +velvet cap; and a starched muslin tucker covered her little arms. +Tyltyl was dressed in a red jacket and blue knickerbockers, both of +velvet; and of course he wore the wonderful little hat on his head.</p> + +<p><a name="page42pic" id="page42pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus054.jpg" width="405" height="600" +alt="Delighted with the importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, +drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his stomach" +title="Delighted with the importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, +drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his stomach" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Delighted with the importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, +drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his stomach</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> + +<p class="top2">The Fairy said to them:</p> + +<p>"It is just possible that the Blue Bird is hiding at your +grandparents' in the Land of Memory; so you will go there first."</p> + +<p>"But how shall we see them, if they are dead?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>Then the good Fairy explained that they would not be really dead until +their grandchildren ceased to think of them:</p> + +<p>"Men do not know this secret," she added. "But, thanks to the diamond, +you, Tyltyl, will see that the dead whom we remember live as happily +as though they were not dead."</p> + +<p>"Are you coming with us?" asked the boy, turning to Light, who stood +in the doorway and lit up all the hall.</p> + +<p>"No," said the Fairy. "Light must not look at the past. Her energies +must be devoted to the future!"</p> + +<p>The two Children were starting on their way, when they discovered that +they were very hungry. The Fairy at once ordered Bread to give them +something to eat; and that big, fat fellow, delighted with the +importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar +and cut two slices out of his stomach. The Children screamed with +laughter. Tylô dropped his gloomy thoughts for a moment +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> and begged +for a bit of bread; and everybody struck up the farewell chorus. +Sugar, who was very full of himself, also wanted to impress the +company and, breaking off two of his fingers, handed them to the +astonished Children.</p> + +<p>As they were all moving towards the door, the Fairy Bérylune stopped +them:</p> + +<p>"Not to-day," she said. "The children must go alone. It would be +indiscreet to accompany them; they are going to spend the evening with +their late family. Come, be off! Good-bye, dear children, and mind +that you are back in good time: it is extremely important!"</p> + +<p><a name="page44pic" id="page44pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus058.jpg" width="404" height="600" +alt="Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, breaking off two of his fingers, +handed them to the astonished Children" +title="Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, breaking off two of his fingers, +handed them to the astonished Children" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, +breaking off two of his fingers, handed them to the astonished Children</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">The two Children took each other by the hand and, carrying the big +cage, passed out of the hall; and their companions, at a sign from the +Fairy, filed in front of her to return to the palace. Our friend Tylô +was the only one who did not answer to his name. The moment he heard +the Fairy say that the Children were to go alone, he had made up his +mind to go and look after them, whatever happened; and, while the +others were saying good-bye, he hid behind the door. But the poor +fellow had reckoned without the all-seeing eyes of the Fairy Bérylune.</p> + +<p>"Tylô!" she cried. "Tylô! Here!"</p> + +<p>And the poor Dog, who had so long been used to obey, dared not resist +the command and came, with his tail between his legs, to take his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +place among the others. He howled with despair when he saw his little +master and mistress swallowed up in the great gold staircase. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>THE LAND OF MEMORY</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Fairy Bérylune had told the Children that the Land of Memory was +not far off; but to reach it you had to go through a forest that was +so dense and so old that your eyes could not see the tops of the +trees. It was always shrouded in a heavy mist; and the Children would +certainly have lost their way, if the Fairy had not said to them +beforehand:</p> + +<p>"It is straight ahead; and there is only one road."</p> + +<p>The ground was carpeted with flowers which were all alike: they were +snow-white pansies and very pretty; but, as they never saw the sun, +they had no scent.</p> + +<p>Those little flowers comforted the Children, who felt extremely +lonely. A great mysterious silence surrounded them; and they trembled +a little with a very pleasant sense of fear which they had never felt +before.</p> + +<p>"Let's take Granny a bunch of flowers," said Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"That's a good idea! She will be pleased!" cried Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>And, as they walked along, the Children gathered a beautiful white +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +nosegay. The dear little things did not know that every pansy (which +means "a thought") that they picked brought them nearer to their +grandparents; and they soon saw before them a large oak with a +notice-board nailed to it.</p> + +<p>"Here we are!" cried the boy in triumph, as, climbing up on a root, he +read:</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><i>The Land of Memory.</i></p> + +<p>They had arrived; but they turned to every side without seeing a +thing:</p> + +<p>"I can see nothing at all!" whimpered Mytyl. "I'm cold!... I'm +tired!... I don't want to travel any more!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl, who was wholly wrapped up in his errand, lost his temper:</p> + +<p>"Come, don't keep on crying just like Water!... You ought to be +ashamed of yourself!" he said. "There! Look! Look! The fog is +lifting!"</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, the mist parted before their eyes, like veils torn +by an invisible hand; the big trees faded away, everything vanished +and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage, +covered with creepers and standing in a little garden filled with +flowers and with trees all over fruit.</p> + +<p><a name="page50pic" id="page50pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus064.jpg" width="500" height="456" +alt="Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage" +title="Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p class="top2">The Children at once knew the dear cow in the orchard, the watch-dog +at the door, the blackbird in his wicker cage; and everything was +steeped in a pale light and a warm and balmy air.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl and Mytyl stood amazed. So that was the Land of Memory! What +lovely weather it was! And how nice it felt to be there! They at once +made up their minds to come back often, now that they knew the way. +But how great was their happiness when the last veil disappeared and +they saw, at a few steps from them, Grandad and Granny sitting on a +bench, sound asleep. They clapped their hands and called out +gleefully:</p> + +<p>"It's Grandad! It's Granny!... There they are! There they are!"</p> + +<p>But they were a little scared by this great piece of magic and dared +not move from behind the tree; and they stood looking at the dear old +couple, who woke up gently and slowly under their eyes. Then they +heard Granny Tyl's trembling voice say:</p> + +<p>"I have a notion that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming +to see us to-day."</p> + +<p>And Gaffer Tyl answered:</p> + +<p>"They are certainly thinking of us, for I feel queer and I have pins +and needles in my legs." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I think they must be quite near," said Granny, "for I see tears of +joy dancing before my eyes and...."</p> + +<p>Granny had not time to finish her sentence. The Children were in her +arms!... What joy! What wild kisses and huggings! What a wonderful +surprise! The happiness was too great for words. They laughed and +tried to speak and kept on looking at one another with delighted eyes: +it was so glorious and so unexpected to meet again like this. When the +first excitement was over, they all began to talk at once:</p> + +<p>"How tall and strong you've grown, Tyltyl!" said Granny.</p> + +<p>And Grandad cried:</p> + +<p>"And Mytyl! Just look at her! What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!"</p> + +<p>And the Children danced and clapped their hands and flung themselves +by turns into the arms of one or the other.</p> + +<p>At last, they quieted down a little; and, with Mytyl nestling against +Grandad's chest and Tyltyl comfortably perched on Granny's knees, they +began to talk of family affairs:</p> + +<p>"How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?" asked Granny.</p> + +<p>"Quite well, Granny," said Tyltyl. "They were asleep when we went +out."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> + +<p>Granny gave them fresh kisses and said:</p> + +<p>"My word, how pretty they are and how nice and clean!... Why don't you +come to see us oftener? It is months and months now that you have +forgotten us and that we have seen nobody...."</p> + +<p>"We couldn't, Granny," said Tyltyl, "and to-day it's only because of +the Fairy...."</p> + +<p>"We are always here," said Granny Tyl, "waiting for a visit from those +who are alive. The last time you were here was on All-hallows...."</p> + +<p>"All-hallows? We didn't go out that day, for we both had colds!"</p> + +<p>"But you thought of us! And, every time you think of us, we wake up +and see you again."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl remembered that the Fairy had told him this. He had not thought +it possible then; but now, with his head on the heart of the dear +Granny whom he had missed so much, he began to understand things and +he felt that his grandparents had not left him altogether. He asked:</p> + +<p>"So you are not really dead?..."</p> + +<p>The old couple burst out laughing. When they exchanged their life on +earth for another and a much nicer and more beautiful life, they had +forgotten the word "dead." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What does that word 'dead' mean?" asked Gaffer Tyl.</p> + +<p>"Why, it means that one's no longer alive!" said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>Grandad and Granny only shrugged their shoulders:</p> + +<p>"How stupid the Living are, when they speak of the Others!" was all +they said.</p> + +<p>And they went over their memories again, rejoicing in being able to +chat.</p> + +<p>All old people love discussing old times. The future is finished, as +far as they are concerned; and so they delight in the present and the +past. But we are growing impatient, like Tyltyl; and, instead of +listening to them, we will follow our little friend's movements.</p> + +<p>He had jumped off Granny's knees and was poking about in every corner, +delighted at finding all sorts of things which he knew and remembered:</p> + +<p>"Nothing is changed, everything is in its old place!" he cried. And, +as he had not been to the old people's home for so long, everything +struck him as much nicer; and he added, in the voice of one who knows, +"Only everything is prettier!... Hullo, there's the clock with the big +hand which I broke the point off and the hole which I made in the +door, the day I found Grandad's gimlet...."</p> + +<p>"Yes, you've done some damage in your time!" said +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> Grandad. "And +there's the plum-tree which you were so fond of climbing, when I +wasn't looking...."</p> + +<p>Meantime, Tyltyl was not forgetting his errand:</p> + +<p>"You haven't the Blue Bird here by chance, I suppose?"</p> + +<p>At the same moment, Mytyl, lifting her head, saw a cage:</p> + +<p>"Hullo, there's the old blackbird!... Does he still sing?"</p> + +<p>As she spoke, the blackbird woke up and began to sing at the top of +his voice.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Granny, "as soon as one thinks of him...."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was simply amazed at what he saw:</p> + +<p>"But he's blue!" he shouted. "Why, that's the bird, the Blue Bird!... +He's blue, blue, blue as a blue glass marble!... Will you give him to +me?"</p> + +<p>The grandparents gladly consented; and, full of triumph, Tyltyl went +and fetched the cage which he had left by the tree. He took hold of +the precious bird with the greatest of care; and it began to hop about +in its new home.</p> + +<p>"How pleased the Fairy will be!" said the boy, rejoicing at his +conquest. "And Light too!"</p> + +<p>"Come along," said the grandparents. "Come and look at the cow and the +bees."</p> + +<p>As the old couple were beginning to toddle across the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> garden, the +children suddenly asked if their little dead brothers and sisters were +there too. At the same moment, seven little children, who, up to then, +had been sleeping in the house, came tearing like mad into the garden. +Tyltyl and Mytyl ran up to them. They all hustled and hugged one +another and danced and whirled about and uttered screams of joy.</p> + +<p>"Here they are, here they are!" said Granny. "As soon as you speak of +them, they are there, the imps!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl caught a little one by the hair:</p> + +<p>"Hullo, Pierrot! So we're going to fight again, as in the old days!... +And Robert!... I say, Jean, what's become of your top?... Madeleine +and Pierrette and Pauline!... And here's Riquette!..."</p> + +<p>Mytyl laughed:</p> + +<p>"Riquette's still crawling on all fours!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl noticed a little dog yapping around them:</p> + +<p>"There's Kiki, whose tail I cut off with Pauline's scissors.... He +hasn't changed either...."</p> + +<p>"No," said Gaffer Tyl, in a voice of great importance, "nothing +changes here!"</p> + +<p>But, suddenly, amid the general rejoicings, the old people stopped +spell-bound: they had heard the small voice of the clock indoors +strike eight!</p> + +<p><a name="page56pic" id="page56pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus073.jpg" width="650" height="270" +alt="The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper" +title="The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper" /> +<br /><span class="caption">The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper</span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> +<p class="top2">"How's this?" they asked. "It never strikes nowadays...."</p> + +<p>"That's because we no longer think of the time," said Granny. "Was any +one thinking of the time?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was," said Tyltyl. "So it's eight o'clock?... Then I'm off, +for I promised Light to be back before nine...."</p> + +<p>He was going for the cage, but the others were too happy to let him +run away so soon: it would be horrid to say good-bye like that! Granny +had a good idea: she knew what a little glutton Tyltyl was. It was +just supper-time and, as luck would have it, there was some capital +cabbage-soup and a beautiful plum-tart.</p> + +<p>"Well," said our hero, "as I've got the Blue Bird!... And cabbage-soup +is a thing you don't have every day!..."</p> + +<p>They all hurried and carried the table outside and laid it with a nice +white table-cloth and put a plate for each; and, lastly, Granny +brought out the steaming soup-tureen in state. The lamp was lit and +the grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper, jostling and +elbowing one another and laughing and shouting with pleasure. Then, +for a time, nothing was heard but the sound of the wooden spoons +noisily clattering against the soup-plates. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How good it is! Oh, how good it is!" shouted Tyltyl, who was eating +greedily. "I want some more! More! More! More!"</p> + +<p>"Come, come, a little more quiet," said Grandad. "You're just as +ill-behaved as ever; and you'll break your plate...."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl took no notice of the remark, stood up on his stool, caught +hold of the tureen and dragged it towards him and upset it; and the +hot soup trickled all over the table and down upon everybody's lap. +The children yelled and screamed with pain. Granny was quite scared; +and Grandad was furious. He dealt our friend Tyltyl a tremendous box +on the ear.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was staggered for a moment; and then he put his hand to his +cheek with a look of rapture and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Grandad, how good, how jolly! It was just like the slaps you used to +give me when you were alive!... I must give you a kiss for it!..."</p> + +<p>Everybody laughed.</p> + +<p>"There's more where that came from, if you like them!" said Grandad, +grumpily.</p> + +<p>But he was touched, all the same, and turned to wipe a tear from his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"Goodness!" cried Tyltyl, starting up. "There's half- +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>past eight +striking!... Mytyl, we've only just got time!..."</p> + +<p>Granny in vain implored them to stay a few minutes longer.</p> + +<p>"No, we can't possibly," said Tyltyl firmly; "I promised Light!"</p> + +<p>And he hurried to take up the precious cage.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Grandad.... Good-bye, Granny.... Good-bye, brothers and +sisters, Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette and you, too, +Kiki.... We can't stay.... Don't cry, Granny; we will come back +often!"</p> + +<p>Poor old Grandad was very much upset and complained lustily:</p> + +<p>"Gracious me, how tiresome the Living are, with all their fuss and +excitement!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl tried to console him and again promised to come back very +often.</p> + +<p>"Come back every day!" said Granny. "It is our only pleasure; and it's +such a treat for us when your thoughts pay us a visit!"</p> + +<p>"Good-bye! Good-bye!" cried the brothers and sisters in chorus. "Come +back very soon! Bring us some barley sugar!"</p> + +<p>There were more kisses; all waved their handkerchiefs; +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> all shouted a +last good-bye. But the figures began to fade away; the little voices +could no longer be heard; the two Children were once more wrapped in +mist; and the old forest covered them with its great dark mantle.</p> + +<p>"I'm so frightened!" whimpered Mytyl. "Give me your hand, little +brother! I'm so frightened!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was shaking too, but it was his duty to try and comfort and +console his sister:</p> + +<p>"Hush!" he said. "Remember that we are bringing back the Blue Bird!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, a thin ray of light pierced the gloom; and the little boy +hurried towards it. He was holding his cage tight in his arms; and the +first thing he did was to look at his bird.... Alas and alack, what a +disappointment awaited him! The beautiful Blue Bird of the Land of +Memory had turned quite black! Stare at it as hard as Tyltyl might, +the bird was black! Oh, how well he knew the old blackbird that used +to sing in its wicker prison, in the old days, at the door of the +house! What had happened? How painful it was! And how cruel life +seemed to him just then!</p> + +<p>He had started on his journey with such zest and delight that he had +not thought for a moment of the difficulties and dangers. Full of +confidence, pluck and kindness, he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> + had marched off, certain of +finding the beautiful Blue Bird which would bring happiness to the +Fairy's little girl. And now all his hopes were shattered! For the +first time, our poor friend understood the trials, the vexations and +the obstacles that awaited him! Alas, was he attempting an impossible +thing? Was the Fairy making fun of him? Would he ever find the Blue +Bird? All his courage seemed to be leaving him....</p> + +<p>To add to his misfortunes, he could not find the straight road by +which he had come. There was not a single white pansy on the ground; +and he began to cry.</p> + +<p>Luckily, our little friends were not to remain in trouble long. The +Fairy had promised that Light would watch over them. The first trial +was over; and, just as outside the old people's house a little while +ago, the mist now suddenly lifted. But, instead of disclosing a +peaceful picture, a gentle, homely scene, it revealed a marvellous +temple, with a blinding glare streaming from it.</p> + +<p>On the threshold stood Light, fair and beautiful in her +diamond-coloured dress. She smiled when Tyltyl told her of his first +failure. She knew what the little ones were seeking; she knew +everything. For Light surrounds all mortals with her love, though none +of them is fond enough of her ever to receive her thoroughly and thus +to learn all +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> + the secrets of Truth. Now, for the first time, thanks to +the diamond which the Fairy had given to the boy, she was going to try +and conquer a human soul:</p> + +<p>"Do not be sad," she said to the Children. "Are you not pleased to +have seen your grandparents? Is that not enough happiness for one day? +Are you not glad to have restored the old blackbird to life? Listen to +him singing!"</p> + +<p>For the old blackbird was singing with might and main; and his little +yellow eyes sparkled with pleasure as he hopped about his big cage.</p> + +<p>"As you look for the Blue Bird, dear Children, accustom yourselves to +love the grey birds which you find on your way."</p> + +<p>She nodded her fair head gravely; and it was quite clear that she knew +where the Blue Bird was. But life is often full of beautiful +mysteries, which we must respect, lest we should destroy them; and, if +Light had told the Children where the Blue Bird was, well, they would +never have found him! I will tell you why at the end of this story.</p> + +<p>And now let us leave our little friends to sleep on beautiful white +clouds under Light's watchful care. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>THE PALACE OF NIGHT</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Some</span> time after, the Children and their friends met at the first dawn +to go to the Palace of Night, where they hoped to find the Blue Bird. +Several of the party failed to answer to their names when the roll was +called. Milk, for whom any sort of excitement was bad, was keeping her +room. Water sent an excuse: she was accustomed always to travel in a +bed of moss, was already half-dead with fatigue and was afraid of +falling ill. As for Light, she had been on bad terms with Night since +the world began; and Fire, as a relation, shared her dislike. Light +kissed the Children and told Tylô the way, for it was his business to +lead the expedition; and the little band set out upon its road.</p> + +<p>You can imagine dear Tylô trotting ahead, on his hind legs, like a +little man, with his nose in the air, his tongue dangling down his +chin, his front paws folded across his chest. He fidgets, sniffs +about, runs up and down, covering twice the ground without minding how +tired it makes him. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> + He is so full of his own importance that he +disdains the temptations on his path: he neglects the rubbish heaps, +pays no attention to anything he sees and cuts all his old friends.</p> + +<p>Poor Tylô! He was so delighted to become a man; and yet he was no +happier than before! Of course, life was the same to him, because his +nature had remained unchanged. What was the use of his being a man, if +he continued to feel and think like a dog? In fact, his troubles were +increased a hundred-fold by the sense of responsibility that now +weighed upon him.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" he said, with a sigh, for he was joining blindly in his little +gods' search, without for a moment reflecting that the end of the +journey would mean the end of his life. "Ah," he said, "if I got hold +of that rascal of a Blue Bird, trust me, I wouldn't touch him even +with the tip of my tongue, not if he were as plump and sweet as a +quail!"</p> + +<p>Bread followed solemnly, carrying the cage; the two Children came +next; and Sugar brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>But where was the Cat? To discover the reason of her absence, we must +go a little way back and read her thoughts. At the time when Tylette +called a meeting of the Animals and Things in the Fairy's hall, she +was contemplating a great plot which would aim at prolonging the +journey; but she had reckoned without the stupidity of her hearers:</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The idiots," she thought, "have very nearly spoiled the whole thing +by foolishly throwing themselves at the Fairy's feet, as though they +were guilty of a crime. It is better to rely upon one's self alone. In +my cat-life, all our training is founded on suspicion; I can see that +it is just the same in the life of men. Those who confide in others +are only betrayed; it is better to keep silent and to be treacherous +one's self."</p> + +<p><a name="page66pic" id="page66pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus083.jpg" width="580" height="410" +alt="The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and rather dangerous" +title="The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and rather dangerous" /> +<br /><span class="caption">The road to the Palace of Night<br /> was rather long and rather dangerous</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">As you see, my dear little readers, the Cat was in the same position +as the Dog: she had not changed her soul and was simply continuing her +former existence; but, of course, she was very wicked, whereas our +dear Tylô was, if anything, too good. Tylette, therefore, resolved to +act on her own account and went, before daybreak, to call on Night, +who was an old friend of hers.</p> + +<p>The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and rather dangerous. +It had precipices on either side of it; you had to climb up and climb +down and then climb up again among high rocks that always seemed +waiting to crush the passers-by. At last, you came to the edge of a +dark circle; and there you had to go down thousands of steps to reach +the black-marble underground palace in which Night lived.</p> + +<p>The Cat, who had often been there before, raced along +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> the road, light +as a feather. Her cloak, borne on the wind, streamed like a banner +behind her; the plume in her hat fluttered gracefully; and her little +grey kid boots hardly touched the ground. She soon reached her +destination and, in a few bounds, came to the great hall where Night +was.</p> + +<p>It was really a wonderful sight. Night, stately and grand as a Queen, +reclined upon her throne; she slept; and not a glimmer, not a star +twinkled around her. But we know that the night has no secrets for +cats and that their eyes have the power of piercing the darkness. So +Tylette saw Night as though it were broad daylight.</p> + +<p>Before waking her, she cast a loving glance at that motherly and +familiar face. It was white and silvery as the moon; and its unbending +features inspired both fear and admiration. Night's figure, which was +half visible through her long black veils, was as beautiful as that of +a Greek statue. She had long arms and a pair of enormous wings, now +furled in sleep, came from her shoulders to her feet and gave her a +look of majesty beyond compare. Still, in spite of her affection for +her best of friends, Tylette did not waste too much time in gazing at +her: it was a critical moment; and time was short. Tired and jaded and +overcome with anguish, she sank upon the steps of the throne and +mewed, plaintively: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is I, Mother Night!... I am worn out!"</p> + +<p><a name="page68pic" id="page68pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus086.jpg" width="500" height="661" +alt="Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat around her; +and she questioned Tylette in a trembling voice" +title="Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat around her; +and she questioned Tylette in a trembling voice" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings<br /> beat around her; +and she questioned<br /> Tylette in a trembling voice</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">Night is of an anxious nature and easily alarmed. Her beauty, built up +of peace and repose, possesses the secret of Silence, which life is +constantly disturbing: a star shooting through the sky, a leaf falling +to the ground, the hoot of an owl, a mere nothing is enough to tear +the black velvet pall which she spreads over the earth each evening. +The Cat, therefore, had not finished speaking, when Night sat up, all +quivering. Her immense wings beat around her; and she questioned +Tylette in a trembling voice. As soon as she had learned the danger +that threatened her, she began to lament her fate. What! A man's son +coming to her palace! And, perhaps, with the help of the magic +diamond, discovering her secrets! What should she do? What would +become of her? How could she defend herself? And, forgetting that she +was sinning against Silence, her own particular god, Night began to +utter piercing screams. It was true that falling into such a commotion +was hardly likely to help her find a cure for her troubles. Luckily +for her, Tylette, who was accustomed to the annoyances and worries of +human life, was better armed. She had worked out her plan when going +ahead of the children; and she was hoping to persuade Night to adopt +it. She explained this plan to her in a few words: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I see only one thing for it, Mother Night: as they are children, we +must give them such a fright that they will not dare to insist on +opening the great door at the back of the hall, behind which the Birds +of the Moon live and generally the Blue Bird too. The secrets of the +other caverns will be sure to scare them. The hope of our safety lies +in the terror which you will make them feel."</p> + +<p>There was clearly no other course to take. But Night had not time to +reply, for she heard a sound. Then her beautiful features contracted; +her wings spread out angrily; and everything in her attitude told +Tylette that Night approved of her plan.</p> + +<p>"Here they are!" cried the Cat.</p> + +<p>The little band came marching down the steps of Night's gloomy +staircase. Tylô pranced bravely in front, whereas Tyltyl looked around +him with an anxious glance. He certainly found nothing to comfort him. +It was all very magnificent, but very terrifying. Picture a huge and +wonderful black marble hall, of a stern and tomb-like splendour. There +is no ceiling visible; and the ebony pillars that surround the +amphitheatre shoot up to the sky. It is only when you lift your eyes +up there that you catch the faint light falling from the stars. +Everywhere, the thickest darkness reigns. Two restless flames—no +more—flicker on either +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +side of Night's throne, before a monumental +door of brass. Bronze doors show through the pillars to the right and +left.</p> + +<p>The Cat rushed up to the Children:</p> + +<p>"This way, little master, this way!... I have told Night; and she is +delighted to see you."</p> + +<p>Tylette's soft voice and smile made Tyltyl feel himself again; and he +walked up to the throne with a bold and confident step, saying:</p> + +<p>"Good-day, Mrs. Night!"</p> + +<p>Night was offended by the word, "Good-day," which reminded her of her +eternal enemy Light, and answered drily:</p> + +<p>"Good-day?... I am not used to that!... You might say, Good-night, or, +at least, Good-evening!"</p> + +<p>Our hero was not prepared to quarrel. He felt very small in the +presence of that stately lady. He quickly begged her pardon, as nicely +as he could; and very gently asked her leave to look for the Blue Bird +in her palace.</p> + +<p>"I have never seen him, he is not here!" exclaimed Night, flapping her +great wings to frighten the boy.</p> + +<p>But, when he insisted and gave no sign of fear, she herself began to +dread the diamond, which, by lighting up her darkness, would +completely destroy her power; and she thought it better to pretend to +yield to an impulse of generosity and at once to point to the big key +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +that lay on the steps of the throne.</p> + +<p>Without a moment's hesitation, Tyltyl seized hold of it and ran to the +first door of the hall.</p> + +<p>Everybody shook with fright. Bread's teeth chattered in his head; +Sugar, who was standing some way off, moaned with mortal anguish; +Mytyl howled:</p> + +<p>"Where is Sugar?... I want to go home!"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Tyltyl, pale and resolute, was trying to open the door, +while Night's grave voice, rising above the din, proclaimed the first +danger.</p> + +<p>"It's the Ghosts!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear!" thought Tyltyl. "I have never seen a ghost: it must be +awful!"</p> + +<p>The faithful Tylô, by his side, was panting with all his might, for +dogs hate anything uncanny.</p> + +<p>At last, the key grated in the lock. Silence reigned as dense and +heavy as the darkness. No one dared draw a breath. Then the door +opened; and, in a moment, the gloom was filled with white figures +running in every direction. Some lengthened out right up to the sky; +others twined themselves round the pillars; others wriggled ever so +fast along the ground. They were something like men, but it was +impossible to distinguish their features; the eye +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> could not catch +them. The moment you looked at them, they turned into a white mist. +Tyltyl did his best to chase them; for Mrs. Night kept to the plan +contrived by the Cat and pretended to be frightened. She had been the +Ghosts' friend for hundreds and hundreds of years and had only to say +a word to drive them in again; but she was careful to do nothing of +the sort and, flapping her wings like mad, she called upon all her +gods and screamed:</p> + +<p>"Drive them away! Drive them away! Help! Help!"</p> + +<p>But the poor Ghosts, who hardly ever come out now that Man no longer +believes in them, were much too happy at taking a breath of air; and, +had it not been that they were afraid of Tylô, who tried to bite their +legs, they would never have been put back indoors.</p> + +<p>"Oof!" gasped the Dog, when the door was shut at last. "I have strong +teeth, goodness knows; but chaps like those I never saw before! When +you bite them, you'd think their legs were made of cotton!"</p> + +<p>By this time, Tyltyl was making for the second door and asking:</p> + +<p>"What's behind this one?"</p> + +<p>Night made a gesture as though to put him off. Did the obstinate +little fellow really want to see everything?</p> + +<p>"Must I be careful when I open it?" asked Tyltyl. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," said Night, "it is not worth while. It's the Sicknesses. They +are very quiet, the poor little things! Man, for some time, has been +waging such war upon them!... Open and see for yourself...."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl threw the door wide open and stood speechless with +astonishment: there was nothing to be seen....</p> + +<p>He was just about to close the door again, when he was hustled aside +by a little body in a dressing-gown and a cotton night-cap, who began +to frisk about the hall, wagging her head and stopping every minute to +cough, sneeze and blow her nose ... and to pull on her slippers, which +were too big for her and kept dropping off her feet. Sugar, Bread and +Tyltyl were no longer frightened and began to laugh like anything. But +they had no sooner come near the little person in the cotton night-cap +than they themselves began to cough and sneeze.</p> + +<p>"It's the least important of the Sicknesses," said Night. "It's +Cold-in-the-Head."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" thought Sugar. "If my nose keeps on running like +this, I'm done for: I shall melt!"</p> + +<p><a name="page74pic" id="page74pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus094.jpg" width="500" height="539" +alt="Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, sneeze and blow her nose" +title="Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, sneeze and blow her nose" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, +sneeze and blow her nose</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">Poor Sugar! He did not know where to hide himself. He had become very +much attached to life since the journey began, for he had fallen over +head and ears in love with Water! And yet this love caused him the +greatest worry. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +Miss Water was a tremendous flirt, expected a lot +of attention and was not particular with whom she mixed; but mixing +too much with Water was an expensive luxury, as poor Sugar found to +his cost; for, at every kiss he gave her, he left a bit of himself +behind, until he began to tremble for his life.</p> + +<p>When he suddenly found himself attacked by Cold-in-the-Head, he would +have had to fly from the palace, but for the timely aid of our dear +Tylô, who ran after the little minx and drove her back to her cavern, +amidst the laughter of Tyltyl and Mytyl, who thought gleefully that, +so far, the trial had not been very terrible.</p> + +<p>The boy, therefore, ran to the next door with still greater courage.</p> + +<p>"Take care!" cried Night, in a dreadful voice. "It's the Wars! They +are more powerful than ever! I daren't think what would happen, if one +of them broke loose! Stand ready, all of you, to push back the door!"</p> + +<p>Night had not finished uttering her warnings, when the plucky little +fellow repented his rashness. He tried in vain to shut the door which +he had opened: an invincible force was pushing it from the other side, +streams of blood flowed through the cracks; flames shot forth; shouts, +oaths and groans mingled with the roar of cannon and the rattle of +musketry. Everybody in the Palace of Night was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> running about in wild +confusion. Bread and Sugar tried to take to flight, but could not find +the way out; and they now came back to Tyltyl and put their shoulders +to the door with despairing force.</p> + +<p>The Cat pretended to be anxious, while secretly rejoicing:</p> + +<p>"This may be the end of it," she said, curling her whiskers. "They +won't dare to go on after this."</p> + +<p>Dear Tylô made superhuman efforts to help his little master, while +Mytyl stood crying in a corner.</p> + +<p>At last, our hero gave a shout of triumph:</p> + +<p>"Hurrah! They're giving way! Victory! Victory! The door is shut!"</p> + +<p>At the same time, he dropped on the steps, utterly exhausted, dabbing +his forehead with his poor little hands which shook with terror.</p> + +<p>"Well?" asked Night, harshly. "Have you had enough? Did you see them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" replied the little fellow, sobbing. "They are hideous and +awful.... I don't think they have the Blue Bird...."</p> + +<p>"You may be sure they haven't," answered Night, angrily. "If they had, +they would eat him at once.... You see there is nothing to be +done...."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tyltyl drew himself up proudly:</p> + +<p>"I must see everything," he declared. "Light said so...."</p> + +<p>"It's an easy thing to say," retorted Night, "when one's afraid and +stays at home!"</p> + +<p>"Let us go to the next door," said Tyltyl, resolutely. "What's in +here?"</p> + +<p>"This is where I keep the Shades and the Terrors!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl reflected for a minute:</p> + +<p>"As far as Shades go," he thought, "Mrs. Night is poking fun at me. +It's more than an hour since I've seen anything but shade in this +house of hers; and I shall be very glad to see daylight again. As for +the Terrors, if they are anything like the Ghosts, we shall have +another good joke."</p> + +<p>Our friend went to the door and opened it, before his companions had +time to protest. For that matter, they were all sitting on the floor, +exhausted with the last fright; and they looked at one another in +astonishment, glad to find themselves alive after such a scare. +Meanwhile, Tyltyl threw back the door and nothing came out:</p> + +<p>"There's no one there!" he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, there is! Yes, there is! Look out!" said Night, who was still +shamming fright.</p> + +<p>She was simply furious. She had hoped to make a great +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> impression with +her Terrors; and, lo and behold, the wretches, who had so long been +snubbed by Man, were afraid of him! She encouraged them with kind +words and succeeded in coaxing out a few tall figures covered with +grey veils. They began to run all around the hall until, hearing the +Children laugh, they were seized with fear and rushed indoors again. +The attempt had failed, as far as Night was concerned, and the dread +hour was about to strike. Already, Tyltyl was moving towards the big +door at the end of the hall. A few last words took place between them:</p> + +<p>"Do not open that one!" said Night, in awe-struck tones.</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because it's not allowed!"</p> + +<p>"Then it's here that the Blue Bird is hidden!"</p> + +<p>"Go no farther, do not tempt fate, do not open that door!"</p> + +<p>"But why?" again asked Tyltyl, obstinately.</p> + +<p>Thereupon, Night, irritated by his persistency, flew into a rage, +hurled the most terrible threats at him, and ended by saying:</p> + +<p>"Not one of those who have opened it, were it but by a hair's breadth, +has ever returned alive to the light of day! It means certain death; +and all the horrors, all the terrors, all the fears of which men speak +on earth are as nothing compared with those which await you if you +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +insist on touching that door!"</p> + +<p>"Don't do it, master dear!" said Bread, with chattering teeth. "Don't +do it! Take pity on us! I implore you on my knees!"</p> + +<p>"You are sacrificing the lives of all of us," mewed the Cat.</p> + +<p>"I won't! I sha'n't!" sobbed Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"Pity! Pity!" whined Sugar, wringing his fingers.</p> + +<p>All of them were weeping and crying, all of them crowded round Tyltyl. +Dear Tylô alone, who respected his little master's wishes, dared not +speak a word, though he fully believed that his last hour had come. +Two big tears rolled down his cheeks; and he licked Tyltyl's hands in +despair. It was really a most touching scene; and for a moment, our +hero hesitated. His heart beat wildly, his throat was parched with +anguish, he tried to speak and could not get out a sound: besides, he +did not wish to show weakness in the presence of his hapless +companions!</p> + +<p>"If I have not the strength to fulfil my task," he said to himself, +"who will fulfil it? If my friends behold my distress, it is all up +with me: they will not let me go through with my mission and I shall +never find the Blue Bird!"</p> + +<p>At this thought, the boy's heart leaped within his breast and all his +generous nature rose in rebellion. It would never +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> do to be, perhaps, +within arm's length of happiness and not to try for it, at the risk of +dying in the attempt, to try for it and hand it over at last to all +mankind!</p> + +<p>That settled it! Tyltyl resolved to sacrifice himself. Like a true +hero, he brandished the heavy golden key and cried:</p> + +<p>"I must open the door!"</p> + +<p>He ran up to the great door, with Tylô panting by his side. The poor +Dog was half-dead with fright, but his pride and his devotion to +Tyltyl obliged him to smother his fears:</p> + +<p>"I shall stay," he said to his master, "I'm not afraid! I shall stay +with my little god!"</p> + +<p>In the meantime, all the others had fled. Bread was crumbling to bits +behind a pillar; Sugar was melting in a corner with Mytyl in his arms; +Night and the Cat, both shaking with fury, kept to the far end of the +hall.</p> + +<p><a name="page80pic" id="page80pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus102.jpg" width="500" height="478" +alt="A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden filled with flowers that +shone like stars" title="A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden +filled with flowers that shone like stars" /> +<br /><span class="caption">A wonderful garden lay before him,<br /> a dream-garden filled +with flowers that shone like stars</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">Then Tyltyl gave Tylô a last kiss, pressed him to his heart and, with +never a tremble, put the key in the lock. Yells of terror came from +all the corners of the hall, where the runaways had taken shelter, +while the two leaves of the great door opened by magic in front of our +little friend, who was struck dumb with admiration and delight. What +an exquisite surprise! A wonderful garden lay before him, a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +dream-garden filled with flowers that shone like stars, waterfalls +that came rushing from the sky and trees which the moon had clothed in +silver. And then there was something whirling like a blue cloud among +the clusters of roses. Tyltyl rubbed his eyes; he could not believe +his senses. He waited, looked again and then dashed into the garden, +shouting like mad:</p> + +<p>"Come quickly!... Come quickly!... They are here!... We have them at +last!... Millions of blue birds!... Thousands of millions!... Come, +Mytyl!... Come, Tylô!... Come, all!... Help me!... You can catch them +by handfuls!..."</p> + +<p>Reassured at last, his friends came running up and all darted in among +the birds, seeing who could catch the most:</p> + +<p>"I've caught seven already!" cried Mytyl. "I can't hold them!"</p> + +<p>"Nor can I!" said Tyltyl. "I have too many of them!... They're +escaping from my arms!... Tylô has some too!... Let us go out, let us +go!... Light is waiting for us!... How pleased she will be!... This +way, this way!..."</p> + +<p>And they all danced and scampered away in their glee, singing songs of +triumph as they went. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p> + +<p>Night and the Cat, who had not shared in the general rejoicing, crept +back anxiously to the great door; and Night whimpered:</p> + +<p>"Haven't they got him?..."</p> + +<p>"No," said the Cat, who saw the real Blue Bird perched high up on a +moonbeam.... "They could not reach him, he kept too high...."</p> + +<p>Our friends in all haste ran up the numberless stairs between them and +the daylight. Each of them hugged the birds which he had captured, +never dreaming that every step which brought them nearer to the light +was fatal to the poor things, so that, by the time they came to the +top of the staircase, they were carrying nothing but dead birds.</p> + +<p>Light was waiting for them anxiously:</p> + +<p>"Well, have you caught him?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" said Tyltyl. "Lots of them! There are thousands! Look!"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, he held out the dear birds to her and saw, to his dismay, +that they were nothing more than lifeless corpses: their poor little +wings were broken and their heads drooped sadly from their necks! The +boy, in his despair, turned to his companions. Alas, they too were +hugging nothing but dead birds! +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Tyltyl threw himself sobbing into Light's arms. Once more, all +his hopes were dashed to the ground.</p> + +<p>"Do not cry, my child," said Light. "You did not catch the one that is +able to live in broad daylight.... We shall find him yet...."</p> + +<p>"Of course, we shall find him," said Bread and Sugar, with one voice.</p> + +<p>They were great boobies, both of them; but they wanted to console the +boy. As for friend Tylô, he was so much put out that he forgot his +dignity for a moment and, looking at the dead birds, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Are they good to eat, I wonder?"</p> + +<p>The party set out to walk back and sleep in the Temple of Light. It +was a melancholy journey; all regretted the peace of home and felt +inclined to blame Tyltyl for his want of caution. Sugar edged up to +Bread and whispered in his ear:</p> + +<p>"Don't you think, Mr. Chairman, that all this excitement is very +useless?"</p> + +<p>And Bread, who felt flattered at receiving so much attention, +answered, pompously:</p> + +<p>"Never you fear, my dear fellow, I shall put all this right. Life +would be unbearable if we had to listen to all the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> whimsies of that +little madcap!... To-morrow, we shall stay in bed!..."</p> + +<p>They forgot that, but for the boy at whom they were sneering, they +would never have been alive at all; and that, if he had suddenly told +Bread that he must go back to his pan to be eaten and Sugar that he +was to be cut into small lumps to sweeten Daddy Tyl's coffee and Mummy +Tyl's syrups, they would have thrown themselves at their benefactor's +feet and begged for mercy. In fact, they were incapable of +appreciating their good luck until they were brought face to face with +bad.</p> + +<p>Poor things! The Fairy Bérylune, when making them a present of their +human life, ought to have thrown in a little wisdom. They were not so +much to blame. Of course, they were only following Man's example. +Given the power of speaking, they jabbered; knowing how to judge, they +condemned; able to feel, they complained. They had hearts which +increased their sense of fear, without adding to their happiness. As +to their brains, which could easily have arranged all the rest, they +made so little of them that they had already grown quite rusty; and, +if you could have opened their heads and looked at the works of their +life inside, you would have seen the poor brains, which were their +most precious possession, jumping about +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> + at every movement they made +and rattling in their empty skulls like dry peas in a pod.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, Light, thanks to her wonderful insight, knew all about +their state of mind. She determined, therefore, to employ the Elements +and Things no more than she was obliged to:</p> + +<p>"They are useful," she thought, "to feed the children and amuse them +on the way; but they must have no further share in the trials, because +they have neither courage nor conviction."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the party walked on, the road widened out and became +resplendent; and, at the end, the Temple of Light stood on a crystal +height, shedding its beams around. The tired Children made the Dog +carry them pick-a-back by turns; and they were almost asleep when they +reached the shining steps. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>THE KINGDOM OF THE FUTURE</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tyltyl</span> and Mytyl woke up next morning, feeling very gay; with childish +carelessness, they had forgotten their disappointment. Tyltyl was very +proud of the compliments which Light had paid him: she seemed as happy +as though he had brought the Blue Bird with him:</p> + +<p>She said, with a smile, as she stroked the lad's dark curls:</p> + +<p>"I am quite satisfied. You are such a good, brave boy that you will soon +find what you are looking for."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl did not understand the deep meaning of her words; but, for all +that, he was very glad to hear them. And, besides, Light had promised +him that to-day he would have nothing to fear in their new expedition. +On the contrary, he would meet millions and millions of little +children who would show him the most wonderful toys of which no one on +earth had the least idea. She also told him that he and his little +sister would travel alone with her this time and that all the others +would take a rest while they were gone. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>That is why, at the moment when our chapter opens, they had all met in +the underground vaults of the temple. Light thought it as well to lock +up the Elements and Things. She knew that, if they were left to do as +they pleased, they might escape and get into mischief. It was not so +very cruel of her, because the vaults of her temple are even lighter +and lovelier than the upper floors of human houses; but you cannot get +out without her leave. She alone has the power of widening, with a +stroke of her wand, a little cleft in an emerald wall at the end of +the passage, through which you go down a few crystal steps till you +come to a sort of cave, all green and transparent like a forest when +the sunlight sweeps through its branches.</p> + +<p>Usually, this great hall was quite empty; but now it had sofas in it +and a gold table laid with fruits and cakes and creams and delicious +wines, which Light's servants had just finished setting out. Light's +servants were very odd! They always made the Children laugh: with +their long white satin dresses and their little black caps with a +flame at the top, they looked like lighted candles. Their mistress +sent them away and then told the Animals and Things to be very good +and asked them if they would like some books and games to play with; +they answered, with a laugh, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +that nothing amused them more than +eating and sleeping and that they were very glad to stay where they +were.</p> + +<p><a name="page90pic" id="page90pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus112.jpg" width="500" height="499" +alt="Light's servants were very odd" +title="Light's servants were very odd" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Light's servants were very odd</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">Tylô, of course, did not share this view. His heart spoke louder than +his greed or his laziness; and his great dark eyes turned in entreaty +on Tyltyl, who would have been only too pleased to take his faithful +companion with him, if Light had not absolutely forbidden it:</p> + +<p>"I can't help it," said the boy, giving him a kiss. "It seems that +dogs are not admitted where we are going."</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Tylô sprang up with delight: a great idea had struck him. He +had not left his real, doggy life long enough to forget any part of +it, especially his troubles. Which was the greatest of these? Was it +not the chain? What melancholy hours Tylô had spent fastened to an +iron ring! And what humiliation he endured when the woodcutter used to +take him to the village and, with unspeakable silliness, keep him on +the lead in front of everybody, thus depriving him of the pleasure of +greeting his friends and sniffing the smells provided for his benefit +at every street-corner and in every gutter:</p> + +<p>"Well," he said to himself, "I shall have to submit to that +humiliating torture once again, to go with my little god!"</p> + +<p>Faithful to his traditions, he had, in spite of his fine +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> clothes, +kept his dog-collar, but not his lead. What was to be done? He was +once more in despair, when he saw Water lying on a sofa and playing, +in an absent-minded sort of way, with her long strings of coral. He +ran up to her as prettily as he could and, after paying her a heap of +compliments, begged her to lend him her biggest necklace. She was in a +good temper and not only did what he asked, but was kind enough to +fasten the end of the coral string to his collar. Tylô gaily went up +to his master, handed him this necklace chain and, kneeling at his +feet, said:</p> + +<p>"Take me with you like this, my little god! Men never say a word to a +poor dog when he is on his chain!"</p> + +<p>"Alas, even like this, you cannot come!" said Light, who was much +touched by this act of self-sacrifice; and, to cheer him up, she told +him that fate would soon provide a trial for the Children in which his +assistance would be of great use.</p> + +<p>As she spoke these words, she touched the emerald wall, which opened +to let her pass through with the Children.</p> + +<p>Her chariot was waiting outside the entrance to the temple. It was a +lovely shell of jade, inlaid with gold. They all three took their +seats; and the two great white birds harnessed to it at once flew off +through the clouds. The chariot travelled very fast; and they were not +long on the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> + road, much to the regret of the Children, who were +enjoying themselves and laughing like anything; but other and even +more beautiful surprises awaited them.</p> + +<p>The clouds vanished around them; and, suddenly, they found themselves +in a dazzling azure palace. Here, all was blue: the light, the +flagstones, the columns, the vaults; everything, down to the smallest +objects, was of an intense and fairy-like blue. There was no seeing +the end of the palace; the eyes were lost in the infinite sapphire +vistas.</p> + +<p>"How lovely it all is!" said Tyltyl, who could not get over his +astonishment. "Goodness me, how lovely!... Where are we?"</p> + +<p>"We are in the Kingdom of the Future," said Light, "in the midst of +the children who are not yet born. As the diamond allows us to see +clearly in this region which is hidden from men, we shall perhaps find +the Blue Bird here.... Look! Look at the children running up!"</p> + +<p>From every side came bands of little children dressed from head to +foot in blue; they had beautiful dark or golden hair and they were all +exquisitely pretty. They shouted gleefully:</p> + +<p>"Live Children!... Come and look at the little Live Children!" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why do they call us the little Live Children?" asked Tyltyl, of +Light.</p> + +<p>"It is because they themselves are not alive yet. They are awaiting +the hour of their birth, for it is from here that all the children +come who are born upon our earth. When the fathers and mothers want +children, the great doors which you see over there, at the back, are +opened; and the little ones go down...."</p> + +<p>"What a lot there are! What a lot there are!" cried Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"There are many more," said Light. "No one could count them. But go a +little further: you will see other things."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl did as he was told and elbowed his way through; but it was +difficult for him to move, because a crowd of Blue Children pressed +all around them. At last, by mounting on a step, our little friend was +able to look over the throng of inquisitive heads and see what was +happening in every part of the hall. It was most extraordinary! Tyltyl +had never dreamed of anything like it! He danced with joy; and Mytyl, +who was hanging on to him and standing on tip-toe so that she might +see too, clapped her little hands and gave loud cries of wonder.</p> + +<p>All around were millions of Children in blue, some play<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>ing, others +walking about, others talking or thinking. Many were asleep; many also +were at work; and their instruments, their tools, the machines which +they were building, the plants, the flowers and the fruits which they +were growing or gathering were of the same bright and heavenly blue as +the general appearance of the palace. Among the Children moved tall +persons also dressed in blue: they were very beautiful and looked just +like angels. They came up to Light and smiled and gently pushed aside +the Blue Children, who went back quietly to what they were doing, +though still watching our friends with astonished eyes.</p> + +<p>One of them, however, remained standing close to Tyltyl. He was quite +small. From under his long sky-blue silk dress peeped two little pink +and dimpled bare feet. His eyes stared in curiosity at the little Live +Boy; and he went up to him as though in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"May I talk to him?" asked Tyltyl, who felt half-glad and +half-frightened.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Light. "You must make friends.... I will leave you +alone; you will be more at ease by yourselves...."</p> + +<p>So saying, she went away and left the two Children face to face, shyly +smiling. Suddenly, they began to talk: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you do?" said Tyltyl, putting out his hand to the Child.</p> + +<p>But the Child did not understand what that meant and stood without +moving.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" continued Tyltyl, touching the Child's blue dress.</p> + +<p>The Child, who was absorbed in what he was looking at, did not answer, +but gravely touched Tyltyl's hat with his finger:</p> + +<p>"And that?" he lisped.</p> + +<p>"That?... That's my hat," said Tyltyl. "Have you no hat?"</p> + +<p>"No; what is it for?" asked the Child.</p> + +<p>"It's to say How-do-you-do with," Tyltyl answered. "And then for when +it's cold...."</p> + +<p>"What does that mean, when it's cold?" asked the Child.</p> + +<p>"When you shiver like this: Brrr! Brrr!" said Tyltyl. "And when you go +like this with your arms," vigorously beating his arms across his +chest.</p> + +<p>"Is it cold on earth?" asked the Child.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sometimes, in winter, when there is no fire."</p> + +<p>"Why is there no fire?..."</p> + +<p>"Because it's expensive; and it costs money to buy wood...." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Child looked at Tyltyl again as though he did not understand a +word that Tyltyl was saying; and Tyltyl in his turn looked amazed:</p> + +<p>"It's quite clear that he knows nothing of the most everyday things," +thought our hero, while the child stared with no small respect at "the +little Live Boy" who knew everything.</p> + +<p>Then he asked Tyltyl what money was.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's what you pay with!" said Tyltyl, scorning to give any +further explanation.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the Child, seriously.</p> + +<p>Of course, he did not understand. How <i>could</i> he know, a little boy +like that, who lived in a paradise where his least wishes were granted +before he had learned to put them into words?</p> + +<p>"How old are you?" asked Tyltyl, continuing the conversation.</p> + +<p>"I am going to be born soon," said the Child. "I shall be born in +twelve years.... Is it nice to be born?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," cried Tyltyl, without thinking. "It's great fun!"</p> + +<p>But he was very much at a loss when the little boy asked him "how he +managed." His pride did not allow him to be ignorant of anything in +another child's presence; and it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> + was quite droll to see him with his +hands in his breeches-pockets, his legs wide apart, his face upturned +and his whole attitude that of a man who is in no hurry to reply. At +last, he answered, with a shrug of the shoulders:</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, I can't remember! It's so long ago!"</p> + +<p>"They say it's lovely, the earth and the Live People!" remarked the +Child.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's not bad," said Tyltyl. "There are birds and cakes and +toys.... Some have them all; but those who have none can look at the +others!"</p> + +<p>This reflection shows us the whole character of our little friend. He +was proud and inclined to be rather high-and-mighty; but he was never +envious and his generous nature made up to him for his poverty by +allowing him to enjoy the good fortune of others.</p> + +<p><a name="page98pic" id="page98pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus122.jpg" width="500" height="478" +alt="Other Blue Children opened great big books" +title="Other Blue Children opened great big books" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Other Blue Children opened great big books</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">The two Children talked a good deal more; but it would take too long +to tell you all they said, because what they said was sometimes only +interesting to themselves. After a while, Light, who was watching them +from a distance, hurried up to them a little anxiously: Tyltyl was +crying! Big tears came rolling down his cheeks and falling on his +smart coat. She understood that he was talking of his grandmother and +that he could not keep back his tears at the thought of the love which +he had lost. He was turning +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +away his head, to hide his feelings; +but the inquisitive Child kept asking him questions:</p> + +<p>"Do the grannies die?... What does that mean, dying?"</p> + +<p>"They go away one evening and do not come back."</p> + +<p>"Has yours gone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tyltyl. "She was very kind to me."</p> + +<p>And, at these words, the poor little fellow began to cry again.</p> + +<p>The Blue Child had never seen any one cry. He lived in a world where +grief did not exist. His surprise was great; and he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"What's the matter with your eyes?... Are they making pearls?"</p> + +<p>To him those tears were wonderful things.</p> + +<p>"No, it's not pearls," said Tyltyl, sheepishly.</p> + +<p>"What is it then?"</p> + +<p>But our poor friend would not admit what he looked upon as a weakness. +He rubbed his eyes awkwardly and put everything down to the dazzling +blue of the palace.</p> + +<p>The puzzled Child insisted:</p> + +<p>"What's that falling down?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing; it's a little water," said Tyltyl, impatiently, hoping to +cut short the explanation. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p> + +<p>But that was out of the question. The Child was very obstinate, +touched Tyltyl's cheeks with his finger and asked, in a tone of +curiosity:</p> + +<p>"Does it come from the eyes?..."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sometimes, when one cries."</p> + +<p>"What does that mean, crying?" asked the Child.</p> + +<p>"I have not been crying," said Tyltyl proudly. "It's the fault of that +blue!... But, if I had cried, it would be the same thing...."</p> + +<p>"Do you often cry on earth?..."</p> + +<p>"Not little boys, but little girls do.... Don't you cry here?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't know how...."</p> + +<p>"Well, you will learn...."</p> + +<p>At that moment, a great breath of wind made him turn his head and he +saw, at a few steps away from him, a large piece of machinery which he +had not noticed at first, as he was taken up with his interest in the +little Child. It was a grand and magnificent thing, but I cannot tell +you its name, because the inventions of the Kingdom of the Future will +not be christened by Man until they reach the earth. I can only say +that Tyltyl, when he looked at it, thought that the enormous azure +wings that whizzed so swiftly before his eyes were like the windmills +in his part of the world +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> + and that, if he ever found the Blue Bird, +its wings would certainly be no more delicate, dainty or dazzling. +Full of admiration, he asked his new acquaintance what they were.</p> + +<p>"Those?" said the Child. "That's for the invention which I shall make +on earth."</p> + +<p>And, seeing Tyltyl stare with wide-open eyes, he added:</p> + +<p>"When I am on earth, I shall have to invent the thing that gives +happiness.... Would you like to see it?... It is over there, between +those two columns...."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl turned round to look; but all the Children at once rushed at +him, shouting:</p> + +<p>"No, no, come and see mine!..."</p> + +<p>"No, mine is much finer!..."</p> + +<p>"Mine is a wonderful invention!..."</p> + +<p>"Mine is made of sugar!..."</p> + +<p>"His is no good!..."</p> + +<p>"I'm bringing a light which nobody knows of!..."</p> + +<p>And, so saying, the last Child lit himself up entirely with a most +extraordinary flame.</p> + +<p>Amid these joyous exclamations, the Live Children were dragged towards +the blue workshops, where each of the little inventors set his machine +going. It was a great blue whirl of disks and pulleys and straps and +fly-wheels and driving-wheels and cog-wheels and all kinds of wheels, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +which sent every sort of machine skimming over the ground or shooting +up to the ceiling. Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or +opened great big books, or uncovered azure statues, or brought +enormous flowers and gigantic fruits that seemed made of sapphires and +turquoises.</p> + +<p>Our little friends stood with their mouths wide open and their hands +clasped together: they thought themselves in paradise. Mytyl bent over +to look at a huge flower and laughed into its cup, which covered up +her head like a hood of blue silk. A pretty Child, with dark hair and +thoughtful eyes, held it by the stalk and said, proudly:</p> + +<p>"The flowers will all grow like that, when I am on earth!"</p> + +<p>"When will that be?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"In fifty-three years, four months and nine days."</p> + +<p>Next came two Blue Children bending under the weight of a pole from +which was slung a bunch of grapes each larger than a pear.</p> + +<p>"A bunch of pears!" cried Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"No, they are grapes," said the Child. "They will all be like that +when I am thirty: I have found the way...."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl would have loved to taste them, but another Child came along +almost hidden under a basket which one of the tall persons was helping +him to carry. His fair-haired, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +rosy face smiled through the leaves +that hung over the wicker-work.</p> + +<p><a name="page102pic" id="page102pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus128.jpg" width="500" height="490" +alt="Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or brought enormous flowers" +title="Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or brought enormous flowers" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, +or brought enormous flowers</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">"Look!" he said. "Look at my apples...."</p> + +<p>"But those are melons!" said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"No, no!" said the Child. "They are my apples! They will all be alike +when I am alive! I have discovered the process!..."</p> + +<p>I should never finish if I were to try and describe to my little +readers all the wonderful and incredible things that appeared before +our hero's eyes. But, suddenly, a loud burst of laughter rang through +the hall. A Child had spoken of the King of the Nine Planets; and +Tyltyl, very much puzzled and perplexed, looked on every side. All the +faces, bright with laughter, were turned to some spot which Tyltyl +could not see; every finger pointed in the same direction; but our +friend looked in vain. They had spoken of a king! He was looking for a +throne with a tall, dignified personage on it, wielding a golden +sceptre.</p> + +<p>"Over there ... over there ... lower down ... behind you!" said a +thousand little voices together.</p> + +<p>"But where is the King?" Tyltyl and Mytyl repeated, greatly +interested.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, a louder and more serious voice sounded above the +silvery murmur of the others: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Here I am!" it said proudly.</p> + +<p>And, at the same time, Tyltyl discovered a chubby baby which he had +not yet remarked, for it was the smallest and had kept out of the way +till then, sitting at the foot of a column in an attitude of +indifference, seemingly rapt in contemplation. The little King was the +only one who had taken no notice of the "Live Children." His +beautiful, liquid eyes, eyes as blue as the palace, were pursuing +endless dreams; his right hand supported his head, which was already +heavy with thought; his short tunic showed his dimpled knees; and a +golden crown rested on his yellow locks. When he cried, "Here I am!" +the baby rose from the step on which he was sitting and tried to climb +on to it at one stride; but he was still so awkward that he lost his +balance and fell upon his nose. He at once picked himself up with so +much dignity that nobody dared make fun of him; and, this time, he +scrambled up on all fours and then, putting his legs wide apart, stood +and eyed Tyltyl from top to toe.</p> + +<p>"You're not very big!" said Tyltyl, doing his best to keep from +laughing.</p> + +<p>"I shall do great things when I am!" retorted the King, in a tone that +admitted of no reply.</p> + +<p>"And what will you do?" asked Tyltyl. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I shall found the General Confederation of the Solar Planets," said +the King, in a very pompous voice.</p> + +<p>Our friend was so much impressed that he could not find a word to say; +and the King continued:</p> + +<p>"All the Planets will belong to it, except Uranus, Saturn and Neptune, +which are too ridiculously far away."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, he toddled off the step again and resumed his first +attitude, showing that he had said all that he meant to say.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl left him to his meditations; he was eager to know as many more +of the Children as he could. He was introduced to the discoverer of a +new sun, to the inventor of a new joy, to the hero who was to wipe out +injustice from the earth and to the wiseacre who was to conquer +Death.... There were such lots and lots of them that it would take +days and days to name them all. Our friend was rather tired and was +beginning to feel bored, when his attention was suddenly aroused by +hearing a Child's voice calling him:</p> + +<p>"Tyltyl!... Tyltyl!... How are you, Tyltyl, how are you?..."</p> + +<p>A little Blue Child came running up from the back of the hall, pushing +his way through the crowd. He was fair and slim and bright-eyed and +had a great look of Mytyl. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> + +<p>"How do you know my name?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"It's not surprising," said the Blue Child, "considering that I shall +be your brother!"</p> + +<p>This time, the Live Children were absolutely amazed. What an +extraordinary meeting! They must certainly tell Mummy as soon as they +got back! How astonished they would be at home!</p> + +<p>While they were making these reflections, the Child went on to +explain:</p> + +<p>"I am coming to you next year, on Palm Sunday," he said.</p> + +<p>And he put a thousand questions to his big brother: was it comfortable +at home? Was the food good? Was Daddy very severe? And Mummy?</p> + +<p>"Oh, Mummy is so kind!" said the little ones.</p> + +<p>And they asked him questions in their turn: what was he going to do on +earth? What was he bringing?</p> + +<p>"I am bringing three illnesses," said the little brother. "Scarlatina, +whooping-cough and measles...."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all, is it?" cried Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>He shook his head, with evident disappointment, while the other +continued:</p> + +<p>"After that, I shall leave you!" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It will hardly be worth while coming!" said Tyltyl, feeling rather +vexed.</p> + +<p>"We can't pick and choose!" said the little brother, pettishly.</p> + +<p>They would perhaps have quarrelled, without waiting till they were on +earth, if they had not suddenly been parted by a swarm of Blue +Children who were hurrying to meet somebody. At the same time, there +was a great noise, as if thousands of invisible doors were being +opened at the end of the galleries.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"It's Time," said one of the Blue Children. "He's going to open the +doors."</p> + +<p>And the excitement increased on every side. The Children left their +machines and their labours; those who were asleep woke up; and every +eye was eagerly and anxiously turned to the great opal doors at the +back, while every mouth repeated the same name. The word, "Time! +Time!" was heard all around; and the great mysterious noise kept on. +Tyltyl was dying to know what it meant. At last, he caught a little +Child by the skirt of his dress and asked him.</p> + +<p>"Let me be," said the Child, very uneasily. "I'm in a hurry: it may be +my turn to-day.... It is the Dawn +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> + rising. This is the hour when the +Children who are to be born to-day go down to earth.... You shall +see.... Time is drawing the bolts...."</p> + +<p>"Who is Time?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"An old man who comes to call those who are going," said another +Child. "He is not so bad; but he won't listen or hear. Beg as they +may, if it's not their turn, he pushes back all those who try to +go.... Let me be! It may be my turn now!"</p> + +<p>Light now hastened towards our little friends in a great state of +alarm:</p> + +<p>"I was looking for you," she said. "Come quick: it will never do for +Time to discover you."</p> + +<p>As she spoke these words, she threw her gold cloak around the Children +and dragged them to a corner of the hall, where they could see +everything, without being seen.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was very glad to be so well protected. He now knew that he who +was about to appear possessed so great and tremendous a power that no +human strength was capable of resisting him. He was at the same time a +deity and an ogre; he bestowed life and he devoured it; he sped +through the world so fast that you had no time to see him; he ate and +ate, without stopping; he took whatever he touched. In Tyltyl's +family, he had already taken +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> + Grandad and Granny, the little brothers, +the little sisters and the old blackbird! He did not mind what he +took: joys and sorrows, winters and summers, all was fish that came to +his net!...</p> + +<p>Knowing this, our friend was astonished to see everybody in the +Kingdom of the Future running so fast to meet him:</p> + +<p>"I suppose he doesn't eat anything here," he thought.</p> + +<p>There he was! The great doors turned slowly on their hinges. There was +a distant music: it was the sounds of the earth. A red and green light +penetrated into the hall; and Time appeared on the threshold. He was a +tall and very thin old man, so old that his wrinkled face was all +grey, like dust. His white beard came down to his knees. In one hand, +he carried an enormous scythe; in the other, an hour-glass. Behind +him, some way out, on a sea the colour of the Dawn, was a magnificent +gold galley, with white sails.</p> + +<p>"Are they ready whose hour has struck?" asked Time. At the sound of +that voice, solemn and deep as a bronze gong, thousands of bright +children's voices, like little silver bells, answered:</p> + +<p>"Here we are!... Here we are!... Here we are!..." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round the tall old +man, who pushed them all back and, in a gruff voice, said:</p> + +<p>"One at a time!... Once again, there are many more of you than are +wanted!... You can't deceive me!"</p> + +<p>Brandishing his scythe in one hand and holding out his cloak with the +other, he barred the way to the rash Children who tried to slip by +him. Not one of them escaped the horrid old man's watchful eye:</p> + +<p>"It's not your turn!" he said to one. "You're to be born to-morrow!... +Nor yours either, you've got ten years to wait.... A thirteenth +shepherd?... There are only twelve wanted; there is no need for +more.... More doctors?... There are too many already; they are +grumbling about it on earth.... And where are the engineers?... They +want an honest man; only one, as a wonderful being."</p> + +<p>Thereupon, a poor Child, who had hung back, until then, came forward +timidly, sucking his thumb. He looked pale and sad and walked with +tottering footsteps; he was so wretched that even Time felt a moment's +pity:</p> + +<p>"It's you!" he exclaimed. "You seem a very poor specimen!"</p> + +<p><a name="page110pic" id="page110pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus138.jpg" width="450" height="539" +alt="And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round the tall old man" +title="And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round the tall old man" /> +<br /><span class="caption">And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round the tall old man</span> +</div><p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p class="top2">And, lifting his eyes to the sky, with a look of discouragement, he +added:</p> + +<p>"You won't live long!"</p> + +<p>And the movement went on. Each Child, when denied, returned to his +employment with a downcast air. When one of them was accepted, the +others looked at him with envy. Now and then, something happened, as +when the hero who was to fight against injustice refused to go. He +clung to his playfellows, who called out to Time:</p> + +<p>"He doesn't want to, Sir!"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't want to go," cried the little fellow, with all his might. +"I would rather not be born."</p> + +<p>"And quite right too!" thought Tyltyl, who was full of common-sense +and who knew what things are like on earth.</p> + +<p>For people always get beatings which they have not deserved; and, when +they have done wrong, you may be sure that the punishment will fall on +one of their innocent friends.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't care to be in his place," said our friend to himself. "I +would rather hunt for the Blue Bird, any day!"</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the little seeker after justice went away sobbing, +frightened out of his life by Mr. Time.</p> + +<p>The excitement was now at its height. The Children +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> ran all over the +hall: those who were going packed up their inventions; those who were +staying behind had a thousand requests to make:</p> + +<p>"Will you write to me?"</p> + +<p>"They say one can't!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, try, do try!"</p> + +<p>"Announce my idea!"</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Jean.... Good-bye, Pierre!"</p> + +<p>"Have you forgotten anything?"</p> + +<p>"Don't lose your ideas!"</p> + +<p>"Try to tell us if it's nice!"</p> + +<p>"Enough! Enough!" roared Time, in a huge voice, shaking his big keys +and his terrible scythe, "Enough! The anchor's weighed...."</p> + +<p>Then the Children climbed into the gold galley, with the beautiful +white silk sails. They waved their hands again to the little friends +whom they were leaving behind them; but, on seeing the earth in the +distance, they cried out, gladly:</p> + +<p>"Earth! Earth!... I can see it!..."</p> + +<p>"How bright it is!..."</p> + +<p>"How big it is!..."</p> + +<p>And, at the same time, as though coming from the abyss, a song rose, a +distant song of gladness and expectation. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span></p> + +<p>Light, who was listening with a smile, saw the look of astonishment on +Tyltyl's face and bent over him:</p> + +<p>"It is the song of the mothers coming out to meet them," she said.</p> + +<p>At that moment, Time, who had shut the doors, saw our friends and +rushed at them angrily, shaking his scythe at them.</p> + +<p>"Hurry!" said Light. "Hurry! Take the Blue Bird, Tyltyl, and go in +front of me with Mytyl."</p> + +<p>She put into the boy's arms a bird which she held hidden under her +cloak and, all radiant, spreading her dazzling veil with her two +hands, she ran on, protecting her charges from the onslaught of Time.</p> + +<p>In this way, they passed through several turquoise and sapphire +galleries. It was magnificently beautiful, but they were in the +Kingdom of the Future, where Time was the great master, and they must +escape from his anger which they had braved.</p> + +<p>Mytyl was terribly frightened and Tyltyl kept nervously turning round +to Light.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," she said. "I am the only person whom Time has +respected since the world began. Only mind that you take care of the +Blue Bird. He's gorgeous! He is quite, quite blue!" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>This thought enraptured the boy. He felt the precious treasure +fluttering in his arms; his hands dared not press the pretty +creature's soft, warm wings; and his heart beat against its heart. +This time, he held the Blue Bird! Nothing could touch it, because it +was given to him by Light herself. What a triumph when he returned +home!...</p> + +<p>He was so bewildered by his happiness that he hardly knew where he was +going; his joy rang a victorious peal in his head that made him feel +giddy; he was mad with pride; and this, worse luck, made him lose his +coolness and his presence of mind! They were just about to cross the +threshold of the palace, when a gust of wind swept through the +entrance-hall, lifting up Light's veil and at last revealing the two +Children to the eyes of Time, who was still pursuing them. With a roar +of rage, he darted his scythe at Tyltyl, who cried out. Light warded +off the blow; and the door of the palace closed behind them with a +thud. They were saved!... But alas, Tyltyl, taken by surprise, had +opened his arms and now, through his tears, saw the Bird of the Future +soaring above their heads, mingling with the azure sky its dream-wings +so blue, so light and so transparent that soon the boy could make out +nothing more.... +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>IN THE TEMPLE OF LIGHT</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tyltyl</span> had enjoyed himself thoroughly in the Kingdom of the Future. He +had seen many wonderful things and thousands of little playfellows and +then, without taking the least pains or trouble, had found the Blue +Bird in his arms in the most magical way. He had never pictured +anything more beautiful, more blue or brilliant; and he still felt it +fluttering against his heart and kept hugging his arms to his breast +as though the Blue Bird were there.</p> + +<p>Alas, it had vanished like a dream!</p> + +<p>He was thinking sadly of this latest disappointment as he walked +hand-in-hand with Light. They were back in the Temple and were going +to the vaults where the Animals and Things had been shut up. What a +sight met their eyes! The wretches had eaten and drunk such a lot that +they were lying on the floor quite tipsy! Tylô himself had lost all +his dignity. He had rolled under the table and was snoring like a +porpoise. His instinct remained; and the sound of the door made him +prick up his ears. He opened one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> + eye, but his sight was troubled by +all that he had had to drink and he did not know his little master +when he saw him. He dragged himself to his feet with a great effort, +turned round several times and then dropped on the floor again with a +grunt of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>Bread and the others were as bad; and the only exception was the Cat, +who was sitting up prettily on a marble and gold bench and seemed in +full possession of her senses. She sprang nimbly to the ground and +stepped up to Tyltyl with a smile:</p> + +<p>"I have been longing to see you," she said, "for I have been very +unhappy among all these vulgar people. They first drank all the wine +and then started shouting and singing and dancing, quarrelling and +fighting and making such a noise that I was very glad when, at last, +they fell into a tipsy sleep."</p> + +<p>The children praised her warmly for her good behaviour. As a matter of +fact, there was no great merit in this, for she could not stand +anything stronger than milk; but we are seldom rewarded when by rights +we ought to be and sometimes are when we have not deserved it.</p> + +<p>After fondly kissing the children, Tylette asked a favour of Light:</p> + +<p>"I have had such a wretched time," she whined. "Let +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>me go out for a +little while; it will do me good to be alone."</p> + +<p><a name="page119pic" id="page119pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus147.jpg" width="550" height="451" +alt="The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, opened the door and ran and +bounded out into the forest" +title="The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, opened the door +and ran and bounded out into the forest" /> +<br /><span class="caption">The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, +<br />opened the door and ran and bounded out into the forest</span> +</div> + +<p class="top2">Light gave her consent without suspecting anything; and the Cat at +once draped her cloak round her, put her hat straight, pulled up her +soft grey boots over her knees, opened the door and ran and bounded +out into the forest. We shall know, a little later, where treacherous +Tylette was going so gaily and what was the horrid plot which she was +mysteriously concocting.</p> + +<p>As on the other days, the Children had their dinner with Light in a +large room all encrusted with diamonds. The servants bustled around +them smiling and brought delicious dishes and cakes.</p> + +<p>After dinner, our little friends began to yawn. They felt sleepy very +early, after all their adventures; and, Light—ever kind and +thoughtful—made them live as they were accustomed to on earth. So as +not to injure their health by altering their habits, she had set up +their little beds in a part of the temple where the darkness would +seem like night to them.</p> + +<p>They went through any number of rooms to reach their bedroom. They had +first to pass all the lights known to Man and then those which Man did +not yet know.</p> + +<p>There were great sumptuous apartments in splendid marble, lit up by +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +rays so white and strong that the children were quite dazzled.</p> + +<p>"That is the Light of the Rich," said Light to Tyltyl. "You see how +dangerous it is. People run the risk of going blind when they live too +much in its rays, which leave no room for soft and kindly shade."</p> + +<p>And she hurried them on so that they might rest their eyes in the +gentle Light of the Poor. Here, the Children suddenly felt as if they +were in their parents' cottage, where everything was so humble and +peaceful. The faint light was very pure and clear, but always +flickering and ready to go out at the least breath.</p> + +<p>Next they came to the beautiful Light of the Poets, which they liked +immensely, for it had all the colours of the rainbow; and, when you +passed through it, you saw lovely pictures, lovely flowers and lovely +toys which you were unable to take hold of. Laughing merrily, the +children ran after birds and butterflies, but everything faded away as +soon as it was touched.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" said Tyltyl, as he came panting back to Light. "This +beats everything! I can't understand it!"</p> + +<p>"You will understand later," she replied, "and, if you understand it +properly, you will be among the very few human beings who know the +Blue Bird when they see him." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>After leaving the region of the Poets, our friends reached the Light +of the Learned, which lies on the borders of the known and the unknown +lights:</p> + +<p>"Let's get on," said Tyltyl. "This is boring."</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, he was a little bit frightened, for they were in a +long row of cold and forbidding arches, which were streaked at every +moment by dazzling lightning-flashes; and, at each flash, you saw +out-of-the-way things that had no name as yet.</p> + +<p>After these arches, they came to the Lights Unknown to Man; and +Tyltyl, in spite of the sleep that pressed upon his eyelids, could not +help admiring the hall with its violet columns and the gallery with +its red rays. And the violet of the columns was such a dark violet and +the red of the rays such a pale red that it was hardly possible to see +either of them.</p> + +<p>At last, they arrived at the room of smooth, unflecked Black Light, +which men call Darkness because their eyes are not yet able to make it +out. And here the Children fell asleep without delay on two soft beds +of clouds. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE GRAVEYARD</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the Children were not going on an expedition, they played about +in the Realms of Light; and this was a great treat for them, for the +gardens and the country around the temple were as wonderful as the +halls and galleries of silver and gold.</p> + +<p>The leaves of some of the plants were so broad and strong that they +were able to lie down on them; and, when a breath of wind stirred the +leaves, the Children swung as in a hammock. It was always summer there +and never a moment was darkened by the night; but the hours were known +by their different colours; there were pink, white, blue, lilac, green +and yellow hours; and, according to their hues, the flowers, the +fruits, the birds, the butterflies and the scents changed, causing +Tyltyl and Mytyl a constant surprise. They had all the toys that they +could wish for. When they were tired of playing, they stretched +themselves out on the backs of the lizards, which were as long and +wide as little boats, and quickly, quickly raced round the +garden-paths, over the sand which was as white and as good to eat as +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +sugar. When they were thirsty, Water shook her tresses into the cup of +the enormous flowers; and the Children drank straight out of the +lilies, tulips and morning-glories. If they were hungry, they picked +radiant fruits which revealed the taste of Light to them and which had +juice that shone like the rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>There was also, in a clump of bushes, a white marble pond which +possessed a magic power: its clear waters reflected not the faces, but +the souls of those who looked into it.</p> + +<p>"It's a ridiculous invention," said the Cat, who steadily refused to +go near the pond.</p> + +<p>You, my dear little readers, who know her thoughts as well as I do, +will not be surprised at her refusal. And you will also understand why +our faithful Tylô was not afraid to go and quench his thirst there: he +need not fear to reveal his thoughts, for he was the only creature +whose soul never altered. The dear Dog had no feelings but those of +love and kindness and devotion.</p> + +<p>When Tyltyl bent over the magic mirror, he almost always saw the +picture of a splendid Blue Bird, for the constant wish to find him +filled his mind entirely. Then he would run to Light and entreat her: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tell me where he is!... You know everything: tell me where to find +him!"</p> + +<p>But she replied, in a tone of mystery:</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you anything. You must find him for yourself." And, +kissing him, she added, "Cheer up; you are getting nearer to him at +each trial."</p> + +<p>Now there came a day on which she said to him:</p> + +<p>"I have received a message from the Fairy Bérylune telling me that the +Blue Bird is probably hidden in the graveyard.... It appears that one +of the Dead in the graveyard is keeping him in his tomb...."</p> + +<p>"What shall we do?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"It is very simple: at midnight you will turn the diamond and you +shall see the Dead come out of the ground."</p> + +<p>At these words, Milk, Water, Bread and Sugar began to yell and scream +and chatter their teeth.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind them," said Light to Tyltyl, in a whisper. "They are +afraid of the Dead."</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid of them!" said Fire, frisking about. "Time was when I +used to burn them; that was much more amusing than nowadays."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I feel I am going to turn," wailed Milk.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," said the Dog, trembling in every limb, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> "but if you +run away.... I shall run away too ... and with the greatest +pleasure...."</p> + +<p>The Cat sat pulling at her whiskers:</p> + +<p>"I know what's what," she said, in her usual mysterious way.</p> + +<p>"Be quiet," said Light. "The Fairy gave strict orders. You are all to +stay with me, at the gate of the graveyard; the Children are to go in +alone."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl felt anything but pleased. He asked:</p> + +<p>"Aren't you coming with us?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Light. "The time for that has not arrived. Light cannot yet +enter among the Dead. Besides, there is nothing to fear. I shall not +be far away; and those who love me and whom I love always find me +again...."</p> + +<p>She had not finished speaking, when everything around the Children +changed. The wonderful temple, the dazzling flowers, the splendid +gardens vanished to make way for a poor little country cemetery, which +lay in the soft moonlight. Near the Children were a number of graves, +grassy mounds, wooden crosses and tombstones. Tyltyl and Mytyl were +seized with terror and hugged each other:</p> + +<p>"I am frightened!" said Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"I am never frightened," stammered Tyltyl, who was shaking with fear, +but did not like to say so. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I say," asked Mytyl, "are the Dead wicked?"</p> + +<p>"Why, no," said Tyltyl, "they're not alive!..."</p> + +<p>"Have you ever seen one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, once, long ago, when I was very young...."</p> + +<p>"What was it like?"</p> + +<p>"Quite white, very still and very cold; and it didn't talk...."</p> + +<p>"Are we going to see them?"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl shuddered at this question and made an unsuccessful effort to +steady his voice as he answered:</p> + +<p>"Why, of course, Light said so!"</p> + +<p>"Where are the Dead?" asked Mytyl.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl cast a frightened look around him, for the Children had not +dared to stir since they were alone:</p> + +<p>"The Dead are here," he said, "under the grass or under those big +stones."</p> + +<p>"Are those the doors of their houses?" asked Mytyl, pointing to the +tombstones.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Do they go out when it's fine?"</p> + +<p>"They can only go out at night."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because they are in their night-shirts."</p> + +<p>"Do they go out also when it rains?" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When it rains, they stay at home."</p> + +<p>"Is it nice in their homes?"</p> + +<p>"They say it's very cramped."</p> + +<p>"Have they any little children?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, they have all those who die."</p> + +<p>"And what do they live on?"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl stopped to think, before answering. As Mytyl's big brother, he +felt it his duty to know everything; but her questions often puzzled +him. Then he reflected that, as the Dead live under ground, they can +hardly eat anything that is above it; and so he answered very +positively:</p> + +<p>"They eat roots!"</p> + +<p>Mytyl was quite satisfied and returned to the great question that was +occupying her little mind:</p> + +<p>"Shall we see them?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course," said Tyltyl, "we see everything when I turn the diamond."</p> + +<p>"And what will they say?"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl began to grow impatient:</p> + +<p>"They will say nothing, as they don't talk."</p> + +<p>"Why don't they talk?" asked Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"Because they have nothing to say," said Tyltyl, more cross and +perplexed than ever.</p> + +<p>"Why have they nothing to say?" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> + +<p>This time, the little big brother lost all patience. He shrugged his +shoulders, gave Mytyl a push and shouted angrily:</p> + +<p>"You're a nuisance!..."</p> + +<p>Mytyl was greatly upset and confused. She sucked her thumb and +resolved to hold her tongue for ever after, as she had been so badly +treated! But a breath of wind made the leaves of the trees whisper and +suddenly recalled the Children to their fears and their sense of +loneliness. They hugged each other tight and began to talk again, so +as not to hear the horrible silence:</p> + +<p>"When will you turn the diamond?" asked Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"You heard Light say that I was to wait until midnight, because that +disturbs them less; it is when they come out to take the air...."</p> + +<p>"Isn't it midnight yet...."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl turned round, saw the church clock and hardly had the strength +to answer, for the hands were just upon the hour:</p> + +<p>"Listen," he stammered, "listen.... It is just going to strike.... +There!... Do you hear?..."</p> + +<p>And the clock struck twelve.</p> + +<p>Then Mytyl, frightened out of her life, began to stamp her feet and +utter piercing screams: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I want to go away!... I want to go away!..."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl, though stiff with fright, was able to say:</p> + +<p>"Not now.... I am going to turn the diamond...."</p> + +<p>"No, no, no!" cried Mytyl. "I am so frightened, little brother!... +Don't do it!... I want to go away!..."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl vainly tried to lift his hand: he could not reach the diamond +with Mytyl clinging to him, hanging with all her weight on her +brother's arm and screaming at the top of her voice:</p> + +<p>"I don't want to see the Dead!... They will be awful!... I can't +possibly!... I am much too frightened!..."</p> + +<p>Poor Tyltyl was quite as much terrified as Mytyl, but at each trial, +his will and courage were becoming greater; he was learning to master +himself; and nothing could induce him to fail in his mission. The +eleventh stroke rang out.</p> + +<p>"The hour is passing!" he exclaimed. "It is time!"</p> + +<p>And releasing himself resolutely from Mytyl's arms, he turned the +diamond....</p> + +<p>A moment of terrible silence followed for the poor little children. +Then they saw the crosses totter, the mounds open, the slabs rise +up....</p> + +<p>Mytyl hid her face against Tyltyl's chest:</p> + +<p>"They're coming out!" she cried. "They're there!... They're +there!..." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>The agony was more than the plucky little fellow could endure. He shut +his eyes and only kept himself from fainting by leaning against a tree +beside him. He remained like that for a minute that seemed to him like +a century, not daring to move, not daring to breathe. Then he heard +birds singing; a warm and scented breeze fanned his face; and, on his +hands, on his neck, he felt the soft heat of the balmy summer sun. Now +quite reassured, but unable to believe in so great a miracle, he +opened his eyes and at once began to shout with happiness and +admiration.</p> + +<p>From all the open tombs came thousands of splendid flowers. They +spread everywhere, on the paths, on the trees, on the grass; and they +went up and up until it seemed that they would touch the sky. They +were great full-blown roses, showing their hearts, wonderful golden +hearts from which came the hot, bright rays which had wrapped Tyltyl +in that summer warmth. Round the roses, birds sang and bees buzzed +gaily.</p> + +<p>"I can't believe it! It's not possible!" said Tyltyl. "What has become +of the tombs and the stone crosses?"</p> + +<p>Dazzled and bewildered, the two children walked hand in hand through +the graveyard, of which not a trace remained, for there was nothing +but a wonderful garden on every side. They were as glad and happy as +could be, after +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> + their terrible fright. They had thought that ugly +skeletons would rise from the earth and run after them, pulling horrid +faces; they had imagined all sorts of awful things. And now, in the +presence of the truth, they saw that all that they had been told was a +great big story and that Death does not exist. They saw that there are +no Dead and that Life goes on always, always, but under fresh forms. +The fading rose sheds its pollen, which gives birth to other roses, +and its scattered petals scent the air. The fruits come when the +blossoms fall from the trees; and the dingy, hairy caterpillar turns +into a brilliant butterfly. Nothing perishes ... there are only +changes....</p> + +<p>Beautiful birds circled all round Tyltyl and Mytyl. There were no blue +ones among them, but the two Children were so glad of their discovery +that they asked for nothing more. Astonished and delighted, they kept +on repeating:</p> + +<p>"There are no Dead!... There are no Dead!..." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>THE FOREST</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">As</span> soon as Tyltyl and Mytyl were in bed, Light kissed them and faded +away at once, so as not to disturb their sleep with the rays that +always streamed from her beautiful self.</p> + +<p>It must have been about midnight, when Tyltyl, who was dreaming of the +little Blue Children, felt a soft velvet paw pass to and fro over his +face. He was surprised and sat up in bed in a bit of a fright; but he +was soon reassured when he saw his friend Tylette's glowing eyes +glittering in the dark.</p> + +<p>"Hush!" said the Cat in his ear. "Hush! Don't wake anybody. If we can +arrange to slip out without being seen, we shall catch the Blue Bird +to-night. I have risked my life, O my dearest master, in preparing a +plan which will certainly lead us to victory!"</p> + +<p>"But," said the boy, kissing Tylette, "Light would be so glad to help +us ... and besides I should be ashamed to disobey her...." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If you tell her," said the Cat, sharply, "all is lost, believe me. Do +as I say; and the day is ours."</p> + +<p>As she spoke these words, she hastened to dress him and also Mytyl, +who had heard a noise and was asking to go with them.</p> + +<p>"You don't understand," groaned Tyltyl. "You are too small: you don't +know what a wicked thing we are doing...."</p> + +<p>But the treacherous Cat answered all his arguments, saying that the +reason why he had not found the Blue Bird so far was just the fault of +Light, who always brought brightness with her. Let the Children only +go hunting by themselves, in the dark, and they would soon find all +the Blue Birds that make men's happiness. The traitress displayed such +cleverness that, before long, Tyltyl's disobedience became a very fine +thing in his own eyes. Each of Tylette's words provided a good excuse +for his action or adorned it with a generous thought. He was too weak +to set his will against trickery, allowed himself to be persuaded and +walked out of the temple with a firm and cheerful step. Poor little +fellow: if he could only have foreseen the terrible trap that awaited +him!</p> + +<p>Our three companions set out across the fields in the white light of +the moon. The Cat seemed greatly excited, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> + did nothing but talk and +went so fast that the children were hardly able to keep up with her:</p> + +<p>"This time," she declared, "we shall have the Blue Bird, I am sure of +it! I asked all the Trees in the very oldest forest; they know him, +because he hides among them. Then, in order to have everybody there, I +sent the Rabbit to beat the assembly and call the principal Animals in +the country."</p> + +<p>They reached the edge of the dark forest in an hour's time. Then, at a +turn in the road, they saw, in the distance, some one who seemed to be +hurrying towards them. Tylette arched her back: she felt that it was +her old time enemy. She quivered with rage: was he once more going to +thwart her plans? Had he guessed her secret? Was he coming, at the +last moment, to save the Children's lives?</p> + +<p>She leaned over to Tyltyl and whispered to him, in her most honeyed +voice:</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to say it is our worthy friend the Dog. It is a thousand +pities, because his presence will make us fail in our object. He is on +the worst of terms with everybody, even the Trees. Do tell him to go +back!"</p> + +<p>"Go away, you ugly thing!" said Tyltyl, shaking his fist at the Dog.</p> + +<p>Dear old faithful Tylô, who had come because he suspected the Cat's +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +plans, was much hurt by these hard words. He was ready to cry, was +still out of breath from running and could think of nothing to say.</p> + +<p>"Go away, I tell you!" said Tyltyl again. "We don't want you here and +there's an end of it.... You're a nuisance, there!..."</p> + +<p>The Dog was an obedient animal and, at any other time, he would have +gone; but his affection told him what a serious business it was and he +stood stock still.</p> + +<p>"Do you allow this disobedience?" said the Cat to Tyltyl, in a +whisper. "Hit him with your stick."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl beat the Dog, as the Cat suggested:</p> + +<p>"There, that will teach you to be more obedient!" he said.</p> + +<p>The poor Dog howled at receiving the blows; but there was no limit to +his self-sacrifice. He went up to his young master pluckily and, +taking him in his arms, cried:</p> + +<p>"I must kiss you now you've beaten me!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl, who was a good-hearted little fellow, did not know what to do; +and the Cat swore between her teeth like a wild beast. Fortunately, +dear little Mytyl interfered on our friend's behalf:</p> + +<p>"No, no; I want him to stay," she pleaded. "I'm frightened when Tylô's +not with us."</p> + +<p>Time was short and they had to come to a decision. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll find some other way to get rid of the idiot!" thought the Cat. +And, turning to the Dog, she said, in her most gracious manner, "We +shall be <i>so</i> pleased if you will join us!"</p> + +<p>As they entered the great forest, the Children stuck close together, +with the Cat and the Dog on either side of them. They were awed by the +silence and the darkness and they felt much relieved when the Cat +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Here we are! Turn the diamond!"</p> + +<p>Then the light spread around them and showed them a wonderful sight. +They were standing in the middle of a large round space in the heart +of the forest, where all the old, old Trees seemed to reach up to the +sky. Wide avenues formed a white star amidst the dark green of the +wood. Everything was peaceful and still; but suddenly a strange shiver +ran through the foliage; the branches moved and stretched like human +arms; the roots raised the earth that covered them, came together, +took the shapes of legs and feet and stood on the ground; a tremendous +crash rang through the air; the trunks of the Trees burst open and +each of them let out its soul, which made its appearance like a funny +human figure.</p> + +<p>Some stepped slowly from their trunks; others came out with a jump; +and all of them gathered inquisitively round our friends. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + +<p>The talkative Poplar began to chatter like a magpie:</p> + +<p>"Little Men! We shall be able to talk to them! We have done with +silence!... Where do they come from?... Who are they?"</p> + +<p>And so he rattled on.</p> + +<p>The Lime-tree, who was a jolly, fat fellow, came up calmly, smoking +his pipe; the conceited and dandified Chestnut-tree screwed his glass +into his eye to stare at the Children. He wore a coat of green silk +embroidered with pink and white flowers. He thought the little ones +too poor-looking and turned away in derision.</p> + +<p>"He thinks he's everybody, since he has taken to living in town! He +despises us!" sneered the Poplar, who was jealous of him.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" wept the Willow, a wretched little stunted +fellow, who came clattering along in a pair of wooden shoes too big +for him. "They have come to cut off my head and arms for firewood!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl could not believe his eyes. He never stopped asking the Cat +questions:</p> + +<p>"Who's this?... Who's that?..."</p> + +<p>And Tylette introduced the soul of each Tree to him.</p> + +<p>There was the Elm, who was a sort of short-winded, paunchy, crabby +gnome; the Beech, an elegant, sprightly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> + person; the Birch, who looked +like the ghosts in the Palace of Night, with his white flowing +garments and his restless gestures. The tallest figure was the +Fir-tree: Tyltyl found it very difficult to see his face perched right +at the top of his long, thin body; but he looked gentle and sad, +whereas the Cypress, who stood near him, dressed all in black, +frightened Tyltyl terribly.</p> + +<p>However, so far nothing very dreadful had happened. The Trees, +delighted at being able to talk, were all chattering together; and our +young friend was simply going to ask them where the Blue Bird was +hidden, when, all of a sudden, silence reigned. The Trees bowed +respectfully and stood aside to make way for an immensely old Tree, +dressed in a long gown embroidered with moss and lichen. He leaned +with one hand on a stick and with the other on a young Oak Sapling who +acted as his guide, for the Old Oak was blind. His long white beard +streamed in the wind.</p> + +<p>"It's the King!" said Tyltyl to himself, when he saw his mistletoe +crown. "I will ask him the secret of the forest."</p> + +<p>And he was just going up to him, when he stopped, seized with surprise +and joy: there sat the Blue Bird before him, perched on the old Oak's +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"He has the Blue Bird!" cried the boy, gleefully. "Quick! Quick! Give +him to me!" +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Silence! Hold your tongue!" said the greatly shocked Trees.</p> + +<p>"Take off your hat, Tyltyl," said the Cat. "It's the Oak!"</p> + +<p>The poor Child at once obeyed with a smile; he did not understand the +danger that threatened him and he did not hesitate to answer, "Yes, +Sir," when the Oak asked him if he was Tyl the woodcutter's son.</p> + +<p>Then the Oak, trembling with rage, began to lay a terrible charge +against Daddy Tyl:</p> + +<p>"In my family alone," he said, "your father has put to death six +hundred of my sons, four hundred and seventy-five uncles and aunts, +twelve hundred cousins of both sexes, three hundred and eighty +daughters-in-law and twelve thousand great-grandsons!"</p> + +<p>No doubt his anger made him exaggerate a little; but Tyltyl listened +without protest and said, very politely:</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, Sir, for disturbing you.... The Cat said that you +would tell us where the Blue Bird is."</p> + +<p>The Oak was too old not to know all there was to know about Men and +Animals. He smiled in his beard when he guessed the trap laid by the +Cat and he felt very glad at it, for he had long wished to revenge the +whole forest for the slavery to which Man had subjected it. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It's for the Fairy Bérylune's little girl, who is very ill," the boy +continued.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" said the Oak, silencing him. "I do not hear the Animals.... +Where are they?... All this concerns them as much as us.... We, the +Trees, must not assume the responsibility alone for the grave measures +that have become necessary."</p> + +<p>"Here they come!" said the Fir-tree, looking over the top of the other +Trees. "They are following the Rabbit.... I can see the souls of the +Horse, the Bull, the Ox, the Cow, the Wolf, the Sheep, the Pig, the +Goat, and the Bear...."</p> + +<p>All the Animals now arrived. They walked on their hind-legs and were +dressed like human beings. They solemnly took up their positions in a +circle among the Trees, all except the frivolous Goat, who began to +skip down the avenues, and the Pig, who hoped to find some glorious +truffles among the roots that had newly left the ground.</p> + +<p>"Are all here present?" asked the Oak.</p> + +<p>"The Hen could not leave her eggs," said the Rabbit, "the Hare was out +for a run, the Stag has pains in his horns and his corns, the Fox is +ill—here is the doctor's certificate—the Goose did not understand +and the Turkey flew into a passion...." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Look!" whispered Tyltyl to Mytyl. "Aren't they funny? They are just +like the rich children's fine toys in the windows at Christmas-time."</p> + +<p>The Rabbit especially made them laugh, with his cocked hat over his +big ears, his blue, embroidered coat and his drum slung in front of +him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the Oak was explaining the situation to his brothers the +Trees and to the Animals. Treacherous Tylette had been quite right in +reckoning on their hatred.</p> + +<p>"The child you see before you," said the Oak, "thanks to a talisman +stolen from the powers of Earth, is able to take possession of our +Blue Bird and thus to snatch from us the secret which we have kept +since the origin of life.... Now we know enough of Man to entertain no +doubt as to the fate which he reserves for us, once he is in +possession of this secret.... Any hesitation would be both foolish and +criminal.... It is a serious moment; the child must be done away with +before it is too late...."</p> + +<p>"What is he saying?" asked Tyltyl, who could not make out what the old +Tree was driving at.</p> + +<p>The Dog was prowling round the Oak and now showed his fangs:</p> + +<p>"Do you see my teeth, you old cripple?" he growled.</p> + +<p>"He is insulting the Oak!" said the Beech indignantly. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Drive him out!" shouted the Oak, angrily. "He's a traitor!"</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" whispered the Cat to Tyltyl. "I will arrange +things.... But send him away."</p> + +<p>"Will you be off!" said Tyltyl to the Dog.</p> + +<p>"Do let me worry the gouty old beggar's moss slippers!" begged Tylô.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl tried in vain to prevent him. The rage of Tylô, who understood +the danger, knew no bounds; and he would have succeeded in saving his +master, if the Cat had not thought of calling in the Ivy, who till +then had kept his distance. The Dog pranced about like a madman, +abusing everybody. He railed at the Ivy:</p> + +<p>"Come on, if you dare, you old ball of twine, you!"</p> + +<p>The onlookers growled; the Oak was pale with fury at seeing his +authority denied; the Trees and the Animals were indignant, but, as +they were cowards, not one of them dared protest; and the Dog would +have settled all of them, if he had gone on with his rebellion. But +Tyltyl threatened him harshly; and, suddenly yielding to his docile +instincts, Tylô lay down at his master's feet. Thus it is that our +finest virtues are treated as faults, when we exercise them without +discrimination.</p> + +<p>From that moment, the Children were lost. The Ivy +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> gagged and bound +the poor Dog, who was then taken behind the Chestnut-tree and tied to +his biggest root.</p> + +<p>"Now," cried the Oak, in a voice of thunder, "we can take counsel +quietly.... This is the first time that it is given us to judge Man! I +do not think that, after the monstrous injustice which we have +suffered, there can remain the least doubt as to the sentence that +awaits him...."</p> + +<p>One cry rang from every throat:</p> + +<p>"Death! Death! Death!"</p> + +<p>The poor Children did not at first understand their doom, for the +Trees and Animals, who were more accustomed to talking their own +special language, did not speak very distinctly; and, besides, the +innocent Children could never imagine such cruelty!</p> + +<p>"What is the matter with them?" asked the boy. "Are they displeased?"</p> + +<p>"Don't be alarmed," said the Cat. "They are a little annoyed because +Spring is late...."</p> + +<p>And she went on talking into Tyltyl's ear, to divert his attention +from what was happening.</p> + +<p>While the trusting lad was listening to her fibs, the others were +discussing which form of execution would be the most practical and the +least dangerous. The Bull suggested a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> + good butt with the horns; the +Beech offered his highest branch to hang the little Children on; and +the Ivy was already preparing a slip-knot! The Fir-tree was willing to +give the four planks for the coffin and the Cypress the perpetual +grant of a tomb.</p> + +<p>"By far the simplest way," whispered the Willow, "would be to drown +them in one of my rivers."</p> + +<p>And the Pig grunted between his teeth:</p> + +<p>"In my opinion, the great thing would be to eat the little girl.... +She ought to be very tender...."</p> + +<p>"Silence!" roared the Oak. "What we have to decide is which of us +shall have the honour of striking the first blow!"</p> + +<p>"That honour falls to you, our King!" said the Fir-tree.</p> + +<p>"Alas, I am too old!" replied the Oak. "I am blind and infirm! To you, +my evergreen brother, be the glory, in my place, of striking the +decisive blow that shall set us free."</p> + +<p>But the Fir-tree declined the honour on the pretext that he was +already to have the pleasure of burying the two victims and that he +was afraid of rousing jealousy. He suggested the Beech, as owning the +best club.</p> + +<p>"It is out of the question," said the Beech. "You know I am +worm-eaten! Ask the Elm and the Cypress."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Elm began to moan and groan: a mole had twisted his +great toe the night before and he could +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> + hardly stand upright; and the +Cypress excused himself and so did the Poplar, who declared that he +was ill and shivering with fever. Then the Oak's indignation flared +up:</p> + +<p>"You are afraid of Man!" he exclaimed. "Even those unprotected and +unarmed little Children inspire you with terror!... Well, I shall go +forth alone, old and shaky and blind as I am, against the hereditary +enemy!... Where is he?..."</p> + +<p>And groping his way with his stick, he moved towards Tyltyl, growling +as he went.</p> + +<p>Our poor little friend had been very much afraid during the last few +minutes. The Cat had left him suddenly, saying that she wanted to +smooth down the excitement, and had not come back. Mytyl nestled +trembling against him; and he felt very lonely, very unhappy among +those dreadful people whose anger he was beginning to notice. When he +saw the Oak marching on him with a threatening air, he drew his +pocket-knife and defied him like a man:</p> + +<p>"Is it I he's after, that old one, with his big stick?" he cried.</p> + +<p>But, at the sight of the knife, Man's irresistible weapon, all the +Trees shook with fright and rushed at the Oak to hold him back. There +was a struggle; and the old King, conquered by the weight of years, +threw away his stick: +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shame on us!" he shouted. "Shame on us! Let the Animals deliver +us!..."</p> + +<p>The Animals were only waiting for this! All wanted to be revenged +together. Fortunately, their very eagerness caused a scrimmage which +delayed the murder of the dear little ones.</p> + +<p>Mytyl uttered piercing screams.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," said Tyltyl, doing his best to protect her. "I have +my knife."</p> + +<p>"The little chap means to die game!" said the Cock.</p> + +<p>"That's the one I shall eat first," said the Pig, eyeing Mytyl +greedily.</p> + +<p>"What have I done to all of you?" asked Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all, my little man," said the Sheep. "Eaten my little +brother, my two sisters, my three uncles, my aunt, my grandpapa and my +grandmamma.... Wait, wait, when you're down, you shall see that I have +teeth also...."</p> + +<p>And so the Sheep and the Horse, who were the greatest cowards, waited +for the little fellow to be knocked down before they dared take their +share in the spoil.</p> + +<p>While they were talking, the Wolf and the Bear treacherously attacked +Tyltyl from behind and pushed him over. It was an awful moment. All +the Animals, seeing him on the ground, tried to get at him. The boy +raised himself to +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> + one knee and brandished his knife. Mytyl uttered +yells of distress; and, to crown all, it suddenly became dark.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl called wildly for assistance:</p> + +<p>"Help! Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... To the rescue!... Where is Tylette?... +Come! Come!..."</p> + +<p>The Cat's voice was heard in the distance, where she was craftily +keeping out of sight:</p> + +<p>"I can't come!" she whined. "I'm wounded!"</p> + +<p>All this time, plucky little Tyltyl was defending himself as best he +could, but he was alone against all of them, felt that he was going to +be killed and, in a faltering voice, cried once more:</p> + +<p>"Help!... Tylô! Tylô!... I can't hold out!... There are too many of +them!... The Bear!... The Pig! The Wolf! The Fir-tree! The Beech!... +Tylô! Tylô! Tylô!..."</p> + +<p>Then the Dog came leaping along, dragging his broken bonds and +elbowing his way through the Trees and Animals and flung himself +before his master, whom he defended furiously:</p> + +<p>"Here, my little god! Don't be afraid! Have at them! I know how to use +my teeth!"</p> + +<p>All the Trees and Animals raised a loud outcry:</p> + +<p>"Renegade!... Idiot!... Traitor!... Felon!... +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> + Simpleton!... Sneak!... +Leave him!... He's a dead man!... Come over to us!..."</p> + +<p>The Dog fought on:</p> + +<p>"Never! Never!... I alone against all of you!... Never! Never!... True +to the gods, to the best, to the greatest!... Take care, my little +master, here's the Bear!... Look out for the Bull!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl vainly tried to defend himself:</p> + +<p>"I'm done for, Tylô! It was a blow from the Elm! My hand's bleeding!" +And he dropped to the ground. "No, I can hold out no longer!"</p> + +<p>"They are coming!" said the Dog. "I hear somebody!... We are saved! It +is Light!... Saved! Saved!... See, they're afraid, they're +retreating!... Saved, my little king!..."</p> + +<p>And, sure enough, Light was coming towards them; and with her the dawn +rose over the forest, which became light as day.</p> + +<p>"What is it?... What has happened?" she asked, quite alarmed at the +sight of the little ones and their dear Tylô covered with wounds and +bruises. "Why, my poor boy, didn't you know? Turn the diamond +quickly!"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl hastened to obey; and immediately the souls of all the Trees +rushed back into their trunks, which closed +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> upon them. The souls of +the Animals also disappeared; and there was nothing to be seen but a +cow and a sheep browsing peacefully in the distance. The forest became +harmless once more; and Tyltyl looked around him in amazement:</p> + +<p>"No matter," he said, "but for the Dog ... and if I hadn't had my +knife!..."</p> + +<p>Light thought that he had been punished enough and did not scold him. +Besides, she was very much upset by the horrible danger which he had +run.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl, Mytyl and the Dog, glad to meet again safe and sound, +exchanged wild kisses. They laughingly counted their wounds, which +were not very serious.</p> + +<p>Tylette was the only one to make a fuss:</p> + +<p>"The Dog's broken my paw!" she mewed.</p> + +<p>Tylô felt as if he could have made a mouthful of her:</p> + +<p>"Never mind!" he said. "It'll keep!"</p> + +<p>"Leave her alone, will you, you ugly beast?" said Mytyl.</p> + +<p>Our friends went back to the Temple of Light to rest after their +adventure. Tyltyl, repenting of his disobedience, dared not even +mention the Blue Bird of which he had caught a glimpse; and Light said +to the Children, gently:</p> + +<p>"Let this teach you, dears, that Man is all alone against all in this +world. Never forget that."</p> + +<p><a name="page154pic" id="page154pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus180.jpg" width="468" height="689" +alt="A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her eyes, flooding all around her" +title="A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her eyes, flooding all around her" /> +<br /><span class="caption">A regular waterfall of tears came gushing<br /> from her eyes, flooding all around her</span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>THE LEAVE-TAKING</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Weeks</span> and months had passed since the children's departure on their +journey; and the hour of separation was at hand. Light had been very +sad lately; she had counted the days in sorrow, without a word to the +Animals and Things, who had no idea of the misfortune that threatened +them.</p> + +<p>On the day when we see them for the last time, they were all out in +the gardens of the temple. Light stood watching them from a marble +terrace, with Tyltyl and Mytyl sleeping by her side. Much had happened +in the past twelve months; but the life of the Animals and Things, +which had no intelligence to guide it, had made no progress, on the +contrary. Bread had eaten so much that he was now not able to walk: +Milk, devoted as ever, dragged him along in a Bath chair. Fire's nasty +temper had made him quarrel with everybody and he had become very +lonely and unhappy in consequence. Water, who had no will of her own, +had ended by yielding to Sugar's sweet entreaties: they were now +married; and Sugar presented a most piteous +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> sight. The poor fellow +was reduced to a shadow of his former self, shrank visibly day by day +and was sillier than ever, while Water, in marrying, had lost her +principal charm, her simplicity. The Cat had remained the liar that +she always was; and our dear friend Tylô had never been able to +overcome his hatred for her.</p> + +<p>"Poor things!" thought Light, with a sigh. "They have not gained much +by receiving the benefit of life! They have travelled and seen nothing +of all the wonders that surrounded them in my peaceful temple; they +were either quarrelling with one another or over-eating themselves +until they fell ill. They were too foolish to enjoy their happiness +and they will recognize it for the first time presently, when they are +about to lose it...."</p> + +<p>At that moment, a pretty dove, with silver wings, alighted on her +knees. It wore an emerald collar round its neck, with a note fastened +to the clasp. The dove was the Fairy Bérylune's messenger. Light +opened the letter and read these few words:</p> + +<p>"Remember that the year is over."</p> + +<p>Then Light stood up, waved her wand and everything disappeared from +sight. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> + +<p>A few seconds later, the whole company were gathered together outside +a high wall with a small door in it. The first rays of the dawn were +gilding the tree-tops. Tyltyl and Mytyl, whom Light was fondly +supporting with her arms, woke up, rubbed their eyes and looked around +them in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What?" said Light to Tyltyl. "Don't you know that wall and that +little door?"</p> + +<p>The sleepy boy shook his head: he remembered nothing. Then Light +assisted his memory:</p> + +<p>"The wall," she said, "surrounds a house which we left one evening +just a year ago to-day...."</p> + +<p>"Just a year ago?... Why, then...." And, clapping his hands with glee, +Tyltyl ran to the door. "We must be near Mummy!... I want to kiss her +at once, at once, at once!"</p> + +<p>But Light stopped him. It was too early, she said: Mummy and Daddy +were still asleep and he must not wake them with a start.</p> + +<p>"Besides," she added, "the door will not open till the hour strikes."</p> + +<p>"What hour?" asked the boy.</p> + +<p>"The hour of separation," Light answered, sadly. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What!" said Tyltyl, in great distress. "Are you leaving us?"</p> + +<p>"I must," said Light. "The year is past. The Fairy will come back and +ask you for the Blue Bird."</p> + +<p>"But I haven't got the Blue Bird!" cried Tyltyl. "The one of the Land +of Memory turned quite black, the one of the Future flew away, the +Night's are dead, those in the Graveyard were not blue and I could not +catch the one in the Forest!... Will the Fairy be angry?... What will +she say?..."</p> + +<p>"Never mind, dear," said Light. "You did your best. And, though you +did not find the Blue Bird, you deserved to do so, for the good-will, +pluck and courage which you showed."</p> + +<p>Light's face beamed with happiness as she spoke these words, for she +knew that to deserve to find the Blue Bird was very much the same +thing as finding it; but she was not allowed to say this, for it was a +beautiful mystery, which Tyltyl had to solve for himself. She turned +to the Animals and Things, who stood weeping in a corner, and told +them to come and kiss the Children.</p> + +<p>Bread at once put down the cage at Tyltyl's feet and began to make a +speech:</p> + +<p>"In the name of all, I crave permission...." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You sha'n't have mine!" cried Fire.</p> + +<p>"Order!" cried Water.</p> + +<p>"We still have tongues of our own!" roared Fire.</p> + +<p>"Yes! Yes!" screamed Sugar, who, knowing that his end was at hand, +kept kissing Water and melting before the others' eyes.</p> + +<p>Poor Bread in vain tried to make his voice heard above the din. Light +had to interfere and command silence. Then Bread spoke his last words:</p> + +<p>"I am leaving you," he said, between his sobs. "I am leaving you, my +dear Children, and you will no longer see me in my living form.... +Your eyes are about to close to the invisible life of Things; but I +shall be always there, in the bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table, +beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, the most faithful +companion, the oldest friend of Man...."</p> + +<p>"Well, and what about me?" shouted Fire, angrily.</p> + +<p>"Silence!" said Light. "The hour is passing.... Be quick and say +good-bye to the Children...."</p> + +<p>Fire rushed forward, took hold of the Children, one after the other, +and kissed them so violently that they screamed with pain:</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!... He's burning me!..."</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!... He's scorched my nose!..." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Let me kiss the place and make it well," said Water, going up to the +children gently.</p> + +<p>This gave Fire his chance:</p> + +<p>"Take care," he said, "you'll get wet."</p> + +<p>"I am loving and gentle," said Water. "I am kind to human beings...."</p> + +<p>"What about those you drown?" asked Fire.</p> + +<p>But Water pretended not to hear:</p> + +<p>"Love the wells, listen to the brooks," she said. "I shall always be +there. When you sit down in the evening, beside the springs, try to +understand what they are trying to say...."</p> + +<p>Then she had to break off, for a regular waterfall of tears came +gushing from her eyes, flooding all around her. However, she resumed:</p> + +<p>"Think of me when you see the water-bottle.... You will find me also +in the ewer, the watering-can, the cistern and the tap...."</p> + +<p>Then Sugar came up, with a limping walk, for he could hardly stand on +his feet. He uttered a few words of sorrow, in an affected voice and +then stopped, for tears, he said, were not in harmony with his +temperament.</p> + +<p>"Humbug!" cried Bread.</p> + +<p>"Sugar-plum! Lollipop! Caramel!" yelped Fire.</p> + +<p><a name="page162pic" id="page162pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter5"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus188.jpg" width="450" height="643" +alt="Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks" +title="Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks" /> +<br /><span class="caption">Closely pursued by the Dog, who<br /> overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks</span> +</div><p> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p class="top2">And all began to laugh, except the two children, who were very sad:</p> + +<p>"Where are Tylette and Tylô gone to?" asked our hero.</p> + +<p>At that moment, the Cat came running up, in a terrible state: her hair +was on end and dishevelled, her clothes were torn and she was holding +a handkerchief to her cheek, as though she had the tooth-ache. She +uttered terrible groans and was closely pursued by the Dog, who +overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks. The others rushed in +between them to separate them, but the two enemies continued to insult +and glare at each other. The Cat accused the Dog of pulling her tail +and putting tin tacks in her food and beating her. The Dog simply +growled and denied none of his actions:</p> + +<p>"You've had some," he kept saying, "you've had some and you're going +to have some more!"</p> + +<p>But, suddenly, he stopped and, as he was panting with excitement, it +could be seen that his tongue turned quite white: Light had told him +to kiss the Children for the last time.</p> + +<p>"For the last time?" stammered poor Tylô. "Are we to part from these +poor Children?"</p> + +<p>His grief was such that he was incapable of understanding anything. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Light. "The hour which you know of is at hand.... We are +going to return to silence...."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Dog, suddenly realizing his misfortune, began to utter +real howls of despair and fling himself upon the Children, whom he +loaded with mad and violent caresses:</p> + +<p>"No! No!" he cried. "I refuse!... I refuse!... I shall always talk!... +And I shall be very good.... You will keep me with you and I shall +learn to read and write and play dominoes!... And I shall always be +very clean.... And I shall never steal anything in the kitchen +again...."</p> + +<p>He went on his knees before the two Children, sobbing and entreating, +and, when Tyltyl, with his eyes full of tears, remained silent, dear +Tylô had a last magnificent idea: running up to the Cat, he offered, +with smiles that looked like grins, to kiss her. Tylette, who did not +possess his spirit of self-sacrifice, leaped back and took refuge by +Mytyl's side. Then Mytyl said, innocently:</p> + +<p>"You, Tylette, are the only one that hasn't kissed us yet."</p> + +<p>The Cat put on a mincing tone:</p> + +<p>"Children," said she, "I love you both as much as you deserve." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p> + +<p>There was a pause.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Light, "let me, in my turn, give you a last kiss...."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, she spread her veil round them as if she would have +wrapped them for the last time in her luminous might. Then she gave +them each a long and loving kiss. Tyltyl and Mytyl hung on to her +beseechingly:</p> + +<p>"No, no, no, Light!" they cried. "Stay here with us!... Daddy won't +mind.... We will tell Mummy how kind you have been.... Where will you +go all alone?"...</p> + +<p>"Not very far, my Children," said Light. "Over there to the Land of +the Silence of Things."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said Tyltyl. "I won't have you go...."</p> + +<p>But Light quieted them with a motherly gesture and said words to them +which they never forgot. Long after, when they were a grandfather and +grandmother in their turn, Tyltyl and Mytyl still remembered them and +used to repeat them to their grandchildren.</p> + +<p>Here are Light's touching words:</p> + +<p>"Listen, Tyltyl. Do not forget, child, that everything that you see in +this world has neither beginning nor end. If you keep this thought in +your heart and let it grow up with you, you will always, in all +circumstances, know what to say, what to do and what to hope for." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span></p> + +<p>And, when our two friends began to sob, she added, lovingly:</p> + +<p>"Do not cry, my dear little ones.... I have not a voice like Water; I +have only my brightness, which Man does not understand.... But I watch +over him to the end of his days.... Never forget that I am speaking to +you in every spreading moonbeam, in every twinkling star, in every +dawn that rises, in every lamp that is lit, in every good and bright +thought of your soul...."</p> + +<p>At that moment, the grandfather's clock in the cottage struck eight +o'clock. Light stopped for a moment and then, in a voice that grew +suddenly fainter, whispered:</p> + +<p>"Good-bye!... Good-bye!... The hour is striking!... Good-bye!"</p> + +<p>Her veil faded away, her smile became paler, her eyes closed, her form +vanished and, through their tears, the children saw nothing but a thin +ray of light dying away at their feet. Then they turned to the others +... but these had disappeared.... +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<hr /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>THE AWAKENING</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> grandfather's clock in Tyl the woodcutter's cottage had struck +eight; and his two little Children, Tyltyl and Mytyl, were still +asleep in their little beds. Mummy Tyl stood looking at them, with her +arms akimbo and her apron tucked up, laughing and scolding in the same +breath:</p> + +<p>"I can't let them go on sleeping till mid-day," she said. "Come, get +up, you little lazybones!"</p> + +<p>But it was no use shaking them, kissing them or pulling the +bed-clothes off them: they kept on falling back upon their pillows, +with their noses pointing at the ceiling, their mouths wide open, +their eyes shut and their cheeks all pink.</p> + +<p>At last, after receiving a gentle thump in the ribs, Tyltyl opened one +eye and murmured:</p> + +<p>"What?... Light?... Where are you?... No, no, don't go away...."</p> + +<p>"Light!" cried Mummy Tyl, laughing. "Why, of course, it's light.... +Has been for ever so long!... What's the matter with you?... You look +quite blinded...." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Mummy!... Mummy!" said Tyltyl, rubbing his eyes. "It's you!..."</p> + +<p>"Why, of course, it's I!... Why do you stare at me in that way?... Is +my nose turned upside down, by any chance?"</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was quite awake by this time and did not trouble to answer the +question. He was beside himself with delight! It was ages and ages +since he had seen his Mummy and he never tired of kissing her.</p> + +<p>Mummy Tyl began to be uneasy. What could the matter be? Had her boy +lost his senses? Here he was suddenly talking of a long journey in the +company of the Fairy and Water and Milk and Sugar and Fire and Bread +and Light! He made believe that he had been away a year!...</p> + +<p>"But you haven't left the room!" cried Mummy Tyl, who was now nearly +beside herself with fright. "I put you to bed last night and here you +are this morning! It's Christmas Day: don't you hear the bells in the +village?..."</p> + +<p>"Of course, it's Christmas Day," said Tyltyl, obstinately, "seeing +that I went away a year ago, on Christmas Eve!... You're not angry +with me?... Did you feel very sad?... And what did Daddy say?..." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come, you're still asleep!" said Mummy Tyl, trying to take comfort. +"You've been dreaming!... Get up and put on your breeches and your +little jacket...."</p> + +<p>"Hullo, I've got my shirt on!" said Tyltyl.</p> + +<p>And, leaping up, he knelt down on the bed and began to dress, while +his mother kept on looking at him with a scared face.</p> + +<p>The little boy rattled on:</p> + +<p>"Ask Mytyl, if you don't believe me.... Oh, we have had such +adventures!... We saw Grandad and Granny ... yes, in the Land of +Memory ... it was on our way. They are dead, but they are quite well, +aren't they, Mytyl?"</p> + +<p>And Mytyl, who was now beginning to wake up, joined her brother in +describing their visit to the grandparents and the fun which they had +had with their little brothers and sisters.</p> + +<p>This was too much for Mummy Tyl. She ran to the door of the cottage +and called with all her might to her husband, who was working on the +edge of the forest:</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" she cried. "I shall lose them as I lost the +others!... Do come!... Come quick...."</p> + +<p>Daddy Tyl soon entered the cottage, with his axe in his hand; he +listened to his wife's lamentations, while the two +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> Children told the +story of their adventures over again and asked him what he had done +during the year.</p> + +<p>"You see, you see!" said Mummy Tyl, crying. "They have lost their +heads, something will happen to them; run and fetch the doctor...."</p> + +<p>But the woodcutter was not the man to put himself out for such a +trifle. He kissed the little ones, calmly lit his pipe and declared +that they looked very well and that there was no hurry.</p> + +<p>At that moment, there came a knock at the door and the neighbour +walked in. She was a little old woman leaning on a stick and very much +like the Fairy Bérylune. The Children at once flung their arms around +her neck and capered round her, shouting merrily:</p> + +<p>"It's the Fairy Bérylune!"</p> + +<p>The neighbour, who was a little hard of hearing, paid no attention to +their cries and said to Mummy Tyl:</p> + +<p>"I have come to ask for a bit of fire for my Christmas stew.... It's +very chilly this morning.... Good-morning, children...."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Tyltyl had become a little thoughtful. No doubt, he was +glad to see the old Fairy again; but what would she say when she heard +that he had not the Blue +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> + Bird? He made up his mind like a man and +went up to her boldly:</p> + +<p>"Fairy Bérylune, I could not find the Blue Bird...."</p> + +<p>"What is he saying?" asked the neighbor, quite taken aback.</p> + +<p>Thereupon Mummy Tyl began to fret again:</p> + +<p>"Come, Tyltyl, don't you know Goody Berlingot?"</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, of course," said Tyltyl, looking the neighbor up and down. +"It's the Fairy Bérylune."</p> + +<p>"Béry ... what?" asked the neighbor.</p> + +<p>"Bérylune," answered Tyltyl, calmly.</p> + +<p>"Berlingot," said the neighbor. "You mean Berlingot."</p> + +<p>Tyltyl was a little put out by her positive way of talking; and he +answered:</p> + +<p>"Bérylune or Berlingot, as you please, ma'am, but I know what I'm +saying...."</p> + +<p>Daddy Tyl was beginning to have enough of it:</p> + +<p>"We must put a stop to this," he said. "I will give them a smack or +two."</p> + +<p>"Don't," said the neighbor; "it's not worth while. It's only a little +fit of dreaming; they must have been sleeping in the moonbeams.... My +little girl, who is very ill, is often like that...." +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mummy Tyl put aside her own anxiety for a moment and asked after the +health of Neighbor Berlingot's little girl.</p> + +<p>"She's only so-so," said the neighbor, shaking her head. "She can't +get up.... The doctor says it's her nerves.... I know what would cure +her, for all that. She was asking me for it only this morning, for her +Christmas present...."</p> + +<p>She hesitated a little, looked at Tyltyl with a sigh and added, in a +disheartened tone:</p> + +<p>"What can I do? It's a fancy she has...."</p> + +<p>The others looked at one another in silence: they knew what the +neighbor's words meant. Her little girl had long been saying that she +would get well if Tyltyl would only give her his dove; but he was so +fond of it that he refused to part with it....</p> + +<p>"Well," said Mummy Tyl to her son, "won't you give your bird to that +poor little thing? She has been dying to have it for ever so long!..."</p> + +<p>"My bird!" cried Tyltyl, slapping his forehead as though they had +spoken of something quite out of the way. "My bird!" he repeated. +"That's true, I was forgetting about him!... And the cage!... Mytyl, +do you see the cage?... It's the one which Bread carried.... Yes, yes, +it's the same one, there it is, there it is!"</p> + +<p><a name="page174pic" id="page174pic"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/illus200.jpg" width="500" height="454" +alt=""It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! +We have been miles and miles and miles and he was here all the time!"" +title=""It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! +We have been miles and miles and miles and he was here all the time!"" /> +<br /><span class="caption">"It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! +<br />We have been miles and miles and miles<br /> and he was here all the time!"</span> +</div><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p class="top2">Tyltyl would not believe his eyes. He took a chair, put it under the +cage and climbed on to it gaily, saying:</p> + +<p>"Of course, I'll give him to her, of course, I will!..."</p> + +<p>Then he stopped, in amazement:</p> + +<p>"Why, he's blue!" he said. "It's my dove, just the same, but he has +turned blue while I was away!"</p> + +<p>And our hero jumped down from the chair and began to skip for joy, +crying:</p> + +<p>"It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have been miles and miles +and miles and he was here all the time!... He was here, at home!... +Oh, but how wonderful!... Mytyl, do you see the bird? What would Light +say?... There, Madame Berlingot, take him quickly to your little +girl...."</p> + +<p>While he was talking, Mummy Tyl threw herself into her husband's arms +and moaned:</p> + +<p>"You see?... You see?... He's taken bad again.... He's wandering...."</p> + +<p>Meantime, Neighbor Berlingot beamed all over her face, clasped her +hands together and mumbled her thanks. When Tyltyl gave her the bird, +she could hardly believe her eyes. She hugged the boy in her arms and +wept with joy and gratitude:</p> + +<p>"Do you give it me?" she kept saying. "Do you give +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> it me like that, +straight away and for nothing?... Goodness, how happy she will be!... +I fly, I fly!... I will come back to tell you what she says...."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, go quickly," said Tyltyl, "for some of them change their +color!"</p> + +<p>Neighbour Berlingot ran out and Tyltyl shut the door after her. Then +he turned round on the threshold, looked at the walls of the cottage, +looked all around him and seemed wonderstruck:</p> + +<p>"Daddy, Mummy, what have you done to the house?" he asked. "It's just +as it was, but it's much prettier."</p> + +<p>His parents looked at each other in bewilderment; and the little boy +went on:</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, everything has been painted and made to look like new; +everything is clean and polished.... And look at the forest outside +the window!... How big and fine it is!... One would think it was quite +new!... How happy I feel here, oh, how happy I feel!"</p> + +<p>The worthy woodcutter and his wife could not make out what was coming +over their son; but you, my dear little readers, who have followed +Tyltyl and Mytyl through their beautiful dream, will have guessed what +it was that altered everything in our young hero's view.</p> + +<p>It was not for nothing that the Fairy, in his dream, had +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> given him a +talisman to open his eyes. He had learned to see the beauty of things +around him; he had passed through trials that had developed his +courage; while pursuing the Blue Bird, the Bird of Happiness that was +to bring happiness to the Fairy's little girl, he had become +open-handed and so good-natured that the mere thought of giving +pleasure to others filled his heart with joy. And, while travelling +through endless, wonderful, imaginary regions, his mind had opened out +to life.</p> + +<p>The boy was right, when he thought everything more beautiful, for, to +his richer and purer understanding, everything must needs seem +infinitely fairer than before.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Tyltyl continued his joyful inspection of the cottage. He +leaned over the bread-pan to speak a kind word to the Loaves; he +rushed at Tylô, who was sleeping in his basket, and congratulated him +on the good fight which he had made in the forest.</p> + +<p>Mytyl stooped down to stroke Tylette, who was snoozing by the stove, +and said:</p> + +<p>"Well, Tylette?... You know me, I see, but you have stopped talking."</p> + +<p>Then Tyltyl put his hand up to his forehead:</p> + +<p>"Hullo!" he cried. "The diamond's gone!... Who's taken my little green +hat?... Never mind, I don't want +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> + it any more!... Ah, there's Fire! +Good-morning, sir! He'll be crackling to make Water angry!" He ran to +the tap, turned it on and bent down over the water. "Good-morning, +Water, good-morning!... What does she say?... She still talks, but I +don't understand her as well as I did.... Oh, how happy I am, how +happy I am!..."</p> + +<p>"So am I, so am I!" cried Mytyl.</p> + +<p>And our two young friends took each other's hands and began to scamper +round the kitchen.</p> + +<p>Mummy Tyl felt a little relieved at seeing them so full of life and +spirits. Besides, Daddy Tyl was so calm and placid. He sat eating his +porridge and laughing:</p> + +<p>"You see, they are <i>playing</i> at being happy!" he said.</p> + +<p>Of course, the poor dear man did not know that a wonderful dream had +taught his little children not to play at being happy, but to <i>be</i> +happy, which is the greatest and most difficult of lessons.</p> + +<p>"I like Light best of all," said Tyltyl to Mytyl, standing on tip-toe +by the window. "You can see her over there, through the trees of the +forest. To-night, she will be in the lamp. Dear, oh, dear, how lovely +it all is and how glad I feel, how glad I...."</p> + +<p>He stopped and listened. Everybody lent an ear. They +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> heard laughter +and merry voices; and the sounds came nearer.</p> + +<p>"It's her voice!" cried Tyltyl. "Let me open the door!"</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, it was the little girl, with her mother, Neighbor +Berlingot.</p> + +<p>"Look at her," said Goody Berlingot, quite overcome with joy. "She can +run, she can dance, she can fly! It's a miracle! When she saw the +bird, she jumped, just like that...."</p> + +<p>And Goody Berlingot hopped from one leg to the other at the risk of +falling and breaking her long, hooked nose.</p> + +<p>The Children clapped their hands and everybody laughed.</p> + +<p>The little girl was there, in her long white night-dress, standing in +the middle of the kitchen, a little surprised to find herself on her +feet after so many months' illness. She smiled and pressed Tyltyl's +dove to her heart.</p> + +<p>Tyltyl looked first at the child and then at Mytyl:</p> + +<p>"Don't you think she's very like Light?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"She is much smaller," said Mytyl.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed!" said Tyltyl. "But she will grow!..."</p> + +<p>And the three Children tried to put a little food down the Bird's +beak, while the parents began to feel easier in their minds and looked +at them and smiled. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + +<p>Tyltyl was radiant. I will not conceal from you, my dear little +readers, that the Dove had hardly changed colour at all and that it +was joy and happiness that decked him with a magnificent bright blue +plumage in our hero's eyes. No matter! Tyltyl, without knowing it, had +discovered Light's great secret, which is <i>that we draw nearer to +happiness by trying to give it to others</i>.</p> + +<p>But now something happened. Everybody became excited, the Children +screamed, the parents threw up their arms and rushed to the open door: +the Bird had suddenly escaped! He was flying away as fast as he could.</p> + +<p>"My bird! My bird!" sobbed the little girl.</p> + +<p>But Tyltyl was the first to run to the staircase and he returned in +triumph:</p> + +<p>"It's all right!" he said. "Don't cry! He is still in the house and we +shall find him again."</p> + +<p>And he gave a kiss to the little girl, who was already smiling through +her tears:</p> + +<p>"You'll be sure to catch him again, won't you?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Trust me," replied our friend, confidentially. "I now know where he +is."</p> + +<p>You also, my dear little readers, now know where the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> Blue Bird is. +Dear Light revealed nothing to the woodcutter's Children, but she +showed them the road to happiness by teaching them to be good and kind +and generous.</p> + +<p>Suppose that, at the beginning of this story, she had said to them:</p> + +<p>"Go straight back home. The Blue Bird is there, in the humble cottage, +in the wicker cage, with your dear father and mother who love you."</p> + +<p>The Children would never have believed her:</p> + +<p>"What!" Tyltyl would have answered. "The Blue Bird, my dove? Nonsense: +my dove is grey!... Happiness, in the cottage? With Daddy and Mummy? +Oh, I say! There are no toys at home and it's awfully boring there: we +want to go ever so far and meet with tremendous adventures and have +all sorts of fun...."</p> + +<p>That is what he would have said; and he and Mytyl would have set out +in spite of everything, without listening to Light's advice, for the +most certain truths are good for nothing if we do not put them to the +test ourselves. It only takes a moment to tell a child all the wisdom +in the world, but our whole lives are not long enough to help us +understand it, because our own experience is our only light.</p> + +<p>Each of us must seek out happiness for himself; and he +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> has to take +endless pains and undergo many a cruel disappointment before he learns +to become happy by appreciating the simple and perfect pleasures that +are always within easy reach of his mind and heart.</p> + +<h3 class="top5">THE END</h3> +<p class="top5"></p> +<div class="figcenter6"> +<img class="top2" src="images/endpaper.jpg" width="600" height="372" +alt="Back Fly Leaf" title="Back Fly Leaf" /> +</div> +<p class="top5"></p> + +<p class="bbox"><i><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></i> +<br />Inconsistencies in spelling e.g. color/colour, +<br />neighbor/neighbour have been left as in the original. +<br />*</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Blue Bird for Children, by Georgette Leblanc + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRD FOR CHILDREN *** + +***** This file should be named 27991-h.htm or 27991-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/9/27991/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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0000000..ddefaac --- /dev/null +++ b/27991-h/images/tpb.jpg diff --git a/27991.txt b/27991.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e9bb297 --- /dev/null +++ b/27991.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4943 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Blue Bird for Children, by Georgette Leblanc + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Blue Bird for Children + The Wonderful Adventures of Tyltyl and Mytyl in Search of Happiness + +Author: Georgette Leblanc + +Editor: Frederick Orville Perkins + +Translator: Alexander Teixeira de Mattos + +Release Date: February 4, 2009 [EBook #27991] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRD FOR CHILDREN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Note: Inconsistencies in spelling e.g. color/colour, +neighbor/neighbour have been left as in the original. + + + + +[Illustration: The Land of Memory] + + + THE . BLUE . BIRD + [Illustration: Bluebird] FOR CHILDREN [Illustration: Bluebird] + + + THE . WONDERFUL . ADVENTURES + OF . TYLTYL . AND . MYTYL . IN + SEARCH . OF . HAPPINESS + + + BY + GEORGETTE LEBLANC + [MADAME MAURICE MAETERLINCK] + + + EDITED AND ARRANGED FOR SCHOOLS + BY + FREDERICK ORVILLE PERKINS + + + TRANSLATED BY + ALEXANDER TEIXEIRA DE MATTOS + + + [Illustration: Publisher Logo] + + + SILVER . BURDETT & COMPANY + BOSTON . NEW YORK . CHICAGO . ATLANTA + DALLAS . SAN FRANCISCO + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913 + BY THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913 + BY DODD, MEAD & COMPANY + + + COPYRIGHT, 1914 + BY SILVER, BURDETT & COMPANY + + + This School Edition of The Blue + Bird for Children is affectionately + dedicated to the School Children + of America + + Georgette Leblanc + (Madame Maurice Maeterlinck) + + + + + _To The Teacher_ + + "The Blue Bird, inhabitant of the + _Pays Bleu_, the fabulous blue country + of our dreams is an ancient symbol + in the folk lore of Lorraine and + stands for happiness." + + +One of the strongest pieces of imaginative writing for children that +the past decade has produced and one of the most delicate and +beautiful of all times, is "The Blue Bird," by Maurice Maeterlinck, +written as a play, and very successfully produced on the stage. + +Georgette Leblanc (Madame Maurice Maeterlinck), has rendered this play +in story form for children, under the title "The Children's Blue +Bird," and in this form it has now been carefully edited and arranged +for schools. + +Maurice Maeterlinck was born in Ghent, Belgium, August 29, 1862. +Although trained for the practice of the law and moderately successful +in it, he very early became dissatisfied with the prospect of a career +at the bar. In 1887, the young man moved to Paris and turned his +attention to writing. Shortly after, at the death of his father, +Maeterlinck returned to Belgium where he has since resided most of the +time. His career as an author practically began in 1889, when he +published two plays. At this time he was quite unknown, except to a +small circle, but soon, because of his remarkable originality, we find +him being called "The Belgian Shakespeare," and his reputation firmly +established. + +Amidst his Belgian roses he continued to work and dream, and upon his +youthful dreams he built his plays. They are all shadowy, brief +transcripts of emotion, and illustrate beautifully his unity of +purpose, of mood and of thought. Whether in philosophy, drama or +poetry, Maeterlinck is exclusively occupied in revealing or indicating +the mystery which lies only just out of sight beneath the ordinary +life. In order to produce this effect of the mysterious he aims at +extreme simplicity of style and a very realistic symbolism. He allows +life itself to astonish us by its strangeness, by its inexplicable +elements. Many of his plays are really pathetic records of unseen +emotions. + +Of all his writings, it is conceded that "The Blue Bird" makes the +strongest appeal to children. Maeterlinck has always had much in +common with the young. He has the child's mysticism and awe of the +unknown, the same delight in mechanical inventions, the same gift of +"making believe." + +In "The Blue Bird" Maeterlinck takes little account of external fact. +All along he has kept the child's capacity for wonder; all along he +has preserved youth's freshness of heart. He has, therefore, never +lost the key which unlocks the sympathies of childhood; he still +possesses the passport that makes him free of the kingdom of +Fairyland. + +This story of "The Blue Bird" may remind one somewhat of "Hansel and +Gretel," for here Maeterlinck, like Grimm, shows to us the adventures +of two peasant children as they pass through regions of enchantment +where they would be at the mercy of treacherous foes, but for the aid +of a supernatural friend. But the originality, the charm and the +interest of "The Blue Bird" depend on the way in which the author, +while adapting his language and his legends to the intelligence of +youthful readers, manages to show them the wonders and romance of +Nature. He enlists among his characters a whole series of inanimate +objects, such as Bread, Sugar, Milk, Light, Water, Fire and Trees, +besides the Cat, the Dog and other animals, investing them all with +individuality,--making for instance, with characteristic bias, the Dog +the faithful friend of his boy and girl companions and the Cat their +stealthy enemy. + +We may not understand his characters, we may not be informed whence +they came or whither they move; there is nothing concrete or +circumstantial about them; their life is intense and consistent, but +it is wholly in a spiritual character. They are mysterious with the +mystery of the movements of the soul. + +All through the story we are led to feel that Maeterlinck's spirit is +one of grave and disinterested attachment to the highest moral beauty, +and his seriousness, his serenity and his extreme originality impress +even those who are bewildered by his graces and his mysticism. + +"The Blue Bird" will forever live among Maeterlinck's greatest works +and will linger long in the memory of all children, continuing +throughout their lives to symbolize that ideal of ideals, true +happiness,--the happiness that comes from right seeking. + + + + + _Contents_ + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I THE WOODCUTTER'S COTTAGE 3 + + II AT THE FAIRY'S 31 + + III THE LAND OF MEMORY 49 + + IV THE PALACE OF NIGHT 65 + + V THE KINGDOM OF THE FUTURE 89 + + VI IN THE TEMPLE OF LIGHT 117 + + VII THE GRAVEYARD 125 + + VIII THE FOREST 137 + + IX THE LEAVE-TAKING 157 + + X THE AWAKENING 169 + + + + + _Illustrations_ + + + The Land of Memory _Frontispiece_ + + FACING + PAGE + + She herself helped Mytyl 10 + + They all looked at her with a bewildered air. + They understood that it was a solemn moment 38 + + Delighted with the importance of his duty, + undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar + and cut two slices out of his stomach 42 + + Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, + breaking off two of his fingers, handed them + to the astonished Children 44 + + Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared + a pretty little peasant's cottage 50 + + The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper 56 + + The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and + rather dangerous 66 + + Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat + around her; and she questioned Tylette in a + trembling voice 68 + + Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, + sneeze and blow her nose 74 + + A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden + filled with flowers that shone like stars 80 + + Light's servants were very odd 90 + + Other Blue Children opened great big books 98 + + Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or + brought enormous flowers 102 + + And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding + round the tall old man 110 + + The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, opened + the door and ran and bounded out into the forest 119 + + A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her + eyes, flooding all around her 154 + + Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her + with bites, blows and kicks 162 + + "It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have + been miles and miles and miles and he was here + all the time!" 174 + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE WOODCUTTER'S COTTAGE + + +Once upon a time, a woodcutter and his wife lived in their cottage on +the edge of a large and ancient forest. They had two dear little +children who met with a most wonderful adventure. + +But, before telling you all about it, I must describe the children to +you and let you know something of their character; for, if they had +not been so sweet and brave and plucky, the curious story which you +are about to hear would never have happened at all. + +Tyltyl--that was our hero's name--was ten years old; and Mytyl, his +little sister, was only six. + +Tyltyl was a fine, tall little fellow, stout and well-set-up, with +curly black hair which was often in a tangle, for he was fond of a +romp. He was a great favorite because of his smiling and good-tempered +face and the bright look in his eyes; but, best of all, he had the +ways of a bold and fearless little man, which showed the noble +qualities of his heart. When, early in the morning, he trotted along +the forest-road by the side of his daddy, Tyl the woodcutter, for all +his shabby clothes he looked so proud and gallant that every beautiful +thing on the earth and in the sky seemed to lie in wait for him to +smile upon him as he passed. + +His little sister was very different, but looked ever so sweet and +pretty in her long frock, which Mummy Tyl kept neatly patched for her. +She was as fair as her brother was dark; and her large timid eyes were +blue as the forget-me-nots in the fields. Anything was enough to +frighten her and she would cry at the least thing; but her little +child soul already held the highest womanly qualities: she was loving +and gentle and so fondly devoted to her brother that, rather than +abandon him, she did not hesitate to undertake a long and dangerous +journey in his company. + +What happened and how our little hero and heroine went off into the +world one night in search of happiness: that is the subject of my +story. + +Daddy Tyl's cottage was the poorest of the countryside; and it seemed +even more wretched because it stood opposite a splendid hall in which +rich children lived. From the windows of the cottage you could see +what went on inside the Hall when the dining-room and drawing-rooms +were lit up in the evening. And, in the daytime, you saw the little +children playing on the terraces, in the gardens and in the hot-houses +which people came all the way from town to visit because they were +always filled with the rarest flowers. + +Now, one evening which was not like other evenings, for it was +Christmas Eve, Mummy Tyl put her little ones to bed and kissed them +even more lovingly than usual. She felt a little sad because, owing to +the stormy weather, Daddy Tyl was not able to go to work in the +forest; and so she had no money to buy presents with which to fill +Tyltyl and Mytyl's stockings. The Children soon fell asleep, +everything was still and silent and not a sound was heard but the +purring of the cat, the snoring of the dog and the ticking of the +great grandfather's clock. But suddenly a light as bright as day crept +through the shutters, the lamp upon the table lit again of itself and +the two Children awoke, yawned, rubbed their eyes, stretched out their +arms in bed and Tyltyl, in a cautious voice called: + +"Mytyl?" + +"Yes, Tyltyl?" was the answer. + +"Are you asleep?" + +"Are you?" + +"No," said Tyltyl. "How can I be asleep, when I'm talking to you?" + +"I say, is this Christmas Day?" asked his sister. + +"Not yet; not till to-morrow. But Father Christmas won't bring us +anything this year." + +"Why not?" + +"I heard Mummy say that she couldn't go to town to tell him. But he +will come next year." + +"Is next year far off?" + +"A good long while," said the boy. "But he will come to the rich +children to-night." + +"Really?" + +"Hullo!" cried Tyltyl of a sudden. "Mummy's forgotten to put out the +lamp!... I've an idea!" + +"What?" + +"Let's get up." + +"But we mustn't," said Mytyl, who always remembered. + +"Why, there's no one about!... Do you see the shutters?" + +"Oh, how bright they are!..." + +"It's the lights of the party," said Tyltyl. + +"What party?" + +"The rich children opposite. It's the Christmas-tree. Let's open the +shutters...." + +"Can we?" asked Mytyl, timidly. + +"Of course we can; there's no one to stop us.... Do you hear the +music?... Let us get up." + +The two Children jumped out of bed, ran to the window, climbed on the +stool in front of it and threw back the shutters. A bright light +filled the room; and the Children looked out eagerly: + +"We can see everything!" said Tyltyl. + +"I can't," said poor little Mytyl, who could hardly find room on the +stool. + +"It's snowing!" said Tyltyl. "There are two carriages, with six horses +each!" + +"There are twelve little boys getting out!" said Mytyl, who was doing +her best to peep out of the window. + +"Don't be silly!... They're little girls...." + +"They've got knickerbockers on...." + +"Do be quiet!... And look!..." + +"What are those gold things there, hanging from the branches?" + +"Why, toys, to be sure!" said Tyltyl. "Swords, guns, soldiers, +cannons...." + +"And what's that, all round the table?" + +"Cakes and fruit and cream-tarts." + +"Oh, how pretty the children are!" cried Mytyl, clapping her hands. + +"And how they're laughing and laughing!" answered Tyltyl. + +"And the little ones dancing!..." + +"Yes, yes; let's dance too!" shouted Tyltyl. + +And the two Children began to stamp their feet for joy on the stool: + +"Oh, what fun!" said Mytyl. + +"They're getting the cakes!" cried Tyltyl. "They can touch them!... +They're eating, they're eating, they're eating!... Oh, how lovely, how +lovely!..." + +Mytyl began to count imaginary cakes: + +"I have twelve!..." + +"And I four times twelve!" said Tyltyl. "But I'll give you some...." + +And our little friends, dancing, laughing and shrieking with delight, +rejoiced so prettily in the other children's happiness that they +forgot their own poverty and want. They were soon to have their +reward. Suddenly, there came a loud knocking at the door. The startled +Children ceased their romp and dared not move a limb. Then the big +wooden latch lifted of itself, with a loud creak; the door opened +slowly; and in crept a little old woman, dressed all in green, with a +red hood over her head. She was hump-backed and lame and had only one +eye; her nose and chin almost touched; and she walked leaning on a +stick. She was surely a fairy. + +She hobbled up to the Children and asked, in a snuffling voice: + +"Have you the grass here that sings or the bird that is blue?" + +"We have some grass," replied Tyltyl, trembling all over his body, +"but it can't sing...." + +"Tyltyl has a bird," said Mytyl. + +"But I can't give it away, because it's mine," the little fellow +added, quickly. + +Now wasn't that a capital reason? + +The Fairy put on her big, round glasses and looked at the bird: + +"He's not blue enough," she exclaimed. "I must absolutely have the +Blue Bird. It's for my little girl, who is very ill.... Do you know +what the Blue Bird stands for? No? I thought you didn't; and, as you +are good children, I will tell you." + +The Fairy raised her crooked finger to her long, pointed nose, and +whispered, in a mysterious tone: + +"The Blue Bird stands for happiness; and I want you to understand +that my little girl must be happy in order to get well. That is why I +now command you to go out into the world and find the Blue Bird for +her. You will have to start at once.... Do you know who I am?" + +The Children exchanged puzzled glances. The fact was that they had +never seen a fairy before; and they felt a little scared in her +presence. However, Tyltyl soon said politely: + +"You are rather like our neighbor, Madame Berlingot...." + +[Illustration: She herself helped Mytyl] + +Tyltyl thought that, in saying this, he was paying the Fairy a +compliment; for Madame Berlingot's shop, which was next door to their +cottage, was a very pleasant place. It was stocked with sweets, +marbles, chocolate cigars and sugar dolls and hens; and, at fair-time, +there were big gingerbread dolls covered all over with gilt paper. +Goody Berlingot had a nose that was quite as ugly as the Fairy's; she +was old also; and, like the Fairy, she walked doubled up in two; but +she was very kind and she had a dear little girl who used to play on +Sundays with the woodcutter's Children. Unfortunately, the poor little +pretty, fair-haired thing was always suffering from some unknown +complaint, which often kept her in bed. When this happened, she +used to beg and pray for Tyltyl's dove to play with; but Tyltyl was +so fond of the bird that he would not give it to her. All this, +thought the little boy, was very like that which the Fairy told him; +and that was why he called her Berlingot. + +Much to his surprise, the Fairy turned crimson with rage. It was a +hobby of hers to be like nobody, because she was a fairy and able to +change her appearance, from one moment to the next, as she pleased. +That evening, she happened to be ugly and old and hump-backed; she had +lost one of her eyes; and two lean wisps of grey hair hung over her +shoulders. + +"What do I look like?" she asked Tyltyl. "Am I pretty or ugly? Old or +young?" + +Her reason for asking these questions was to try the kindness of the +little boy. He turned away his head and dared not say what he thought +of her looks. Then she cried: + +"I am the Fairy Berylune!" + +"Oh, that's all right!" answered Tyltyl, who, by this time, was +shaking in every limb. + +This satisfied the Fairy; and, as the Children were still in their +night-shirts, she told them to get dressed. She herself helped Mytyl +and, while she did so, asked: + +"Where are your Father and Mother?" + +"In there," said Tyltyl, pointing to the door on the right. "They're +asleep." + +"And your Grandad and Granny?" + +"They're dead...." + +"And your little brothers and sisters.... Have you any?..." + +"Oh, yes, three little brothers!" said Tyltyl. + +"And four little sisters," added Mytyl. + +"Where are they?" asked the Fairy. + +"They are dead, too," answered Tyltyl. + +"Would you like to see them again?" + +"Oh, yes!... At once!... Show them to us!..." + +"I haven't them in my pocket," said the Fairy. "But this is very +lucky; you will see them when you go through the Land of Memory. It's +on the way to the Blue Bird, just on the left, past the third +turning.... What were you doing when I knocked?" + +"We were playing at eating cakes," said Tyltyl. + +"Have you any cakes?... Where are they?..." + +"In the house of the rich children.... Come and look, it's so lovely!" + +And Tyltyl dragged the Fairy to the window. + +"But it's the others who are eating them!" said she. + +"Yes, but we can see them eat," said Tyltyl. + +"Aren't you cross with them?" + +"What for?" + +"For eating all the cakes. I think it's very wrong of them not to give +you any." + +"Not at all; they're rich!... I say, isn't it beautiful over there?" + +"It's just the same here, only you can't see...." + +"Yes, I can," said Tyltyl. "I have very good eyes. I can see the time +on the church clock; and Daddy can't!" + +The Fairy suddenly grew angry: + +"I tell you that you can't see!" she said. + +And she grew angrier and angrier. As though it mattered about seeing +the time on the church clock! + +Of course, the little boy was not blind; but, as he was kind-hearted +and deserved to be happy, she wanted to teach him to see what is good +and beautiful in all things. It was not an easy task, for she well +knew that most people live and die without enjoying the happiness that +lies all around them. Still, as she was a fairy, she was all-powerful; +and so she decided to give him a little hat adorned with a magic +diamond that would possess the extraordinary property of always +showing him the truth, which would help him to see the inside of +Things and thus teach him that each of them has a life and an +existence of its own, created to match and gladden ours. + +The Fairy took the little hat from a great bag hanging by her side. It +was green and had a white cockade, with the big diamond shining in the +middle of it. Tyltyl was beside himself with delight. The Fairy +explained to him how the diamond worked. By pressing the top, you saw +the soul of Things; if you gave it a little turn to the right, you +discovered the Past; and, when you turned it to the left, you beheld +the Future. + +Tyltyl beamed all over his face and danced for joy; and then he at +once became afraid of losing the little hat: + +"Daddy will take it from me!" he cried. + +"No," said the Fairy, "for no one can see it as long as it's on your +head.... Will you try it?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried the Children, clapping their hands. + +The hat was no sooner on the little boy's head than a magic change +came over everything. The old Fairy turned into a young and beautiful +princess, dressed all in silk and covered with sparkling jewels; the +walls of the cottage became transparent and gleamed like precious +stones; the humble deal furniture shone like marble. The two children +ran from right to left clapping their hands and shouting with +delight. + +"Oh, how lovely, how lovely!" exclaimed Tyltyl. + +And Mytyl, like the vain little thing she was, stood spell-bound +before the beauty of the fair princess' dress. + +But further and much greater surprises were in store for them. Had not +the Fairy said that the Things and the Animals would come to life, +talk and behave like everybody else? Lo and behold, suddenly the door +of the grandfather's clock opened, the silence was filled with the +sweetest music and twelve little daintily-dressed and laughing dancers +began to skip and spin all around the Children. + +"They are the Hours of your life," said the Fairy. + +"May I dance with them?" asked Tyltyl, gazing with admiration at those +pretty creatures, who seemed to skim over the floor like birds. + +But just then he burst into a wild fit of laughter! Who was that funny +fat fellow, all out of breath and covered with flour, who came +struggling out of the bread-pan and bowing to the children? It was +Bread! Bread himself, taking advantage of the reign of liberty to go +for a little walk on earth! He looked like a stout, comical old +gentleman; his face was puffed out with dough; and his large hands, at +the end of his thick arms, were not able to meet, when he laid them on +his great, round stomach. He was dressed in a tight-fitting +crust-coloured suit, with stripes across the chest like those on the +nice buttered rolls which we have for breakfast in the morning. On his +head--just think of it!--he wore an enormous bun, which made a funny +sort of turban. + +He had hardly tumbled out of his pan, when other loaves just like him, +but smaller, followed after and began to frisk about with the Hours, +without giving a thought to the flour which they scattered over those +pretty ladies and which wrapped them in great white clouds. + +It was a queer and charming dance; and the Children were delighted. +The Hours waltzed with the loaves; the plates, joining in the fun, +hopped up and down on the dresser, at the risk of falling off and +smashing to pieces; the glasses in the cupboard clinked together, to +drink the health of one and all. As to the forks, they chattered so +loudly with the knives that you could not hear yourself speak for the +noise.... + +There is no knowing what would have happened if the din had lasted +much longer. Daddy and Mummy Tyl would certainly have waked up. +Fortunately, when the romp was at its height, an enormous flame darted +out of the chimney and filled the room with a great red glow, as +though the house were on fire. Everybody bolted into the corners in +dismay, while Tyltyl and Mytyl, sobbing with fright, hid their heads +under the good Fairy's cloak. + +"Don't be afraid," she said. "It's only Fire, who has come to join in +your fun. He is a good sort, but you had better not touch him, for he +has a hot temper." + +Peeping anxiously through the beautiful gold lace that edged the +Fairy's cloak, the Children saw a tall, red fellow looking at them and +laughing at their fears. He was dressed in scarlet tights and +spangles; from his shoulders hung silk scarves that were just like +flames when he waved them with his long arms; and his hair stood up on +his head in straight, flaring locks. He started flinging out his arms +and legs and jumping round the room like a madman. + +Tyltyl, though feeling a little easier, dared not yet leave his +refuge. Then the Fairy Berylune had a capital idea: she pointed her +wand at the tap; and at once there appeared a young girl who wept like +a regular fountain. It was Water. She was very pretty, but she looked +extremely sad; and she sang so sweetly that it was like the rippling +of a spring. Her long hair, which fell to her feet, might have been +made of sea-weed. She had nothing on but her bed-gown; but the water +that streamed over her clothed her in shimmering colours. She +hesitated at first and gave a glance around her; then, catching sight +of Fire still whirling about like a great madcap, she made an angry +and indignant rush at him, spraying his face, splashing and wetting +him with all her might. Fire flew into a rage and began to smoke. +Nevertheless, as he found himself suddenly thwarted by his old enemy, +he thought it wiser to retire to a corner. Water also beat a retreat; +and it seemed as though peace would be restored once more. + +The two Children, at last recovering from their alarm, were asking the +Fairy what was going to happen next, when a startling noise of +breaking crockery made them look round towards the table. What a +surprise! The milk-jug lay on the floor, smashed into a thousand +fragments, and from the pieces rose a charming lady, who gave little +screams of terror and clasped her hands and turned up her eyes with a +beseeching glance. + +Tyltyl hastened to console her, for he at once knew that she was Milk; +and, as he was very fond of her, he gave her a good kiss. She was as +fresh and pretty as a little dairy-maid; and a delicious scent of hay +came from her white frock all covered with cream. + +Meanwhile, Mytyl was watching the sugar-loaf, which also seemed to be +coming to life. Packed in its blue paper wrapper, on a shelf near the +door, it was swaying from left to right and from right to left without +any result. But at last a long thin arm was seen to come out, +followed by a peaked head, which split the paper, and by another arm +and two long legs that seemed never to end!... Oh, you should have +seen how funny Sugar looked: so funny, indeed, that the Children could +not help laughing in his face! And yet they would have liked to be +civil to him, for they heard the Fairy introducing him in these words: + +"This, Tyltyl, is the soul of Sugar. His pockets are crammed with +sugar and each of his fingers is a sugar-stick." + +How wonderful to have a friend all made of sugar, off whom you can +bite a piece whenever you feel inclined! + +"Bow, wow, wow!... Good-morning! Good-morning, my little god!... At +last, at last we can talk!... Bark and wag my tail as I might, you +never understood!... I love you! I love you!" + +Who can this extraordinary person be, who jostles everybody and fills +the house with his noisy gaiety? We know him at once. It is Tylo, the +good Dog who tries his hardest to understand mankind, the good-natured +Animal who goes with the Children to the forest, the faithful guardian +who protects the door, the staunch friend who is ever true and ever +loyal! Here he comes walking on his hind-paws, as on a pair of legs +too short for him, and beating the air with the two others, making +gestures like a clumsy little man. He has not changed: he still has +his smooth, mustard-coloured coat and his jolly bull-dog head, with +the black muzzle, but he is much bigger and then he talks! He talks as +fast as he can, as though he wanted in one moment to avenge his whole +race, which has been doomed to silence for centuries. He talks of +everything, now that he is at last able to explain himself; and it is +a pretty sight to see him kissing his little master and mistress and +calling them "his little gods!" He sits up, he jumps about the room, +knocking against the furniture, upsetting Mytyl with his big soft +paws, lolling his tongue, wagging his tail and puffing and panting as +though he were out hunting. We at once see his simple, generous +nature. Persuaded of his own importance, he fancies that he alone is +indispensable in the new world of Things. + +After making all the fuss he wanted of the Children, he started going +the round of the company, distributing the attentions which he thought +that none could do without. His joy, now set free, found vent without +restraint; and, because he was the most loving of creatures, he would +also have been the happiest, if, in becoming human, he had not, +unfortunately, retained his little doggy failings. He was jealous! He +was terribly jealous; and his heart felt a pang when he saw Tylette, +the Cat, coming to life in her turn and being petted and kissed by the +Children, just as he had been! Oh, how he hated the Cat! To bear the +sight of her beside him, to see her always sharing in the affection of +the family: that was the great sacrifice which fate demanded of him. +He accepted it, however, without a word, because it pleased his little +gods; and he went so far as to leave her alone. But he had had many a +crime on his conscience because of her! Had he not, one evening, crept +stealthily into Goody Berlingot's kitchen in order to throttle her old +tom-cat, who had never done him any harm? Had he not broken the back +of the Persian cat at the Hall opposite? Did he not sometimes go to +town on purpose to hunt cats and put an end to them, all to wreak his +spite? And now Tylette was going to talk, just like himself! Tylette +would be his equal in the new world that was opening before him! + +"Oh, there is no justice left on earth!" was his bitter thought. +"There is no justice left!" + +In the meantime, the Cat, who had begun by washing herself and +polishing her claws, calmly put out her paw to the little girl. + +She really was a very pretty cat; and, if our friend Tylo's jealousy +had not been such an ugly feeling, we might almost have overlooked it +for once! How could you fail to be attracted by Tylette's eyes, which +were like topaz set in emeralds? How could you resist the pleasure of +stroking the wonderful black velvet back? How could you not love her +grace, her gentleness and the dignity of her poses? + +Smiling gently and speaking in well-chosen language, she said to +Mytyl: + +"Good-morning, miss!... How well you look this morning!..." + +And the Children patted her like anything. + +Tylo kept watching the Cat from the other end of the room: + +"Now that she's standing on her hind-legs like a man," he muttered, +"she looks just like the Devil, with her pointed ears, her long tail +and her dress as black as ink!" And he could not help growling between +his teeth. "She's also like the village chimney-sweep," he went on, +"whom I loathe and detest and whom I shall never take for a real man, +whatever my little gods may say.... It's lucky," he added, with a +sigh, "that I know more about a good many things than they do!" + +But suddenly, no longer able to master himself, he flew at the Cat and +shouted, with a loud laugh that was more like a roar: + +"I'm going to frighten Tylette! Bow, wow, wow!" + +But the Cat, who was dignified even when still an animal, now thought +herself called to the loftiest destinies. She considered that the time +had come to raise a tall barrier between herself and the Dog, who had +never been more than an ill-bred person in her eyes; and, stepping +back in disdain, she just said: + +"Sir, I don't know you." + +Tylo gave a bound under the insult, whereupon the Cat bristled up, +twisting her whiskers under her little pink nose (for she was very +proud of those two pale blotches which gave a special touch to her +dark beauty); and then, arching her back and sticking up her tail, she +hissed out, "Fft! Fft!" and stood stock-still on the chest of drawers, +like a dragon on the lid of a Chinese vase. + +Tyltyl and Mytyl screamed with laughter; but the quarrel would +certainly have had a bad ending if, at that moment, a great thing had +not happened. At eleven o'clock in the evening, in the middle of that +winter's night, a great light, the light of the noon-day sun, glowing +and dazzling, burst into the cottage. + +"Hullo, there's daylight!" said the little boy, who no longer knew +what to make of things. "What will Daddy say?" + +But, before the Fairy had time to set him right, Tyltyl understood; +and, full of wonderment, he knelt before the latest vision that +bewitched his eyes. + +At the window, in the center of a great halo of sunshine, there rose +slowly, like a tall golden sheaf, a maiden of surpassing loveliness! +Gleaming veils covered her figure without hiding its beauty; her bare +arms, stretched in the attitude of giving, seemed transparent; and her +great clear eyes wrapped all upon whom they fell in a fond embrace. + +"It's the Queen!" said Tyltyl. + +"It's a Fairy Princess!" cried Mytyl, kneeling beside her brother. + +"No, my Children," said the Fairy. "It is Light!" + +Smiling, Light stepped towards the two little ones. She, the Light of +Heaven, the strength and beauty of the Earth, was proud of the humble +mission entrusted to her; she, never before held captive, living in +space and bestowing her bounty upon all alike, consented to be +confined, for a brief spell, within a human shape, so as to lead the +Children out into the world and teach them to know that other Light, +the Light of the Mind, which we never see, but which helps us to see +all things that are. + +"It is Light!" exclaimed the Things and the Animals; and, as they all +loved her, they began to dance around her with cries of pleasure. + +Tyltyl and Mytyl capered with joy. Never had they pictured so amusing +and so pretty a party; and they shouted louder than all the rest. + +Then what was bound to happen came. Suddenly, three knocks were heard +against the wall, loud enough to throw the house down! It was Daddy +Tyl, who had been waked up by the din and who was now threatening to +come and put a stop to it. + +"Turn the diamond!" cried the Fairy to Tyltyl. + +Our hero hastened to obey, but he had not the knack of it yet; +besides, his hand shook at the thought that his father was coming. In +fact, he was so awkward that he nearly broke the works. + +"Not so quick, not so quick!" said the Fairy. "Oh dear, you've turned +it too briskly: they will not have time to resume their places and we +shall have a lot of bother!" + +There was a general stampede. The walls of the cottage lost their +splendour. All ran hither and thither, to return to their proper +shape: Fire could not find his chimney; Water ran about looking for +her tap; Sugar stood moaning in front of his torn wrapper; and Bread, +the biggest of the loaves, was unable to squeeze into his pan, in +which the other loaves had jumped higgledy-piggledy, taking up all the +room. As for the Dog, he had grown too large for the hole in his +kennel; and the Cat also could not get into her basket. The Hours +alone, who were accustomed always to run faster than Man wished, had +slipped back into the clock without delay. + +Light stood motionless and unruffled, vainly setting an example of +calmness to the others, who were all weeping and wailing around the +Fairy: + +"What is going to happen?" they asked. "Is there any danger?" + +"Well," said the Fairy, "I am bound to tell you the truth: all those +who accompany the two Children will die at the end of the journey." + +They began to cry like anything, all except the Dog, who was delighted +at remaining human as long as possible and who had already taken his +stand next to Light, so as to be sure of going in front of his little +master and mistress. + +At that moment, there came a knocking even more dreadful than before. + +"There's Daddy again!" said Tyltyl. "He's getting up, this time; I can +hear him walking...." + +"You see," said the Fairy, "you have no choice now; it is too late; +you must all start with us.... But you, Fire, don't come near anybody; +you, Dog, don't tease the Cat; you, Water, try not to run all over the +place; and you, Sugar, stop crying, unless you want to melt. Bread +shall carry the cage in which to put the Blue Bird; and you shall all +come to my house, where I will dress the Animals and the Things +properly.... Let us go out this way!" + +As she spoke, she pointed her wand at the window, which lengthened +magically downwards, like a door. They all went out on tip-toe, after +which the window resumed its usual shape. And so it came about that, +on Christmas Night, in the clear light of the moon, while the bells +rang out lustily, proclaiming the birth of Jesus, Tyltyl and Mytyl +went in search of the Blue Bird that was to bring them happiness. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +AT THE FAIRY'S + + +The Fairy Berylune's Palace stood at the top of a very high mountain, +on the way to the moon. It was so near that, on summer nights, when +the sky was clear, you could plainly see the moon's mountains and +valleys, lakes and seas from the terrace of the palace. Here the Fairy +studied the stars and read their secrets, for it was long since the +Earth had had anything to teach her. + +"This old planet no longer interests me!" she used to say to her +friends, the giants of the mountain. "The men upon it still live with +their eyes shut! Poor things, I pity them! I go down among them now +and then, but it is out of charity, to try and save the little +children from the fatal misfortune that awaits them in the darkness." + +This explains why she had come and knocked at the door of Daddy Tyl's +cottage on Christmas Eve. + +And now to return to our travellers. They had hardly reached the +high-road, when the Fairy remembered that they could not walk like +that through the village, which was still lit up because of the +feast. But her store of knowledge was so great that all her wishes +were fulfilled at once. She pressed lightly on Tyltyl's head and +willed that they should all be carried by magic to her palace. Then +and there, a cloud of fireflies surrounded our companions and wafted +them gently towards the sky. They were at the Fairy's palace before +they had recovered from their surprise. + +"Follow me," she said and led them through chambers and passages all +in gold and silver. + +They stopped in a large room surrounded with mirrors on every side and +containing an enormous wardrobe with light creeping through its +chinks. The Fairy Berylune took a diamond key from her pocket and +opened the wardrobe. One cry of amazement burst from every throat. +Precious stuffs were seen piled one on the top of the other: mantles +covered with gems, dresses of every sort and every country, pearl +coronets, emerald necklaces, ruby bracelets.... Never had the Children +beheld such riches! As for the Things, their state was rather one of +utter bewilderment; and this was only natural, when you think that +they were seeing the world for the first time and that it showed +itself to them in such a queer way. + +The Fairy helped them make their choice. Fire, Sugar and the Cat +displayed a certain decision of taste. Fire, who only cared for red, +at once chose a splendid bright red dress, with gold spangles. He put +nothing on his head, for his head was always very hot. Sugar could not +stand anything except white and pale blue: bright colors jarred on his +sweet nature. The long blue and white dress which he selected and the +pointed hat, like a candle extinguisher, which he wore on his head +made him look perfectly ridiculous; but he was too silly to notice it +and kept spinning before the glass like a top and admiring himself in +blissful ignorance. + +The Cat, who was always a lady and who was used to her dusky garments, +reflected that black always looks well, in any circumstance, +particularly now, when they were travelling without luggage. She +therefore put on a suit of black tights, with jet embroidery, hung a +long velvet cloak from her shoulders and perched a large cavalier hat, +with a long feather, on her neat little head. She next asked for a +pair of soft kid boots, in memory of Puss-in-Boots, her distinguished +ancestor, and put a pair of gloves on her fore-paws, to protect them +from the dust of the roads. + +Thus attired, she took a satisfied glance at the mirror. Then, a +little nervously, with an anxious eye and a quivering pink nose, she +hastily invited Sugar and Fire to take the air with her. So they all +three walked out, while the others went on dressing. Let us follow +them for a moment, for we have already grown to like our brave little +Tyltyl and we shall want to hear anything that is likely to help or +delay his undertaking. + +After passing through several splendid galleries, hung like balconies +in the sky, our three cronies stopped in the hall; and the Cat at once +addressed the meeting in a hushed voice: + +"I have brought you here," she said, "in order to discuss the position +in which we are placed. Let us make the most of our last moment of +liberty...." + +But she was interrupted by a furious uproar: + +"Bow, wow, wow!" + +"There now!" cried the Cat. "There's that idiot of a Dog! He has +scented us out! We can't get a minute's peace. Let us hide behind the +balustrade. He had better not hear what I have to say to you." + +"It's too late," said Sugar, who was standing by the door. + +And, sure enough, Tylo was coming up, jumping, barking, panting and +delighted. + +The Cat, when she saw him, turned away in disgust: + +"He has put on the livery of one of the footmen of Cinderella's +coach.... It is just the thing for him: he has the soul of a +flunkey!" + +She ended these words with a "Fft! Fft!" and, stroking her whiskers, +took up her stand, with a defiant air, between Sugar and Fire. The +good Dog did not see her little game. He was wholly wrapped up in the +pleasure of being gorgeously arrayed; and he danced round and round. +It was really funny to see his velvet coat whirling like a +merry-go-round, with the skirts opening every now and then and showing +his little stumpy tail, which was all the more expressive as it had to +express itself very briefly. For I need hardly tell you that Tylo, +like every well-bred bull-dog, had had his tail and his ears cropped +as a puppy. + +Poor fellow, he had long envied the tails of his brother dogs, which +allowed them to use a much larger and more varied vocabulary. But +physical deficiencies and the hardships of fortune strengthen our +innermost qualities. Tylo's soul, having no outward means of +expressing itself, had only gained through silence; and his look, +which was always filled with love, had become very eloquent. + +To-day his big dark eyes glistened with delight; he had suddenly +changed into a man! He was all over magnificent clothes; and he was +about to perform a grand errand across the world in company with the +gods! + +"There!" he said. "There! Aren't we fine!... Just look at this lace +and embroidery!... It's real gold and no mistake!" + +He did not see that the others were laughing at him, for, to tell the +truth, he did look very comical; but, like all simple creatures, he +had no sense of humour. He was so proud of his natural garment of +yellow hair that he had put on no waistcoat, in order that no one +might have a doubt as to where he sprang from. For the same reason, he +had kept his collar, with his address on it. A big red velvet coat, +heavily braided with gold-lace, reached to his knees; and the large +pockets on either side would enable him, he thought, always to carry a +few provisions; for Tylo was very greedy. On his left ear, he wore a +little round cap with an osprey-feather in it and he kept it on his +big square head by means of an elastic which cut his fat, loose cheeks +in two. His other ear remained free. Cropped close to his head in the +shape of a little paper screw-bag, this ear was the watchful receiver +into which all the sounds of life fell, like pebbles disturbing its +rest. + +He had also encased his hind-legs in a pair of patent-leather +riding-boots, with white tops; but his fore-paws he considered of such +use that nothing would have induced him to put them into gloves. Tylo +had too natural a character to change his little ways all in a day; +and, in spite of his new-blown honours, he allowed himself to do +undignified things. He was at the present moment lying on the steps of +the hall, scratching the ground and sniffing at the wall, when +suddenly he gave a start and began to whine and whimper! His lower lip +shook nervously as though he were going to cry. + +"What's the matter with the idiot now?" asked the Cat, who was +watching him out of the corner of her eye. + +But she at once understood. A very sweet song came from the distance; +and Tylo could not endure music. The song drew nearer, a girl's fresh +voice filled the shadows of the lofty arches and Water appeared. Tall, +slender and white as a pearl, she seemed to glide rather than to walk. +Her movements were so soft and graceful that they were suspected +rather than seen. A beautiful silvery dress waved and floated around +her; and her hair decked with corals flowed below her knees. + +When Fire caught sight of her, like the rude and spiteful fellow that +he was, he sneered: + +"She's not brought her umbrella!" + +But Water, who was really quite witty and who knew that she was the +stronger of the two, chaffed him pleasantly and said, with a glance at +his glowing nose: + +"I beg your pardon?... I thought you might be speaking of a great red +nose I saw the other day!..." + +The others began to laugh and poke fun at Fire, whose face was always +like a red-hot coal. Fire angrily jumped to the ceiling, keeping his +revenge for later. Meanwhile, the Cat went up to Water, very +cautiously, and paid her ever so many compliments on her dress. I need +hardly tell you that she did not mean a word of it; but she wished to +be friendly with everybody, for she wanted their votes, to carry out +her plan; and she was anxious at not seeing Bread, because she did not +want to speak before the meeting was complete: + +"What can he be doing?" she mewed, time after time. + +"He was making an endless fuss about choosing his dress," said the +Dog. "At last, he decided in favour of a Turkish robe, with a scimitar +and a turban." + +[Illustration: They all looked at her with a bewildered air. They +understood that it was a solemn moment.] + +The words were not out of his mouth, when a shapeless and ridiculous +bulk, clad in all the colours of the rainbow, came and blocked the +narrow door of the hall. It was the enormous stomach of Bread, who +filled the whole opening. He kept on knocking himself, without knowing +why; for he was not very clever and, besides, he was not yet used to +moving about in human beings' houses. At last, it occurred to him +to stoop; and, by squeezing through sideways, he managed to make his +way into the hall. + +It was certainly not a triumphal entry, but he was pleased with it all +the same: + +"Here I am!" he said. "Here I am! I have put on Blue-beard's finest +dress.... What do you think of this?" + +The Dog began to frisk around him: he thought Bread magnificent! That +yellow velvet costume, covered all over with silver crescents, +reminded Tylo of the delicious horse-shoe rolls which he loved; and +the huge, gaudy turban on Bread's head was really very like a fairy +bun! + +"How nice he looks!" he cried. "How nice he looks!" + +Bread was shyly followed by Milk. Her simple mind had made her prefer +her cream dress to all the finery which the Fairy suggested to her. +She was really a model of humility. + +Bread was beginning to talk about the dresses of Tyltyl, Light and +Mytyl, when the Cat cut him short in a masterful voice: + +"We shall see them in good time," she said. "Stop chattering, listen +to me, time presses: our future is at stake...." + +They all looked at her with a bewildered air. They understood that it +was a solemn moment, but the human language was still full of mystery +to them. Sugar wriggled his long fingers as a sign of distress; Bread +patted his huge stomach; Water lay on the floor and seemed to suffer +from the most profound despair; and Milk only had eyes for Bread, who +had been her friend for ages and ages. + +The Cat, becoming impatient, continued her speech: + +"The Fairy has just said it, the end of this journey will, at the same +time, mark the end of our lives. It is our business, therefore, to +spin the journey out as long as possible and by every means in our +power...." + +Bread, who was afraid of being eaten as soon as he was no longer a +man, hastened to express approval; but the Dog, who was standing a +little way off, pretending not to hear, began to growl deep down in +his soul. He well knew what the Cat was driving at; and, when Tylette +ended her speech with the words, "We must at all costs prolong the +journey and prevent Blue Bird from being found, even if it means +endangering the lives of the Children," the good Dog, obeying only the +promptings of his heart, leapt at the Cat to bite her. Sugar, Bread +and Fire flung themselves between them: + +"Order! Order!" said Bread pompously. "I'm in the chair at this +meeting." + +"Who made you chairman?" stormed Fire. + +"Who asked you to interfere?" asked Water, whirling her wet hair over +Fire. + +"Excuse me," said Sugar, shaking all over, in conciliatory tones. +"Excuse me.... This is a serious moment.... Let us talk things over in +a friendly way." + +"I quite agree with Sugar and the Cat," said Bread, as though that +ended the matter. + +"This is ridiculous!" said the Dog, barking and showing his teeth. +"There is Man and that's all!... We have to obey him and do as he +tells us!... I recognise no one but him!... Hurrah for Man!... Man for +ever!... In life or death, all for Man!... Man is everything!..." + +But the Cat's shrill voice rose above all the others. She was full of +grudges against Man and she wanted to make use of the short spell of +humanity which she now enjoyed to avenge her whole race: + +"All of us here present," she cried, "Animals, Things and Elements, +possess a soul which Man does not yet know. That is why we retain a +remnant of independence; but, if he finds the Blue Bird, he will know +all, he will see all and we shall be completely at his mercy.... +Remember the time when we wandered at liberty upon the face of the +earth!..." But, suddenly her face changed, her voice sank to a whisper +and she hissed, "Look out! I hear the Fairy and Light coming. I need +hardly tell you that Light has taken sides with Man and means to stand +by him; she is our worst enemy.... Be careful!" + +But our friends had had no practice in trickery and, feeling +themselves in the wrong, took up such ridiculous and uncomfortable +attitudes that the Fairy, the moment she appeared upon the threshold, +exclaimed: + +"What are you doing in that corner?... You look like a pack of +conspirators!" + +Quite scared and thinking that the Fairy had already guessed their +wicked intentions, they fell upon their knees before her. Luckily for +them, the Fairy hardly gave a thought to what was passing through +their little minds. She had come to explain the first part of the +journey to the Children and to tell each of the others what to do. +Tyltyl and Mytyl stood hand in hand in front of her, looking a little +frightened and a little awkward in their fine clothes. They stared at +each other in childish admiration. + +The little girl was wearing a yellow silk frock embroidered with pink +posies and covered with gold spangles. On her head was a lovely orange +velvet cap; and a starched muslin tucker covered her little arms. +Tyltyl was dressed in a red jacket and blue knickerbockers, both of +velvet; and of course he wore the wonderful little hat on his head. + +[Illustration: Delighted with the importance of his duty, undid the +top of his robe, drew his scimitar and cut two slices out of his +stomach] + +The Fairy said to them: + +"It is just possible that the Blue Bird is hiding at your +grandparents' in the Land of Memory; so you will go there first." + +"But how shall we see them, if they are dead?" asked Tyltyl. + +Then the good Fairy explained that they would not be really dead until +their grandchildren ceased to think of them: + +"Men do not know this secret," she added. "But, thanks to the diamond, +you, Tyltyl, will see that the dead whom we remember live as happily +as though they were not dead." + +"Are you coming with us?" asked the boy, turning to Light, who stood +in the doorway and lit up all the hall. + +"No," said the Fairy. "Light must not look at the past. Her energies +must be devoted to the future!" + +The two Children were starting on their way, when they discovered that +they were very hungry. The Fairy at once ordered Bread to give them +something to eat; and that big, fat fellow, delighted with the +importance of his duty, undid the top of his robe, drew his scimitar +and cut two slices out of his stomach. The Children screamed with +laughter. Tylo dropped his gloomy thoughts for a moment and begged +for a bit of bread; and everybody struck up the farewell chorus. +Sugar, who was very full of himself, also wanted to impress the +company and, breaking off two of his fingers, handed them to the +astonished Children. + +As they were all moving towards the door, the Fairy Berylune stopped +them: + +"Not to-day," she said. "The children must go alone. It would be +indiscreet to accompany them; they are going to spend the evening with +their late family. Come, be off! Good-bye, dear children, and mind +that you are back in good time: it is extremely important!" + +[Illustration: Sugar also wanted to impress the company and, breaking +off two of his fingers, handed them to the astonished Children] + +The two Children took each other by the hand and, carrying the big +cage, passed out of the hall; and their companions, at a sign from the +Fairy, filed in front of her to return to the palace. Our friend Tylo +was the only one who did not answer to his name. The moment he heard +the Fairy say that the Children were to go alone, he had made up his +mind to go and look after them, whatever happened; and, while the +others were saying good-bye, he hid behind the door. But the poor +fellow had reckoned without the all-seeing eyes of the Fairy Berylune. + +"Tylo!" she cried. "Tylo! Here!" + +And the poor Dog, who had so long been used to obey, dared not resist +the command and came, with his tail between his legs, to take his +place among the others. He howled with despair when he saw his little +master and mistress swallowed up in the great gold staircase. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE LAND OF MEMORY + + +The Fairy Berylune had told the Children that the Land of Memory was +not far off; but to reach it you had to go through a forest that was +so dense and so old that your eyes could not see the tops of the +trees. It was always shrouded in a heavy mist; and the Children would +certainly have lost their way, if the Fairy had not said to them +beforehand: + +"It is straight ahead; and there is only one road." + +The ground was carpeted with flowers which were all alike: they were +snow-white pansies and very pretty; but, as they never saw the sun, +they had no scent. + +Those little flowers comforted the Children, who felt extremely +lonely. A great mysterious silence surrounded them; and they trembled +a little with a very pleasant sense of fear which they had never felt +before. + +"Let's take Granny a bunch of flowers," said Mytyl. + +"That's a good idea! She will be pleased!" cried Tyltyl. + +And, as they walked along, the Children gathered a beautiful white +nosegay. The dear little things did not know that every pansy (which +means "a thought") that they picked brought them nearer to their +grandparents; and they soon saw before them a large oak with a +notice-board nailed to it. + +"Here we are!" cried the boy in triumph, as, climbing up on a root, he +read: + + "_The Land of Memory._" + +They had arrived; but they turned to every side without seeing a +thing: + +"I can see nothing at all!" whimpered Mytyl. "I'm cold!... I'm +tired!... I don't want to travel any more!" + +Tyltyl, who was wholly wrapped up in his errand, lost his temper: + +"Come, don't keep on crying just like Water!... You ought to be +ashamed of yourself!" he said. "There! Look! Look! The fog is +lifting!" + +And, sure enough, the mist parted before their eyes, like veils torn +by an invisible hand; the big trees faded away, everything vanished +and, instead, there appeared a pretty little peasant's cottage, +covered with creepers and standing in a little garden filled with +flowers and with trees all over fruit. + +[Illustration: Everything vanished and, instead, there appeared a +pretty little peasant's cottage] + +The Children at once knew the dear cow in the orchard, the watch-dog +at the door, the blackbird in his wicker cage; and everything was +steeped in a pale light and a warm and balmy air. + +Tyltyl and Mytyl stood amazed. So that was the Land of Memory! What +lovely weather it was! And how nice it felt to be there! They at once +made up their minds to come back often, now that they knew the way. +But how great was their happiness when the last veil disappeared and +they saw, at a few steps from them, Grandad and Granny sitting on a +bench, sound asleep. They clapped their hands and called out +gleefully: + +"It's Grandad! It's Granny!... There they are! There they are!" + +But they were a little scared by this great piece of magic and dared +not move from behind the tree; and they stood looking at the dear old +couple, who woke up gently and slowly under their eyes. Then they +heard Granny Tyl's trembling voice say: + +"I have a notion that our grandchildren who are still alive are coming +to see us to-day." + +And Gaffer Tyl answered: + +"They are certainly thinking of us, for I feel queer and I have pins +and needles in my legs." + +"I think they must be quite near," said Granny, "for I see tears of +joy dancing before my eyes and...." + +Granny had not time to finish her sentence. The Children were in her +arms!... What joy! What wild kisses and huggings! What a wonderful +surprise! The happiness was too great for words. They laughed and +tried to speak and kept on looking at one another with delighted eyes: +it was so glorious and so unexpected to meet again like this. When the +first excitement was over, they all began to talk at once: + +"How tall and strong you've grown, Tyltyl!" said Granny. + +And Grandad cried: + +"And Mytyl! Just look at her! What pretty hair, what pretty eyes!" + +And the Children danced and clapped their hands and flung themselves +by turns into the arms of one or the other. + +At last, they quieted down a little; and, with Mytyl nestling against +Grandad's chest and Tyltyl comfortably perched on Granny's knees, they +began to talk of family affairs: + +"How are Daddy and Mummy Tyl?" asked Granny. + +"Quite well, Granny," said Tyltyl. "They were asleep when we went +out." + +Granny gave them fresh kisses and said: + +"My word, how pretty they are and how nice and clean!... Why don't you +come to see us oftener? It is months and months now that you have +forgotten us and that we have seen nobody...." + +"We couldn't, Granny," said Tyltyl, "and to-day it's only because of +the Fairy...." + +"We are always here," said Granny Tyl, "waiting for a visit from those +who are alive. The last time you were here was on All-hallows...." + +"All-hallows? We didn't go out that day, for we both had colds!" + +"But you thought of us! And, every time you think of us, we wake up +and see you again." + +Tyltyl remembered that the Fairy had told him this. He had not thought +it possible then; but now, with his head on the heart of the dear +Granny whom he had missed so much, he began to understand things and +he felt that his grandparents had not left him altogether. He asked: + +"So you are not really dead?..." + +The old couple burst out laughing. When they exchanged their life on +earth for another and a much nicer and more beautiful life, they had +forgotten the word "dead." + +"What does that word 'dead' mean?" asked Gaffer Tyl. + +"Why, it means that one's no longer alive!" said Tyltyl. + +Grandad and Granny only shrugged their shoulders: + +"How stupid the Living are, when they speak of the Others!" was all +they said. + +And they went over their memories again, rejoicing in being able to +chat. + +All old people love discussing old times. The future is finished, as +far as they are concerned; and so they delight in the present and the +past. But we are growing impatient, like Tyltyl; and, instead of +listening to them, we will follow our little friend's movements. + +He had jumped off Granny's knees and was poking about in every corner, +delighted at finding all sorts of things which he knew and remembered: + +"Nothing is changed, everything is in its old place!" he cried. And, +as he had not been to the old people's home for so long, everything +struck him as much nicer; and he added, in the voice of one who knows, +"Only everything is prettier!... Hullo, there's the clock with the big +hand which I broke the point off and the hole which I made in the +door, the day I found Grandad's gimlet...." + +"Yes, you've done some damage in your time!" said Grandad. "And +there's the plum-tree which you were so fond of climbing, when I +wasn't looking...." + +Meantime, Tyltyl was not forgetting his errand: + +"You haven't the Blue Bird here by chance, I suppose?" + +At the same moment, Mytyl, lifting her head, saw a cage: + +"Hullo, there's the old blackbird!... Does he still sing?" + +As she spoke, the blackbird woke up and began to sing at the top of +his voice. + +"You see," said Granny, "as soon as one thinks of him...." + +Tyltyl was simply amazed at what he saw: + +"But he's blue!" he shouted. "Why, that's the bird, the Blue Bird!... +He's blue, blue, blue as a blue glass marble!... Will you give him to +me?" + +The grandparents gladly consented; and, full of triumph, Tyltyl went +and fetched the cage which he had left by the tree. He took hold of +the precious bird with the greatest of care; and it began to hop about +in its new home. + +"How pleased the Fairy will be!" said the boy, rejoicing at his +conquest. "And Light too!" + +"Come along," said the grandparents. "Come and look at the cow and the +bees." + +As the old couple were beginning to toddle across the garden, the +children suddenly asked if their little dead brothers and sisters were +there too. At the same moment, seven little children, who, up to then, +had been sleeping in the house, came tearing like mad into the garden. +Tyltyl and Mytyl ran up to them. They all hustled and hugged one +another and danced and whirled about and uttered screams of joy. + +"Here they are, here they are!" said Granny. "As soon as you speak of +them, they are there, the imps!" + +Tyltyl caught a little one by the hair: + +"Hullo, Pierrot! So we're going to fight again, as in the old days!... +And Robert!... I say, Jean, what's become of your top?... Madeleine +and Pierrette and Pauline!... And here's Riquette!..." + +Mytyl laughed: + +"Riquette's still crawling on all fours!" + +Tyltyl noticed a little dog yapping around them: + +"There's Kiki, whose tail I cut off with Pauline's scissors.... He +hasn't changed either...." + +"No," said Gaffer Tyl, in a voice of great importance, "nothing +changes here!" + +But, suddenly, amid the general rejoicings, the old people stopped +spell-bound: they had heard the small voice of the clock indoors +strike eight! + +[Illustration: The grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper] + +"How's this?" they asked. "It never strikes nowadays...." + +"That's because we no longer think of the time," said Granny. "Was any +one thinking of the time?" + +"Yes, I was," said Tyltyl. "So it's eight o'clock?... Then I'm off, +for I promised Light to be back before nine...." + +He was going for the cage, but the others were too happy to let him +run away so soon: it would be horrid to say good-bye like that! Granny +had a good idea: she knew what a little glutton Tyltyl was. It was +just supper-time and, as luck would have it, there was some capital +cabbage-soup and a beautiful plum-tart. + +"Well," said our hero, "as I've got the Blue Bird!... And cabbage-soup +is a thing you don't have every day!..." + +They all hurried and carried the table outside and laid it with a nice +white table-cloth and put a plate for each; and, lastly, Granny +brought out the steaming soup-tureen in state. The lamp was lit and +the grandparents and grandchildren sat down to supper, jostling and +elbowing one another and laughing and shouting with pleasure. Then, +for a time, nothing was heard but the sound of the wooden spoons +noisily clattering against the soup-plates. + +"How good it is! Oh, how good it is!" shouted Tyltyl, who was eating +greedily. "I want some more! More! More! More!" + +"Come, come, a little more quiet," said Grandad. "You're just as +ill-behaved as ever; and you'll break your plate...." + +Tyltyl took no notice of the remark, stood up on his stool, caught +hold of the tureen and dragged it towards him and upset it; and the +hot soup trickled all over the table and down upon everybody's lap. +The children yelled and screamed with pain. Granny was quite scared; +and Grandad was furious. He dealt our friend Tyltyl a tremendous box +on the ear. + +Tyltyl was staggered for a moment; and then he put his hand to his +cheek with a look of rapture and exclaimed: + +"Grandad, how good, how jolly! It was just like the slaps you used to +give me when you were alive!... I must give you a kiss for it!..." + +Everybody laughed. + +"There's more where that came from, if you like them!" said Grandad, +grumpily. + +But he was touched, all the same, and turned to wipe a tear from his +eyes. + +"Goodness!" cried Tyltyl, starting up. "There's half-past eight +striking!... Mytyl, we've only just got time!..." + +Granny in vain implored them to stay a few minutes longer. + +"No, we can't possibly," said Tyltyl firmly; "I promised Light!" + +And he hurried to take up the precious cage. + +"Good-bye, Grandad.... Good-bye, Granny.... Good-bye, brothers and +sisters, Pierrot, Robert, Pauline, Madeleine, Riquette and you, too, +Kiki.... We can't stay.... Don't cry, Granny; we will come back +often!" + +Poor old Grandad was very much upset and complained lustily: + +"Gracious me, how tiresome the Living are, with all their fuss and +excitement!" + +Tyltyl tried to console him and again promised to come back very +often. + +"Come back every day!" said Granny. "It is our only pleasure; and it's +such a treat for us when your thoughts pay us a visit!" + +"Good-bye! Good-bye!" cried the brothers and sisters in chorus. "Come +back very soon! Bring us some barley sugar!" + +There were more kisses; all waved their handkerchiefs; all shouted a +last good-bye. But the figures began to fade away; the little voices +could no longer be heard; the two Children were once more wrapped in +mist; and the old forest covered them with its great dark mantle. + +"I'm so frightened!" whimpered Mytyl. "Give me your hand, little +brother! I'm so frightened!" + +Tyltyl was shaking too, but it was his duty to try and comfort and +console his sister: + +"Hush!" he said. "Remember that we are bringing back the Blue Bird!" + +As he spoke, a thin ray of light pierced the gloom; and the little boy +hurried towards it. He was holding his cage tight in his arms; and the +first thing he did was to look at his bird.... Alas and alack, what a +disappointment awaited him! The beautiful Blue Bird of the Land of +Memory had turned quite black! Stare at it as hard as Tyltyl might, +the bird was black! Oh, how well he knew the old blackbird that used +to sing in its wicker prison, in the old days, at the door of the +house! What had happened? How painful it was! And how cruel life +seemed to him just then! + +He had started on his journey with such zest and delight that he had +not thought for a moment of the difficulties and dangers. Full of +confidence, pluck and kindness, he had marched off, certain of +finding the beautiful Blue Bird which would bring happiness to the +Fairy's little girl. And now all his hopes were shattered! For the +first time, our poor friend understood the trials, the vexations and +the obstacles that awaited him! Alas, was he attempting an impossible +thing? Was the Fairy making fun of him? Would he ever find the Blue +Bird? All his courage seemed to be leaving him.... + +To add to his misfortunes, he could not find the straight road by +which he had come. There was not a single white pansy on the ground; +and he began to cry. + +Luckily, our little friends were not to remain in trouble long. The +Fairy had promised that Light would watch over them. The first trial +was over; and, just as outside the old people's house a little while +ago, the mist now suddenly lifted. But, instead of disclosing a +peaceful picture, a gentle, homely scene, it revealed a marvellous +temple, with a blinding glare streaming from it. + +On the threshold stood Light, fair and beautiful in her +diamond-coloured dress. She smiled when Tyltyl told her of his first +failure. She knew what the little ones were seeking; she knew +everything. For Light surrounds all mortals with her love, though none +of them is fond enough of her ever to receive her thoroughly and thus +to learn all the secrets of Truth. Now, for the first time, thanks to +the diamond which the Fairy had given to the boy, she was going to try +and conquer a human soul: + +"Do not be sad," she said to the Children. "Are you not pleased to +have seen your grandparents? Is that not enough happiness for one day? +Are you not glad to have restored the old blackbird to life? Listen to +him singing!" + +For the old blackbird was singing with might and main; and his little +yellow eyes sparkled with pleasure as he hopped about his big cage. + +"As you look for the Blue Bird, dear Children, accustom yourselves to +love the grey birds which you find on your way." + +She nodded her fair head gravely; and it was quite clear that she knew +where the Blue Bird was. But life is often full of beautiful +mysteries, which we must respect, lest we should destroy them; and, if +Light had told the Children where the Blue Bird was, well, they would +never have found him! I will tell you why at the end of this story. + +And now let us leave our little friends to sleep on beautiful white +clouds under Light's watchful care. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE PALACE OF NIGHT + + +Some time after, the Children and their friends met at the first dawn +to go to the Palace of Night, where they hoped to find the Blue Bird. +Several of the party failed to answer to their names when the roll was +called. Milk, for whom any sort of excitement was bad, was keeping her +room. Water sent an excuse: she was accustomed always to travel in a +bed of moss, was already half-dead with fatigue and was afraid of +falling ill. As for Light, she had been on bad terms with Night since +the world began; and Fire, as a relation, shared her dislike. Light +kissed the Children and told Tylo the way, for it was his business to +lead the expedition; and the little band set out upon its road. + +You can imagine dear Tylo trotting ahead, on his hind legs, like a +little man, with his nose in the air, his tongue dangling down his +chin, his front paws folded across his chest. He fidgets, sniffs +about, runs up and down, covering twice the ground without minding how +tired it makes him. He is so full of his own importance that he +disdains the temptations on his path: he neglects the rubbish heaps, +pays no attention to anything he sees and cuts all his old friends. + +Poor Tylo! He was so delighted to become a man; and yet he was no +happier than before! Of course, life was the same to him, because his +nature had remained unchanged. What was the use of his being a man, if +he continued to feel and think like a dog? In fact, his troubles were +increased a hundred-fold by the sense of responsibility that now +weighed upon him. + +"Ah!" he said, with a sigh, for he was joining blindly in his little +gods' search, without for a moment reflecting that the end of the +journey would mean the end of his life. "Ah," he said, "if I got hold +of that rascal of a Blue Bird, trust me, I wouldn't touch him even +with the tip of my tongue, not if he were as plump and sweet as a +quail!" + +Bread followed solemnly, carrying the cage; the two Children came +next; and Sugar brought up the rear. + +But where was the Cat? To discover the reason of her absence, we must +go a little way back and read her thoughts. At the time when Tylette +called a meeting of the Animals and Things in the Fairy's hall, she +was contemplating a great plot which would aim at prolonging the +journey; but she had reckoned without the stupidity of her hearers: + +"The idiots," she thought, "have very nearly spoiled the whole thing +by foolishly throwing themselves at the Fairy's feet, as though they +were guilty of a crime. It is better to rely upon one's self alone. In +my cat-life, all our training is founded on suspicion; I can see that +it is just the same in the life of men. Those who confide in others +are only betrayed; it is better to keep silent and to be treacherous +one's self." + +[Illustration: The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and +rather dangerous] + +As you see, my dear little readers, the Cat was in the same position +as the Dog: she had not changed her soul and was simply continuing her +former existence; but, of course, she was very wicked, whereas our +dear Tylo was, if anything, too good. Tylette, therefore, resolved to +act on her own account and went, before daybreak, to call on Night, +who was an old friend of hers. + +The road to the Palace of Night was rather long and rather dangerous. +It had precipices on either side of it; you had to climb up and climb +down and then climb up again among high rocks that always seemed +waiting to crush the passers-by. At last, you came to the edge of a +dark circle; and there you had to go down thousands of steps to reach +the black-marble underground palace in which Night lived. + +The Cat, who had often been there before, raced along the road, light +as a feather. Her cloak, borne on the wind, streamed like a banner +behind her; the plume in her hat fluttered gracefully; and her little +grey kid boots hardly touched the ground. She soon reached her +destination and, in a few bounds, came to the great hall where Night +was. + +It was really a wonderful sight. Night, stately and grand as a Queen, +reclined upon her throne; she slept; and not a glimmer, not a star +twinkled around her. But we know that the night has no secrets for +cats and that their eyes have the power of piercing the darkness. So +Tylette saw Night as though it were broad daylight. + +Before waking her, she cast a loving glance at that motherly and +familiar face. It was white and silvery as the moon; and its unbending +features inspired both fear and admiration. Night's figure, which was +half visible through her long black veils, was as beautiful as that of +a Greek statue. She had long arms and a pair of enormous wings, now +furled in sleep, came from her shoulders to her feet and gave her a +look of majesty beyond compare. Still, in spite of her affection for +her best of friends, Tylette did not waste too much time in gazing at +her: it was a critical moment; and time was short. Tired and jaded and +overcome with anguish, she sank upon the steps of the throne and +mewed, plaintively: + +"It is I, Mother Night!... I am worn out!" + +[Illustration: Night sat up, all quivering. Her immense wings beat +around her; and she questioned Tylette in a trembling voice] + +Night is of an anxious nature and easily alarmed. Her beauty, built up +of peace and repose, possesses the secret of Silence, which life is +constantly disturbing: a star shooting through the sky, a leaf falling +to the ground, the hoot of an owl, a mere nothing is enough to tear +the black velvet pall which she spreads over the earth each evening. +The Cat, therefore, had not finished speaking, when Night sat up, all +quivering. Her immense wings beat around her; and she questioned +Tylette in a trembling voice. As soon as she had learned the danger +that threatened her, she began to lament her fate. What! A man's son +coming to her palace! And, perhaps, with the help of the magic +diamond, discovering her secrets! What should she do? What would +become of her? How could she defend herself? And, forgetting that she +was sinning against Silence, her own particular god, Night began to +utter piercing screams. It was true that falling into such a commotion +was hardly likely to help her find a cure for her troubles. Luckily +for her, Tylette, who was accustomed to the annoyances and worries of +human life, was better armed. She had worked out her plan when going +ahead of the children; and she was hoping to persuade Night to adopt +it. She explained this plan to her in a few words: + +"I see only one thing for it, Mother Night: as they are children, we +must give them such a fright that they will not dare to insist on +opening the great door at the back of the hall, behind which the Birds +of the Moon live and generally the Blue Bird too. The secrets of the +other caverns will be sure to scare them. The hope of our safety lies +in the terror which you will make them feel." + +There was clearly no other course to take. But Night had not time to +reply, for she heard a sound. Then her beautiful features contracted; +her wings spread out angrily; and everything in her attitude told +Tylette that Night approved of her plan. + +"Here they are!" cried the Cat. + +The little band came marching down the steps of Night's gloomy +staircase. Tylo pranced bravely in front, whereas Tyltyl looked around +him with an anxious glance. He certainly found nothing to comfort him. +It was all very magnificent, but very terrifying. Picture a huge and +wonderful black marble hall, of a stern and tomb-like splendour. There +is no ceiling visible; and the ebony pillars that surround the +amphitheatre shoot up to the sky. It is only when you lift your eyes +up there that you catch the faint light falling from the stars. +Everywhere, the thickest darkness reigns. Two restless flames--no +more--flicker on either side of Night's throne, before a monumental +door of brass. Bronze doors show through the pillars to the right and +left. + +The Cat rushed up to the Children: + +"This way, little master, this way!... I have told Night; and she is +delighted to see you." + +Tylette's soft voice and smile made Tyltyl feel himself again; and he +walked up to the throne with a bold and confident step, saying: + +"Good-day, Mrs. Night!" + +Night was offended by the word, "Good-day," which reminded her of her +eternal enemy Light, and answered drily: + +"Good-day?... I am not used to that!... You might say, Good-night, or, +at least, Good-evening!" + +Our hero was not prepared to quarrel. He felt very small in the +presence of that stately lady. He quickly begged her pardon, as nicely +as he could; and very gently asked her leave to look for the Blue Bird +in her palace. + +"I have never seen him, he is not here!" exclaimed Night, flapping her +great wings to frighten the boy. + +But, when he insisted and gave no sign of fear, she herself began to +dread the diamond, which, by lighting up her darkness, would +completely destroy her power; and she thought it better to pretend to +yield to an impulse of generosity and at once to point to the big key +that lay on the steps of the throne. + +Without a moment's hesitation, Tyltyl seized hold of it and ran to the +first door of the hall. + +Everybody shook with fright. Bread's teeth chattered in his head; +Sugar, who was standing some way off, moaned with mortal anguish; +Mytyl howled: + +"Where is Sugar?... I want to go home!" + +Meanwhile, Tyltyl, pale and resolute, was trying to open the door, +while Night's grave voice, rising above the din, proclaimed the first +danger. + +"It's the Ghosts!" + +"Oh, dear!" thought Tyltyl. "I have never seen a ghost: it must be +awful!" + +The faithful Tylo, by his side, was panting with all his might, for +dogs hate anything uncanny. + +At last, the key grated in the lock. Silence reigned as dense and +heavy as the darkness. No one dared draw a breath. Then the door +opened; and, in a moment, the gloom was filled with white figures +running in every direction. Some lengthened out right up to the sky; +others twined themselves round the pillars; others wriggled ever so +fast along the ground. They were something like men, but it was +impossible to distinguish their features; the eye could not catch +them. The moment you looked at them, they turned into a white mist. +Tyltyl did his best to chase them; for Mrs. Night kept to the plan +contrived by the Cat and pretended to be frightened. She had been the +Ghosts' friend for hundreds and hundreds of years and had only to say +a word to drive them in again; but she was careful to do nothing of +the sort and, flapping her wings like mad, she called upon all her +gods and screamed: + +"Drive them away! Drive them away! Help! Help!" + +But the poor Ghosts, who hardly ever come out now that Man no longer +believes in them, were much too happy at taking a breath of air; and, +had it not been that they were afraid of Tylo, who tried to bite their +legs, they would never have been put back indoors. + +"Oof!" gasped the Dog, when the door was shut at last. "I have strong +teeth, goodness knows; but chaps like those I never saw before! When +you bite them, you'd think their legs were made of cotton!" + +By this time, Tyltyl was making for the second door and asking: + +"What's behind this one?" + +Night made a gesture as though to put him off. Did the obstinate +little fellow really want to see everything? + +"Must I be careful when I open it?" asked Tyltyl. + +"No," said Night, "it is not worth while. It's the Sicknesses. They +are very quiet, the poor little things! Man, for some time, has been +waging such war upon them!... Open and see for yourself...." + +Tyltyl threw the door wide open and stood speechless with +astonishment: there was nothing to be seen.... + +He was just about to close the door again, when he was hustled aside +by a little body in a dressing-gown and a cotton night-cap, who began +to frisk about the hall, wagging her head and stopping every minute to +cough, sneeze and blow her nose ... and to pull on her slippers, which +were too big for her and kept dropping off her feet. Sugar, Bread and +Tyltyl were no longer frightened and began to laugh like anything. But +they had no sooner come near the little person in the cotton night-cap +than they themselves began to cough and sneeze. + +"It's the least important of the Sicknesses," said Night. "It's +Cold-in-the-Head." + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" thought Sugar. "If my nose keeps on running like +this, I'm done for: I shall melt!" + +[Illustration: Wagging her head and stopping every minute to cough, +sneeze and blow her nose] + +Poor Sugar! He did not know where to hide himself. He had become very +much attached to life since the journey began, for he had fallen over +head and ears in love with Water! And yet this love caused him the +greatest worry. Miss Water was a tremendous flirt, expected a lot +of attention and was not particular with whom she mixed; but mixing +too much with Water was an expensive luxury, as poor Sugar found to +his cost; for, at every kiss he gave her, he left a bit of himself +behind, until he began to tremble for his life. + +When he suddenly found himself attacked by Cold-in-the-Head, he would +have had to fly from the palace, but for the timely aid of our dear +Tylo, who ran after the little minx and drove her back to her cavern, +amidst the laughter of Tyltyl and Mytyl, who thought gleefully that, +so far, the trial had not been very terrible. + +The boy, therefore, ran to the next door with still greater courage. + +"Take care!" cried Night, in a dreadful voice. "It's the Wars! They +are more powerful than ever! I daren't think what would happen, if one +of them broke loose! Stand ready, all of you, to push back the door!" + +Night had not finished uttering her warnings, when the plucky little +fellow repented his rashness. He tried in vain to shut the door which +he had opened: an invincible force was pushing it from the other side, +streams of blood flowed through the cracks; flames shot forth; shouts, +oaths and groans mingled with the roar of cannon and the rattle of +musketry. Everybody in the Palace of Night was running about in wild +confusion. Bread and Sugar tried to take to flight, but could not find +the way out; and they now came back to Tyltyl and put their shoulders +to the door with despairing force. + +The Cat pretended to be anxious, while secretly rejoicing: + +"This may be the end of it," she said, curling her whiskers. "They +won't dare to go on after this." + +Dear Tylo made superhuman efforts to help his little master, while +Mytyl stood crying in a corner. + +At last, our hero gave a shout of triumph: + +"Hurrah! They're giving way! Victory! Victory! The door is shut!" + +At the same time, he dropped on the steps, utterly exhausted, dabbing +his forehead with his poor little hands which shook with terror. + +"Well?" asked Night, harshly. "Have you had enough? Did you see them?" + +"Yes, yes!" replied the little fellow, sobbing. "They are hideous and +awful.... I don't think they have the Blue Bird...." + +"You may be sure they haven't," answered Night, angrily. "If they had, +they would eat him at once.... You see there is nothing to be +done...." + +Tyltyl drew himself up proudly: + +"I must see everything," he declared. "Light said so...." + +"It's an easy thing to say," retorted Night, "when one's afraid and +stays at home!" + +"Let us go to the next door," said Tyltyl, resolutely. "What's in +here?" + +"This is where I keep the Shades and the Terrors!" + +Tyltyl reflected for a minute: + +"As far as Shades go," he thought, "Mrs. Night is poking fun at me. +It's more than an hour since I've seen anything but shade in this +house of hers; and I shall be very glad to see daylight again. As for +the Terrors, if they are anything like the Ghosts, we shall have +another good joke." + +Our friend went to the door and opened it, before his companions had +time to protest. For that matter, they were all sitting on the floor, +exhausted with the last fright; and they looked at one another in +astonishment, glad to find themselves alive after such a scare. +Meanwhile, Tyltyl threw back the door and nothing came out: + +"There's no one there!" he said. + +"Yes, there is! Yes, there is! Look out!" said Night, who was still +shamming fright. + +She was simply furious. She had hoped to make a great impression with +her Terrors; and, lo and behold, the wretches, who had so long been +snubbed by Man, were afraid of him! She encouraged them with kind +words and succeeded in coaxing out a few tall figures covered with +grey veils. They began to run all around the hall until, hearing the +Children laugh, they were seized with fear and rushed indoors again. +The attempt had failed, as far as Night was concerned, and the dread +hour was about to strike. Already, Tyltyl was moving towards the big +door at the end of the hall. A few last words took place between them: + +"Do not open that one!" said Night, in awe-struck tones. + +"Why not?" + +"Because it's not allowed!" + +"Then it's here that the Blue Bird is hidden!" + +"Go no farther, do not tempt fate, do not open that door!" + +"But why?" again asked Tyltyl, obstinately. + +Thereupon, Night, irritated by his persistency, flew into a rage, +hurled the most terrible threats at him, and ended by saying: + +"Not one of those who have opened it, were it but by a hair's breadth, +has ever returned alive to the light of day! It means certain death; +and all the horrors, all the terrors, all the fears of which men speak +on earth are as nothing compared with those which await you if you +insist on touching that door!" + +"Don't do it, master dear!" said Bread, with chattering teeth. "Don't +do it! Take pity on us! I implore you on my knees!" + +"You are sacrificing the lives of all of us," mewed the Cat. + +"I won't! I sha'n't!" sobbed Mytyl. + +"Pity! Pity!" whined Sugar, wringing his fingers. + +All of them were weeping and crying, all of them crowded round Tyltyl. +Dear Tylo alone, who respected his little master's wishes, dared not +speak a word, though he fully believed that his last hour had come. +Two big tears rolled down his cheeks; and he licked Tyltyl's hands in +despair. It was really a most touching scene; and for a moment, our +hero hesitated. His heart beat wildly, his throat was parched with +anguish, he tried to speak and could not get out a sound: besides, he +did not wish to show weakness in the presence of his hapless +companions! + +"If I have not the strength to fulfil my task," he said to himself, +"who will fulfil it? If my friends behold my distress, it is all up +with me: they will not let me go through with my mission and I shall +never find the Blue Bird!" + +At this thought, the boy's heart leaped within his breast and all his +generous nature rose in rebellion. It would never do to be, perhaps, +within arm's length of happiness and not to try for it, at the risk of +dying in the attempt, to try for it and hand it over at last to all +mankind! + +That settled it! Tyltyl resolved to sacrifice himself. Like a true +hero, he brandished the heavy golden key and cried: + +"I must open the door!" + +He ran up to the great door, with Tylo panting by his side. The poor +Dog was half-dead with fright, but his pride and his devotion to +Tyltyl obliged him to smother his fears: + +"I shall stay," he said to his master, "I'm not afraid! I shall stay +with my little god!" + +In the meantime, all the others had fled. Bread was crumbling to bits +behind a pillar; Sugar was melting in a corner with Mytyl in his arms; +Night and the Cat, both shaking with fury, kept to the far end of the +hall. + +[Illustration: A wonderful garden lay before him, a dream-garden +filled with flowers that shone like stars] + +Then Tyltyl gave Tylo a last kiss, pressed him to his heart and, with +never a tremble, put the key in the lock. Yells of terror came from +all the corners of the hall, where the runaways had taken shelter, +while the two leaves of the great door opened by magic in front of our +little friend, who was struck dumb with admiration and delight. What +an exquisite surprise! A wonderful garden lay before him, a +dream-garden filled with flowers that shone like stars, waterfalls +that came rushing from the sky and trees which the moon had clothed in +silver. And then there was something whirling like a blue cloud among +the clusters of roses. Tyltyl rubbed his eyes; he could not believe +his senses. He waited, looked again and then dashed into the garden, +shouting like mad: + +"Come quickly!... Come quickly!... They are here!... We have them at +last!... Millions of blue birds!... Thousands of millions!... Come, +Mytyl!... Come, Tylo!... Come, all!... Help me!... You can catch them +by handfuls!..." + +Reassured at last, his friends came running up and all darted in among +the birds, seeing who could catch the most: + +"I've caught seven already!" cried Mytyl. "I can't hold them!" + +"Nor can I!" said Tyltyl. "I have too many of them!... They're +escaping from my arms!... Tylo has some too!... Let us go out, let us +go!... Light is waiting for us!... How pleased she will be!... This +way, this way!..." + +And they all danced and scampered away in their glee, singing songs of +triumph as they went. + +Night and the Cat, who had not shared in the general rejoicing, crept +back anxiously to the great door; and Night whimpered: + +"Haven't they got him?..." + +"No," said the Cat, who saw the real Blue Bird perched high up on a +moonbeam.... "They could not reach him, he kept too high...." + +Our friends in all haste ran up the numberless stairs between them and +the daylight. Each of them hugged the birds which he had captured, +never dreaming that every step which brought them nearer to the light +was fatal to the poor things, so that, by the time they came to the +top of the staircase, they were carrying nothing but dead birds. + +Light was waiting for them anxiously: + +"Well, have you caught him?" she asked. + +"Yes, yes!" said Tyltyl. "Lots of them! There are thousands! Look!" + +As he spoke, he held out the dear birds to her and saw, to his dismay, +that they were nothing more than lifeless corpses: their poor little +wings were broken and their heads drooped sadly from their necks! The +boy, in his despair, turned to his companions. Alas, they too were +hugging nothing but dead birds! + +Then Tyltyl threw himself sobbing into Light's arms. Once more, all +his hopes were dashed to the ground. + +"Do not cry, my child," said Light. "You did not catch the one that is +able to live in broad daylight.... We shall find him yet...." + +"Of course, we shall find him," said Bread and Sugar, with one voice. + +They were great boobies, both of them; but they wanted to console the +boy. As for friend Tylo, he was so much put out that he forgot his +dignity for a moment and, looking at the dead birds, exclaimed: + +"Are they good to eat, I wonder?" + +The party set out to walk back and sleep in the Temple of Light. It +was a melancholy journey; all regretted the peace of home and felt +inclined to blame Tyltyl for his want of caution. Sugar edged up to +Bread and whispered in his ear: + +"Don't you think, Mr. Chairman, that all this excitement is very +useless?" + +And Bread, who felt flattered at receiving so much attention, +answered, pompously: + +"Never you fear, my dear fellow, I shall put all this right. Life +would be unbearable if we had to listen to all the whimsies of that +little madcap!... To-morrow, we shall stay in bed!..." + +They forgot that, but for the boy at whom they were sneering, they +would never have been alive at all; and that, if he had suddenly told +Bread that he must go back to his pan to be eaten and Sugar that he +was to be cut into small lumps to sweeten Daddy Tyl's coffee and Mummy +Tyl's syrups, they would have thrown themselves at their benefactor's +feet and begged for mercy. In fact, they were incapable of +appreciating their good luck until they were brought face to face with +bad. + +Poor things! The Fairy Berylune, when making them a present of their +human life, ought to have thrown in a little wisdom. They were not so +much to blame. Of course, they were only following Man's example. +Given the power of speaking, they jabbered; knowing how to judge, they +condemned; able to feel, they complained. They had hearts which +increased their sense of fear, without adding to their happiness. As +to their brains, which could easily have arranged all the rest, they +made so little of them that they had already grown quite rusty; and, +if you could have opened their heads and looked at the works of their +life inside, you would have seen the poor brains, which were their +most precious possession, jumping about at every movement they made +and rattling in their empty skulls like dry peas in a pod. + +Fortunately, Light, thanks to her wonderful insight, knew all about +their state of mind. She determined, therefore, to employ the Elements +and Things no more than she was obliged to: + +"They are useful," she thought, "to feed the children and amuse them +on the way; but they must have no further share in the trials, because +they have neither courage nor conviction." + +Meanwhile, the party walked on, the road widened out and became +resplendent; and, at the end, the Temple of Light stood on a crystal +height, shedding its beams around. The tired Children made the Dog +carry them pick-a-back by turns; and they were almost asleep when they +reached the shining steps. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE KINGDOM OF THE FUTURE + + +Tyltyl and Mytyl woke up next morning, feeling very gay; with childish +carelessness, they had forgotten their disappointment. Tyltyl was very +proud of the compliments which Light had paid him: she seemed as happy +as though he had brought the Blue Bird with him: + +She said, with a smile, as she stroked the lad's dark curls: + +"I am quite satisfied. You are such a good, brave boy that you will soon +find what you are looking for." + +Tyltyl did not understand the deep meaning of her words; but, for all +that, he was very glad to hear them. And, besides, Light had promised +him that to-day he would have nothing to fear in their new expedition. +On the contrary, he would meet millions and millions of little +children who would show him the most wonderful toys of which no one on +earth had the least idea. She also told him that he and his little +sister would travel alone with her this time and that all the others +would take a rest while they were gone. + +That is why, at the moment when our chapter opens, they had all met in +the underground vaults of the temple. Light thought it as well to lock +up the Elements and Things. She knew that, if they were left to do as +they pleased, they might escape and get into mischief. It was not so +very cruel of her, because the vaults of her temple are even lighter +and lovelier than the upper floors of human houses; but you cannot get +out without her leave. She alone has the power of widening, with a +stroke of her wand, a little cleft in an emerald wall at the end of +the passage, through which you go down a few crystal steps till you +come to a sort of cave, all green and transparent like a forest when +the sunlight sweeps through its branches. + +Usually, this great hall was quite empty; but now it had sofas in it +and a gold table laid with fruits and cakes and creams and delicious +wines, which Light's servants had just finished setting out. Light's +servants were very odd! They always made the Children laugh: with +their long white satin dresses and their little black caps with a +flame at the top, they looked like lighted candles. Their mistress +sent them away and then told the Animals and Things to be very good +and asked them if they would like some books and games to play with; +they answered, with a laugh, that nothing amused them more than +eating and sleeping and that they were very glad to stay where they +were. + +[Illustration: Light's servants were very odd] + +Tylo, of course, did not share this view. His heart spoke louder than +his greed or his laziness; and his great dark eyes turned in entreaty +on Tyltyl, who would have been only too pleased to take his faithful +companion with him, if Light had not absolutely forbidden it: + +"I can't help it," said the boy, giving him a kiss. "It seems that +dogs are not admitted where we are going." + +Suddenly, Tylo sprang up with delight: a great idea had struck him. He +had not left his real, doggy life long enough to forget any part of +it, especially his troubles. Which was the greatest of these? Was it +not the chain? What melancholy hours Tylo had spent fastened to an +iron ring! And what humiliation he endured when the woodcutter used to +take him to the village and, with unspeakable silliness, keep him on +the lead in front of everybody, thus depriving him of the pleasure of +greeting his friends and sniffing the smells provided for his benefit +at every street-corner and in every gutter: + +"Well," he said to himself, "I shall have to submit to that +humiliating torture once again, to go with my little god!" + +Faithful to his traditions, he had, in spite of his fine clothes, +kept his dog-collar, but not his lead. What was to be done? He was +once more in despair, when he saw Water lying on a sofa and playing, +in an absent-minded sort of way, with her long strings of coral. He +ran up to her as prettily as he could and, after paying her a heap of +compliments, begged her to lend him her biggest necklace. She was in a +good temper and not only did what he asked, but was kind enough to +fasten the end of the coral string to his collar. Tylo gaily went up +to his master, handed him this necklace chain and, kneeling at his +feet, said: + +"Take me with you like this, my little god! Men never say a word to a +poor dog when he is on his chain!" + +"Alas, even like this, you cannot come!" said Light, who was much +touched by this act of self-sacrifice; and, to cheer him up, she told +him that fate would soon provide a trial for the Children in which his +assistance would be of great use. + +As she spoke these words, she touched the emerald wall, which opened +to let her pass through with the Children. + +Her chariot was waiting outside the entrance to the temple. It was a +lovely shell of jade, inlaid with gold. They all three took their +seats; and the two great white birds harnessed to it at once flew off +through the clouds. The chariot travelled very fast; and they were not +long on the road, much to the regret of the Children, who were +enjoying themselves and laughing like anything; but other and even +more beautiful surprises awaited them. + +The clouds vanished around them; and, suddenly, they found themselves +in a dazzling azure palace. Here, all was blue: the light, the +flagstones, the columns, the vaults; everything, down to the smallest +objects, was of an intense and fairy-like blue. There was no seeing +the end of the palace; the eyes were lost in the infinite sapphire +vistas. + +"How lovely it all is!" said Tyltyl, who could not get over his +astonishment. "Goodness me, how lovely!... Where are we?" + +"We are in the Kingdom of the Future," said Light, "in the midst of +the children who are not yet born. As the diamond allows us to see +clearly in this region which is hidden from men, we shall perhaps find +the Blue Bird here.... Look! Look at the children running up!" + +From every side came bands of little children dressed from head to +foot in blue; they had beautiful dark or golden hair and they were all +exquisitely pretty. They shouted gleefully: + +"Live Children!... Come and look at the little Live Children!" + +"Why do they call us the little Live Children?" asked Tyltyl, of +Light. + +"It is because they themselves are not alive yet. They are awaiting +the hour of their birth, for it is from here that all the children +come who are born upon our earth. When the fathers and mothers want +children, the great doors which you see over there, at the back, are +opened; and the little ones go down...." + +"What a lot there are! What a lot there are!" cried Tyltyl. + +"There are many more," said Light. "No one could count them. But go a +little further: you will see other things." + +Tyltyl did as he was told and elbowed his way through; but it was +difficult for him to move, because a crowd of Blue Children pressed +all around them. At last, by mounting on a step, our little friend was +able to look over the throng of inquisitive heads and see what was +happening in every part of the hall. It was most extraordinary! Tyltyl +had never dreamed of anything like it! He danced with joy; and Mytyl, +who was hanging on to him and standing on tip-toe so that she might +see too, clapped her little hands and gave loud cries of wonder. + +All around were millions of Children in blue, some playing, others +walking about, others talking or thinking. Many were asleep; many also +were at work; and their instruments, their tools, the machines which +they were building, the plants, the flowers and the fruits which they +were growing or gathering were of the same bright and heavenly blue as +the general appearance of the palace. Among the Children moved tall +persons also dressed in blue: they were very beautiful and looked just +like angels. They came up to Light and smiled and gently pushed aside +the Blue Children, who went back quietly to what they were doing, +though still watching our friends with astonished eyes. + +One of them, however, remained standing close to Tyltyl. He was quite +small. From under his long sky-blue silk dress peeped two little pink +and dimpled bare feet. His eyes stared in curiosity at the little Live +Boy; and he went up to him as though in spite of himself. + +"May I talk to him?" asked Tyltyl, who felt half-glad and +half-frightened. + +"Certainly," said Light. "You must make friends.... I will leave you +alone; you will be more at ease by yourselves...." + +So saying, she went away and left the two Children face to face, shyly +smiling. Suddenly, they began to talk: + +"How do you do?" said Tyltyl, putting out his hand to the Child. + +But the Child did not understand what that meant and stood without +moving. + +"What's that?" continued Tyltyl, touching the Child's blue dress. + +The Child, who was absorbed in what he was looking at, did not answer, +but gravely touched Tyltyl's hat with his finger: + +"And that?" he lisped. + +"That?... That's my hat," said Tyltyl. "Have you no hat?" + +"No; what is it for?" asked the Child. + +"It's to say How-do-you-do with," Tyltyl answered. "And then for when +it's cold...." + +"What does that mean, when it's cold?" asked the Child. + +"When you shiver like this: Brrr! Brrr!" said Tyltyl. "And when you go +like this with your arms," vigorously beating his arms across his +chest. + +"Is it cold on earth?" asked the Child. + +"Yes, sometimes, in winter, when there is no fire." + +"Why is there no fire?..." + +"Because it's expensive; and it costs money to buy wood...." + +The Child looked at Tyltyl again as though he did not understand a +word that Tyltyl was saying; and Tyltyl in his turn looked amazed: + +"It's quite clear that he knows nothing of the most everyday things," +thought our hero, while the child stared with no small respect at "the +little Live Boy" who knew everything. + +Then he asked Tyltyl what money was. + +"Why, it's what you pay with!" said Tyltyl, scorning to give any +further explanation. + +"Oh!" said the Child, seriously. + +Of course, he did not understand. How _could_ he know, a little boy +like that, who lived in a paradise where his least wishes were granted +before he had learned to put them into words? + +"How old are you?" asked Tyltyl, continuing the conversation. + +"I am going to be born soon," said the Child. "I shall be born in +twelve years.... Is it nice to be born?" + +"Oh, yes," cried Tyltyl, without thinking. "It's great fun!" + +But he was very much at a loss when the little boy asked him "how he +managed." His pride did not allow him to be ignorant of anything in +another child's presence; and it was quite droll to see him with his +hands in his breeches-pockets, his legs wide apart, his face upturned +and his whole attitude that of a man who is in no hurry to reply. At +last, he answered, with a shrug of the shoulders: + +"Upon my word, I can't remember! It's so long ago!" + +"They say it's lovely, the earth and the Live People!" remarked the +Child. + +"Yes, it's not bad," said Tyltyl. "There are birds and cakes and +toys.... Some have them all; but those who have none can look at the +others!" + +This reflection shows us the whole character of our little friend. He +was proud and inclined to be rather high-and-mighty; but he was never +envious and his generous nature made up to him for his poverty by +allowing him to enjoy the good fortune of others. + +[Illustration: Other Blue Children opened great big books] + +The two Children talked a good deal more; but it would take too long +to tell you all they said, because what they said was sometimes only +interesting to themselves. After a while, Light, who was watching them +from a distance, hurried up to them a little anxiously: Tyltyl was +crying! Big tears came rolling down his cheeks and falling on his +smart coat. She understood that he was talking of his grandmother and +that he could not keep back his tears at the thought of the love which +he had lost. He was turning away his head, to hide his feelings; +but the inquisitive Child kept asking him questions: + +"Do the grannies die?... What does that mean, dying?" + +"They go away one evening and do not come back." + +"Has yours gone?" + +"Yes," said Tyltyl. "She was very kind to me." + +And, at these words, the poor little fellow began to cry again. + +The Blue Child had never seen any one cry. He lived in a world where +grief did not exist. His surprise was great; and he exclaimed: + +"What's the matter with your eyes?... Are they making pearls?" + +To him those tears were wonderful things. + +"No, it's not pearls," said Tyltyl, sheepishly. + +"What is it then?" + +But our poor friend would not admit what he looked upon as a weakness. +He rubbed his eyes awkwardly and put everything down to the dazzling +blue of the palace. + +The puzzled Child insisted: + +"What's that falling down?" + +"Nothing; it's a little water," said Tyltyl, impatiently, hoping to +cut short the explanation. + +But that was out of the question. The Child was very obstinate, +touched Tyltyl's cheeks with his finger and asked, in a tone of +curiosity: + +"Does it come from the eyes?..." + +"Yes, sometimes, when one cries." + +"What does that mean, crying?" asked the Child. + +"I have not been crying," said Tyltyl proudly. "It's the fault of that +blue!... But, if I had cried, it would be the same thing...." + +"Do you often cry on earth?..." + +"Not little boys, but little girls do.... Don't you cry here?" + +"No, I don't know how...." + +"Well, you will learn...." + +At that moment, a great breath of wind made him turn his head and he +saw, at a few steps away from him, a large piece of machinery which he +had not noticed at first, as he was taken up with his interest in the +little Child. It was a grand and magnificent thing, but I cannot tell +you its name, because the inventions of the Kingdom of the Future will +not be christened by Man until they reach the earth. I can only say +that Tyltyl, when he looked at it, thought that the enormous azure +wings that whizzed so swiftly before his eyes were like the windmills +in his part of the world and that, if he ever found the Blue Bird, +its wings would certainly be no more delicate, dainty or dazzling. +Full of admiration, he asked his new acquaintance what they were. + +"Those?" said the Child. "That's for the invention which I shall make +on earth." + +And, seeing Tyltyl stare with wide-open eyes, he added: + +"When I am on earth, I shall have to invent the thing that gives +happiness.... Would you like to see it?... It is over there, between +those two columns...." + +Tyltyl turned round to look; but all the Children at once rushed at +him, shouting: + +"No, no, come and see mine!..." + +"No, mine is much finer!..." + +"Mine is a wonderful invention!..." + +"Mine is made of sugar!..." + +"His is no good!..." + +"I'm bringing a light which nobody knows of!..." + +And, so saying, the last Child lit himself up entirely with a most +extraordinary flame. + +Amid these joyous exclamations, the Live Children were dragged towards +the blue workshops, where each of the little inventors set his machine +going. It was a great blue whirl of disks and pulleys and straps and +fly-wheels and driving-wheels and cog-wheels and all kinds of wheels, +which sent every sort of machine skimming over the ground or shooting +up to the ceiling. Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or +opened great big books, or uncovered azure statues, or brought +enormous flowers and gigantic fruits that seemed made of sapphires and +turquoises. + +Our little friends stood with their mouths wide open and their hands +clasped together: they thought themselves in paradise. Mytyl bent over +to look at a huge flower and laughed into its cup, which covered up +her head like a hood of blue silk. A pretty Child, with dark hair and +thoughtful eyes, held it by the stalk and said, proudly: + +"The flowers will all grow like that, when I am on earth!" + +"When will that be?" asked Tyltyl. + +"In fifty-three years, four months and nine days." + +Next came two Blue Children bending under the weight of a pole from +which was slung a bunch of grapes each larger than a pear. + +"A bunch of pears!" cried Tyltyl. + +"No, they are grapes," said the Child. "They will all be like that +when I am thirty: I have found the way...." + +Tyltyl would have loved to taste them, but another Child came along +almost hidden under a basket which one of the tall persons was helping +him to carry. His fair-haired, rosy face smiled through the leaves +that hung over the wicker-work. + +[Illustration: Other Blue Children unfolded maps and plans, or brought +enormous flowers] + +"Look!" he said. "Look at my apples...." + +"But those are melons!" said Tyltyl. + +"No, no!" said the Child. "They are my apples! They will all be alike +when I am alive! I have discovered the process!..." + +I should never finish if I were to try and describe to my little +readers all the wonderful and incredible things that appeared before +our hero's eyes. But, suddenly, a loud burst of laughter rang through +the hall. A Child had spoken of the King of the Nine Planets; and +Tyltyl, very much puzzled and perplexed, looked on every side. All the +faces, bright with laughter, were turned to some spot which Tyltyl +could not see; every finger pointed in the same direction; but our +friend looked in vain. They had spoken of a king! He was looking for a +throne with a tall, dignified personage on it, wielding a golden +sceptre. + +"Over there ... over there ... lower down ... behind you!" said a +thousand little voices together. + +"But where is the King?" Tyltyl and Mytyl repeated, greatly +interested. + +Then, suddenly, a louder and more serious voice sounded above the +silvery murmur of the others: + +"Here I am!" it said proudly. + +And, at the same time, Tyltyl discovered a chubby baby which he had +not yet remarked, for it was the smallest and had kept out of the way +till then, sitting at the foot of a column in an attitude of +indifference, seemingly rapt in contemplation. The little King was the +only one who had taken no notice of the "Live Children." His +beautiful, liquid eyes, eyes as blue as the palace, were pursuing +endless dreams; his right hand supported his head, which was already +heavy with thought; his short tunic showed his dimpled knees; and a +golden crown rested on his yellow locks. When he cried, "Here I am!" +the baby rose from the step on which he was sitting and tried to climb +on to it at one stride; but he was still so awkward that he lost his +balance and fell upon his nose. He at once picked himself up with so +much dignity that nobody dared make fun of him; and, this time, he +scrambled up on all fours and then, putting his legs wide apart, stood +and eyed Tyltyl from top to toe. + +"You're not very big!" said Tyltyl, doing his best to keep from +laughing. + +"I shall do great things when I am!" retorted the King, in a tone that +admitted of no reply. + +"And what will you do?" asked Tyltyl. + +"I shall found the General Confederation of the Solar Planets," said +the King, in a very pompous voice. + +Our friend was so much impressed that he could not find a word to say; +and the King continued: + +"All the Planets will belong to it, except Uranus, Saturn and Neptune, +which are too ridiculously far away." + +Thereupon, he toddled off the step again and resumed his first +attitude, showing that he had said all that he meant to say. + +Tyltyl left him to his meditations; he was eager to know as many more +of the Children as he could. He was introduced to the discoverer of a +new sun, to the inventor of a new joy, to the hero who was to wipe out +injustice from the earth and to the wiseacre who was to conquer +Death.... There were such lots and lots of them that it would take +days and days to name them all. Our friend was rather tired and was +beginning to feel bored, when his attention was suddenly aroused by +hearing a Child's voice calling him: + +"Tyltyl!... Tyltyl!... How are you, Tyltyl, how are you?..." + +A little Blue Child came running up from the back of the hall, pushing +his way through the crowd. He was fair and slim and bright-eyed and +had a great look of Mytyl. + +"How do you know my name?" asked Tyltyl. + +"It's not surprising," said the Blue Child, "considering that I shall +be your brother!" + +This time, the Live Children were absolutely amazed. What an +extraordinary meeting! They must certainly tell Mummy as soon as they +got back! How astonished they would be at home! + +While they were making these reflections, the Child went on to +explain: + +"I am coming to you next year, on Palm Sunday," he said. + +And he put a thousand questions to his big brother: was it comfortable +at home? Was the food good? Was Daddy very severe? And Mummy? + +"Oh, Mummy is so kind!" said the little ones. + +And they asked him questions in their turn: what was he going to do on +earth? What was he bringing? + +"I am bringing three illnesses," said the little brother. "Scarlatina, +whooping-cough and measles...." + +"Oh, that's all, is it?" cried Tyltyl. + +He shook his head, with evident disappointment, while the other +continued: + +"After that, I shall leave you!" + +"It will hardly be worth while coming!" said Tyltyl, feeling rather +vexed. + +"We can't pick and choose!" said the little brother, pettishly. + +They would perhaps have quarrelled, without waiting till they were on +earth, if they had not suddenly been parted by a swarm of Blue +Children who were hurrying to meet somebody. At the same time, there +was a great noise, as if thousands of invisible doors were being +opened at the end of the galleries. + +"What's the matter?" asked Tyltyl. + +"It's Time," said one of the Blue Children. "He's going to open the +doors." + +And the excitement increased on every side. The Children left their +machines and their labours; those who were asleep woke up; and every +eye was eagerly and anxiously turned to the great opal doors at the +back, while every mouth repeated the same name. The word, "Time! +Time!" was heard all around; and the great mysterious noise kept on. +Tyltyl was dying to know what it meant. At last, he caught a little +Child by the skirt of his dress and asked him. + +"Let me be," said the Child, very uneasily. "I'm in a hurry: it may be +my turn to-day.... It is the Dawn rising. This is the hour when the +Children who are to be born to-day go down to earth.... You shall +see.... Time is drawing the bolts...." + +"Who is Time?" asked Tyltyl. + +"An old man who comes to call those who are going," said another +Child. "He is not so bad; but he won't listen or hear. Beg as they +may, if it's not their turn, he pushes back all those who try to +go.... Let me be! It may be my turn now!" + +Light now hastened towards our little friends in a great state of +alarm: + +"I was looking for you," she said. "Come quick: it will never do for +Time to discover you." + +As she spoke these words, she threw her gold cloak around the Children +and dragged them to a corner of the hall, where they could see +everything, without being seen. + +Tyltyl was very glad to be so well protected. He now knew that he who +was about to appear possessed so great and tremendous a power that no +human strength was capable of resisting him. He was at the same time a +deity and an ogre; he bestowed life and he devoured it; he sped +through the world so fast that you had no time to see him; he ate and +ate, without stopping; he took whatever he touched. In Tyltyl's +family, he had already taken Grandad and Granny, the little brothers, +the little sisters and the old blackbird! He did not mind what he +took: joys and sorrows, winters and summers, all was fish that came to +his net!... + +Knowing this, our friend was astonished to see everybody in the +Kingdom of the Future running so fast to meet him: + +"I suppose he doesn't eat anything here," he thought. + +There he was! The great doors turned slowly on their hinges. There was +a distant music: it was the sounds of the earth. A red and green light +penetrated into the hall; and Time appeared on the threshold. He was a +tall and very thin old man, so old that his wrinkled face was all +grey, like dust. His white beard came down to his knees. In one hand, +he carried an enormous scythe; in the other, an hour-glass. Behind +him, some way out, on a sea the colour of the Dawn, was a magnificent +gold galley, with white sails. + +"Are they ready whose hour has struck?" asked Time. At the sound of +that voice, solemn and deep as a bronze gong, thousands of bright +children's voices, like little silver bells, answered: + +"Here we are!... Here we are!... Here we are!..." + +And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round the tall old +man, who pushed them all back and, in a gruff voice, said: + +"One at a time!... Once again, there are many more of you than are +wanted!... You can't deceive me!" + +Brandishing his scythe in one hand and holding out his cloak with the +other, he barred the way to the rash Children who tried to slip by +him. Not one of them escaped the horrid old man's watchful eye: + +"It's not your turn!" he said to one. "You're to be born to-morrow!... +Nor yours either, you've got ten years to wait.... A thirteenth +shepherd?... There are only twelve wanted; there is no need for +more.... More doctors?... There are too many already; they are +grumbling about it on earth.... And where are the engineers?... They +want an honest man; only one, as a wonderful being." + +Thereupon, a poor Child, who had hung back, until then, came forward +timidly, sucking his thumb. He looked pale and sad and walked with +tottering footsteps; he was so wretched that even Time felt a moment's +pity: + +"It's you!" he exclaimed. "You seem a very poor specimen!" + +[Illustration: And, in a moment, the Blue Children were crowding round +the tall old man] + +And, lifting his eyes to the sky, with a look of discouragement, he +added: + +"You won't live long!" + +And the movement went on. Each Child, when denied, returned to his +employment with a downcast air. When one of them was accepted, the +others looked at him with envy. Now and then, something happened, as +when the hero who was to fight against injustice refused to go. He +clung to his playfellows, who called out to Time: + +"He doesn't want to, Sir!" + +"No, I don't want to go," cried the little fellow, with all his might. +"I would rather not be born." + +"And quite right too!" thought Tyltyl, who was full of common-sense +and who knew what things are like on earth. + +For people always get beatings which they have not deserved; and, when +they have done wrong, you may be sure that the punishment will fall on +one of their innocent friends. + +"I wouldn't care to be in his place," said our friend to himself. "I +would rather hunt for the Blue Bird, any day!" + +Meanwhile, the little seeker after justice went away sobbing, +frightened out of his life by Mr. Time. + +The excitement was now at its height. The Children ran all over the +hall: those who were going packed up their inventions; those who were +staying behind had a thousand requests to make: + +"Will you write to me?" + +"They say one can't!" + +"Oh, try, do try!" + +"Announce my idea!" + +"Good-bye, Jean.... Good-bye, Pierre!" + +"Have you forgotten anything?" + +"Don't lose your ideas!" + +"Try to tell us if it's nice!" + +"Enough! Enough!" roared Time, in a huge voice, shaking his big keys +and his terrible scythe, "Enough! The anchor's weighed...." + +Then the Children climbed into the gold galley, with the beautiful +white silk sails. They waved their hands again to the little friends +whom they were leaving behind them; but, on seeing the earth in the +distance, they cried out, gladly: + +"Earth! Earth!... I can see it!..." + +"How bright it is!..." + +"How big it is!..." + +And, at the same time, as though coming from the abyss, a song rose, a +distant song of gladness and expectation. + +Light, who was listening with a smile, saw the look of astonishment on +Tyltyl's face and bent over him: + +"It is the song of the mothers coming out to meet them," she said. + +At that moment, Time, who had shut the doors, saw our friends and +rushed at them angrily, shaking his scythe at them. + +"Hurry!" said Light. "Hurry! Take the Blue Bird, Tyltyl, and go in +front of me with Mytyl." + +She put into the boy's arms a bird which she held hidden under her +cloak and, all radiant, spreading her dazzling veil with her two +hands, she ran on, protecting her charges from the onslaught of Time. + +In this way, they passed through several turquoise and sapphire +galleries. It was magnificently beautiful, but they were in the +Kingdom of the Future, where Time was the great master, and they must +escape from his anger which they had braved. + +Mytyl was terribly frightened and Tyltyl kept nervously turning round +to Light. + +"Don't be afraid," she said. "I am the only person whom Time has +respected since the world began. Only mind that you take care of the +Blue Bird. He's gorgeous! He is quite, quite blue!" + +This thought enraptured the boy. He felt the precious treasure +fluttering in his arms; his hands dared not press the pretty +creature's soft, warm wings; and his heart beat against its heart. +This time, he held the Blue Bird! Nothing could touch it, because it +was given to him by Light herself. What a triumph when he returned +home!... + +He was so bewildered by his happiness that he hardly knew where he was +going; his joy rang a victorious peal in his head that made him feel +giddy; he was mad with pride; and this, worse luck, made him lose his +coolness and his presence of mind! They were just about to cross the +threshold of the palace, when a gust of wind swept through the +entrance-hall, lifting up Light's veil and at last revealing the two +Children to the eyes of Time, who was still pursuing them. With a roar +of rage, he darted his scythe at Tyltyl, who cried out. Light warded +off the blow; and the door of the palace closed behind them with a +thud. They were saved!... But alas, Tyltyl, taken by surprise, had +opened his arms and now, through his tears, saw the Bird of the Future +soaring above their heads, mingling with the azure sky its dream-wings +so blue, so light and so transparent that soon the boy could make out +nothing more.... + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN THE TEMPLE OF LIGHT + + +Tyltyl had enjoyed himself thoroughly in the Kingdom of the Future. He +had seen many wonderful things and thousands of little playfellows and +then, without taking the least pains or trouble, had found the Blue +Bird in his arms in the most magical way. He had never pictured +anything more beautiful, more blue or brilliant; and he still felt it +fluttering against his heart and kept hugging his arms to his breast +as though the Blue Bird were there. + +Alas, it had vanished like a dream! + +He was thinking sadly of this latest disappointment as he walked +hand-in-hand with Light. They were back in the Temple and were going +to the vaults where the Animals and Things had been shut up. What a +sight met their eyes! The wretches had eaten and drunk such a lot that +they were lying on the floor quite tipsy! Tylo himself had lost all +his dignity. He had rolled under the table and was snoring like a +porpoise. His instinct remained; and the sound of the door made him +prick up his ears. He opened one eye, but his sight was troubled by +all that he had had to drink and he did not know his little master +when he saw him. He dragged himself to his feet with a great effort, +turned round several times and then dropped on the floor again with a +grunt of satisfaction. + +Bread and the others were as bad; and the only exception was the Cat, +who was sitting up prettily on a marble and gold bench and seemed in +full possession of her senses. She sprang nimbly to the ground and +stepped up to Tyltyl with a smile: + +"I have been longing to see you," she said, "for I have been very +unhappy among all these vulgar people. They first drank all the wine +and then started shouting and singing and dancing, quarrelling and +fighting and making such a noise that I was very glad when, at last, +they fell into a tipsy sleep." + +The children praised her warmly for her good behaviour. As a matter of +fact, there was no great merit in this, for she could not stand +anything stronger than milk; but we are seldom rewarded when by rights +we ought to be and sometimes are when we have not deserved it. + +After fondly kissing the children, Tylette asked a favour of Light: + +"I have had such a wretched time," she whined. "Let me go out for a +little while; it will do me good to be alone." + +[Illustration: The Cat at once draped her cloak round her, opened the +door and ran and bounded out into the forest] + +Light gave her consent without suspecting anything; and the Cat at +once draped her cloak round her, put her hat straight, pulled up her +soft grey boots over her knees, opened the door and ran and bounded +out into the forest. We shall know, a little later, where treacherous +Tylette was going so gaily and what was the horrid plot which she was +mysteriously concocting. + +As on the other days, the Children had their dinner with Light in a +large room all encrusted with diamonds. The servants bustled around +them smiling and brought delicious dishes and cakes. + +After dinner, our little friends began to yawn. They felt sleepy very +early, after all their adventures; and, Light--ever kind and +thoughtful--made them live as they were accustomed to on earth. So as +not to injure their health by altering their habits, she had set up +their little beds in a part of the temple where the darkness would +seem like night to them. + +They went through any number of rooms to reach their bedroom. They had +first to pass all the lights known to Man and then those which Man did +not yet know. + +There were great sumptuous apartments in splendid marble, lit up by +rays so white and strong that the children were quite dazzled. + +"That is the Light of the Rich," said Light to Tyltyl. "You see how +dangerous it is. People run the risk of going blind when they live too +much in its rays, which leave no room for soft and kindly shade." + +And she hurried them on so that they might rest their eyes in the +gentle Light of the Poor. Here, the Children suddenly felt as if they +were in their parents' cottage, where everything was so humble and +peaceful. The faint light was very pure and clear, but always +flickering and ready to go out at the least breath. + +Next they came to the beautiful Light of the Poets, which they liked +immensely, for it had all the colours of the rainbow; and, when you +passed through it, you saw lovely pictures, lovely flowers and lovely +toys which you were unable to take hold of. Laughing merrily, the +children ran after birds and butterflies, but everything faded away as +soon as it was touched. + +"Well, I never!" said Tyltyl, as he came panting back to Light. "This +beats everything! I can't understand it!" + +"You will understand later," she replied, "and, if you understand it +properly, you will be among the very few human beings who know the +Blue Bird when they see him." + +After leaving the region of the Poets, our friends reached the Light +of the Learned, which lies on the borders of the known and the unknown +lights: + +"Let's get on," said Tyltyl. "This is boring." + +To tell the truth, he was a little bit frightened, for they were in a +long row of cold and forbidding arches, which were streaked at every +moment by dazzling lightning-flashes; and, at each flash, you saw +out-of-the-way things that had no name as yet. + +After these arches, they came to the Lights Unknown to Man; and +Tyltyl, in spite of the sleep that pressed upon his eyelids, could not +help admiring the hall with its violet columns and the gallery with +its red rays. And the violet of the columns was such a dark violet and +the red of the rays such a pale red that it was hardly possible to see +either of them. + +At last, they arrived at the room of smooth, unflecked Black Light, +which men call Darkness because their eyes are not yet able to make it +out. And here the Children fell asleep without delay on two soft beds +of clouds. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE GRAVEYARD + + +When the Children were not going on an expedition, they played about +in the Realms of Light; and this was a great treat for them, for the +gardens and the country around the temple were as wonderful as the +halls and galleries of silver and gold. + +The leaves of some of the plants were so broad and strong that they +were able to lie down on them; and, when a breath of wind stirred the +leaves, the Children swung as in a hammock. It was always summer there +and never a moment was darkened by the night; but the hours were known +by their different colours; there were pink, white, blue, lilac, green +and yellow hours; and, according to their hues, the flowers, the +fruits, the birds, the butterflies and the scents changed, causing +Tyltyl and Mytyl a constant surprise. They had all the toys that they +could wish for. When they were tired of playing, they stretched +themselves out on the backs of the lizards, which were as long and +wide as little boats, and quickly, quickly raced round the +garden-paths, over the sand which was as white and as good to eat as +sugar. When they were thirsty, Water shook her tresses into the cup of +the enormous flowers; and the Children drank straight out of the +lilies, tulips and morning-glories. If they were hungry, they picked +radiant fruits which revealed the taste of Light to them and which had +juice that shone like the rays of the sun. + +There was also, in a clump of bushes, a white marble pond which +possessed a magic power: its clear waters reflected not the faces, but +the souls of those who looked into it. + +"It's a ridiculous invention," said the Cat, who steadily refused to +go near the pond. + +You, my dear little readers, who know her thoughts as well as I do, +will not be surprised at her refusal. And you will also understand why +our faithful Tylo was not afraid to go and quench his thirst there: he +need not fear to reveal his thoughts, for he was the only creature +whose soul never altered. The dear Dog had no feelings but those of +love and kindness and devotion. + +When Tyltyl bent over the magic mirror, he almost always saw the +picture of a splendid Blue Bird, for the constant wish to find him +filled his mind entirely. Then he would run to Light and entreat her: + +"Tell me where he is!... You know everything: tell me where to find +him!" + +But she replied, in a tone of mystery: + +"I cannot tell you anything. You must find him for yourself." And, +kissing him, she added, "Cheer up; you are getting nearer to him at +each trial." + +Now there came a day on which she said to him: + +"I have received a message from the Fairy Berylune telling me that the +Blue Bird is probably hidden in the graveyard.... It appears that one +of the Dead in the graveyard is keeping him in his tomb...." + +"What shall we do?" asked Tyltyl. + +"It is very simple: at midnight you will turn the diamond and you +shall see the Dead come out of the ground." + +At these words, Milk, Water, Bread and Sugar began to yell and scream +and chatter their teeth. + +"Don't mind them," said Light to Tyltyl, in a whisper. "They are +afraid of the Dead." + +"I'm not afraid of them!" said Fire, frisking about. "Time was when I +used to burn them; that was much more amusing than nowadays." + +"Oh, I feel I am going to turn," wailed Milk. + +"I'm not afraid," said the Dog, trembling in every limb, "but if you +run away.... I shall run away too ... and with the greatest +pleasure...." + +The Cat sat pulling at her whiskers: + +"I know what's what," she said, in her usual mysterious way. + +"Be quiet," said Light. "The Fairy gave strict orders. You are all to +stay with me, at the gate of the graveyard; the Children are to go in +alone." + +Tyltyl felt anything but pleased. He asked: + +"Aren't you coming with us?" + +"No," said Light. "The time for that has not arrived. Light cannot yet +enter among the Dead. Besides, there is nothing to fear. I shall not +be far away; and those who love me and whom I love always find me +again...." + +She had not finished speaking, when everything around the Children +changed. The wonderful temple, the dazzling flowers, the splendid +gardens vanished to make way for a poor little country cemetery, which +lay in the soft moonlight. Near the Children were a number of graves, +grassy mounds, wooden crosses and tombstones. Tyltyl and Mytyl were +seized with terror and hugged each other: + +"I am frightened!" said Mytyl. + +"I am never frightened," stammered Tyltyl, who was shaking with fear, +but did not like to say so. + +"I say," asked Mytyl, "are the Dead wicked?" + +"Why, no," said Tyltyl, "they're not alive!..." + +"Have you ever seen one?" + +"Yes, once, long ago, when I was very young...." + +"What was it like?" + +"Quite white, very still and very cold; and it didn't talk...." + +"Are we going to see them?" + +Tyltyl shuddered at this question and made an unsuccessful effort to +steady his voice as he answered: + +"Why, of course, Light said so!" + +"Where are the Dead?" asked Mytyl. + +Tyltyl cast a frightened look around him, for the Children had not +dared to stir since they were alone: + +"The Dead are here," he said, "under the grass or under those big +stones." + +"Are those the doors of their houses?" asked Mytyl, pointing to the +tombstones. + +"Yes." + +"Do they go out when it's fine?" + +"They can only go out at night." + +"Why?" + +"Because they are in their night-shirts." + +"Do they go out also when it rains?" + +"When it rains, they stay at home." + +"Is it nice in their homes?" + +"They say it's very cramped." + +"Have they any little children?" + +"Why, yes, they have all those who die." + +"And what do they live on?" + +Tyltyl stopped to think, before answering. As Mytyl's big brother, he +felt it his duty to know everything; but her questions often puzzled +him. Then he reflected that, as the Dead live under ground, they can +hardly eat anything that is above it; and so he answered very +positively: + +"They eat roots!" + +Mytyl was quite satisfied and returned to the great question that was +occupying her little mind: + +"Shall we see them?" she asked. + +"Of course," said Tyltyl, "we see everything when I turn the diamond." + +"And what will they say?" + +Tyltyl began to grow impatient: + +"They will say nothing, as they don't talk." + +"Why don't they talk?" asked Mytyl. + +"Because they have nothing to say," said Tyltyl, more cross and +perplexed than ever. + +"Why have they nothing to say?" + +This time, the little big brother lost all patience. He shrugged his +shoulders, gave Mytyl a push and shouted angrily: + +"You're a nuisance!..." + +Mytyl was greatly upset and confused. She sucked her thumb and +resolved to hold her tongue for ever after, as she had been so badly +treated! But a breath of wind made the leaves of the trees whisper and +suddenly recalled the Children to their fears and their sense of +loneliness. They hugged each other tight and began to talk again, so +as not to hear the horrible silence: + +"When will you turn the diamond?" asked Mytyl. + +"You heard Light say that I was to wait until midnight, because that +disturbs them less; it is when they come out to take the air...." + +"Isn't it midnight yet...." + +Tyltyl turned round, saw the church clock and hardly had the strength +to answer, for the hands were just upon the hour: + +"Listen," he stammered, "listen.... It is just going to strike.... +There!... Do you hear?..." + +And the clock struck twelve. + +Then Mytyl, frightened out of her life, began to stamp her feet and +utter piercing screams: + +"I want to go away!... I want to go away!..." + +Tyltyl, though stiff with fright, was able to say: + +"Not now.... I am going to turn the diamond...." + +"No, no, no!" cried Mytyl. "I am so frightened, little brother!... +Don't do it!... I want to go away!..." + +Tyltyl vainly tried to lift his hand: he could not reach the diamond +with Mytyl clinging to him, hanging with all her weight on her +brother's arm and screaming at the top of her voice: + +"I don't want to see the Dead!... They will be awful!... I can't +possibly!... I am much too frightened!..." + +Poor Tyltyl was quite as much terrified as Mytyl, but at each trial, +his will and courage were becoming greater; he was learning to master +himself; and nothing could induce him to fail in his mission. The +eleventh stroke rang out. + +"The hour is passing!" he exclaimed. "It is time!" + +And releasing himself resolutely from Mytyl's arms, he turned the +diamond.... + +A moment of terrible silence followed for the poor little children. +Then they saw the crosses totter, the mounds open, the slabs rise +up.... + +Mytyl hid her face against Tyltyl's chest: + +"They're coming out!" she cried. "They're there!... They're +there!..." + +The agony was more than the plucky little fellow could endure. He shut +his eyes and only kept himself from fainting by leaning against a tree +beside him. He remained like that for a minute that seemed to him like +a century, not daring to move, not daring to breathe. Then he heard +birds singing; a warm and scented breeze fanned his face; and, on his +hands, on his neck, he felt the soft heat of the balmy summer sun. Now +quite reassured, but unable to believe in so great a miracle, he +opened his eyes and at once began to shout with happiness and +admiration. + +From all the open tombs came thousands of splendid flowers. They +spread everywhere, on the paths, on the trees, on the grass; and they +went up and up until it seemed that they would touch the sky. They +were great full-blown roses, showing their hearts, wonderful golden +hearts from which came the hot, bright rays which had wrapped Tyltyl +in that summer warmth. Round the roses, birds sang and bees buzzed +gaily. + +"I can't believe it! It's not possible!" said Tyltyl. "What has become +of the tombs and the stone crosses?" + +Dazzled and bewildered, the two children walked hand in hand through +the graveyard, of which not a trace remained, for there was nothing +but a wonderful garden on every side. They were as glad and happy as +could be, after their terrible fright. They had thought that ugly +skeletons would rise from the earth and run after them, pulling horrid +faces; they had imagined all sorts of awful things. And now, in the +presence of the truth, they saw that all that they had been told was a +great big story and that Death does not exist. They saw that there are +no Dead and that Life goes on always, always, but under fresh forms. +The fading rose sheds its pollen, which gives birth to other roses, +and its scattered petals scent the air. The fruits come when the +blossoms fall from the trees; and the dingy, hairy caterpillar turns +into a brilliant butterfly. Nothing perishes ... there are only +changes.... + +Beautiful birds circled all round Tyltyl and Mytyl. There were no blue +ones among them, but the two Children were so glad of their discovery +that they asked for nothing more. Astonished and delighted, they kept +on repeating: + +"There are no Dead!... There are no Dead!..." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE FOREST + + +As soon as Tyltyl and Mytyl were in bed, Light kissed them and faded +away at once, so as not to disturb their sleep with the rays that +always streamed from her beautiful self. + +It must have been about midnight, when Tyltyl, who was dreaming of the +little Blue Children, felt a soft velvet paw pass to and fro over his +face. He was surprised and sat up in bed in a bit of a fright; but he +was soon reassured when he saw his friend Tylette's glowing eyes +glittering in the dark. + +"Hush!" said the Cat in his ear. "Hush! Don't wake anybody. If we can +arrange to slip out without being seen, we shall catch the Blue Bird +to-night. I have risked my life, O my dearest master, in preparing a +plan which will certainly lead us to victory!" + +"But," said the boy, kissing Tylette, "Light would be so glad to help +us ... and besides I should be ashamed to disobey her...." + +"If you tell her," said the Cat, sharply, "all is lost, believe me. Do +as I say; and the day is ours." + +As she spoke these words, she hastened to dress him and also Mytyl, +who had heard a noise and was asking to go with them. + +"You don't understand," groaned Tyltyl. "You are too small: you don't +know what a wicked thing we are doing...." + +But the treacherous Cat answered all his arguments, saying that the +reason why he had not found the Blue Bird so far was just the fault of +Light, who always brought brightness with her. Let the Children only +go hunting by themselves, in the dark, and they would soon find all +the Blue Birds that make men's happiness. The traitress displayed such +cleverness that, before long, Tyltyl's disobedience became a very fine +thing in his own eyes. Each of Tylette's words provided a good excuse +for his action or adorned it with a generous thought. He was too weak +to set his will against trickery, allowed himself to be persuaded and +walked out of the temple with a firm and cheerful step. Poor little +fellow: if he could only have foreseen the terrible trap that awaited +him! + +Our three companions set out across the fields in the white light of +the moon. The Cat seemed greatly excited, did nothing but talk and +went so fast that the children were hardly able to keep up with her: + +"This time," she declared, "we shall have the Blue Bird, I am sure of +it! I asked all the Trees in the very oldest forest; they know him, +because he hides among them. Then, in order to have everybody there, I +sent the Rabbit to beat the assembly and call the principal Animals in +the country." + +They reached the edge of the dark forest in an hour's time. Then, at a +turn in the road, they saw, in the distance, some one who seemed to be +hurrying towards them. Tylette arched her back: she felt that it was +her old time enemy. She quivered with rage: was he once more going to +thwart her plans? Had he guessed her secret? Was he coming, at the +last moment, to save the Children's lives? + +She leaned over to Tyltyl and whispered to him, in her most honeyed +voice: + +"I am sorry to say it is our worthy friend the Dog. It is a thousand +pities, because his presence will make us fail in our object. He is on +the worst of terms with everybody, even the Trees. Do tell him to go +back!" + +"Go away, you ugly thing!" said Tyltyl, shaking his fist at the Dog. + +Dear old faithful Tylo, who had come because he suspected the Cat's +plans, was much hurt by these hard words. He was ready to cry, was +still out of breath from running and could think of nothing to say. + +"Go away, I tell you!" said Tyltyl again. "We don't want you here and +there's an end of it.... You're a nuisance, there!..." + +The Dog was an obedient animal and, at any other time, he would have +gone; but his affection told him what a serious business it was and he +stood stock still. + +"Do you allow this disobedience?" said the Cat to Tyltyl, in a +whisper. "Hit him with your stick." + +Tyltyl beat the Dog, as the Cat suggested: + +"There, that will teach you to be more obedient!" he said. + +The poor Dog howled at receiving the blows; but there was no limit to +his self-sacrifice. He went up to his young master pluckily and, +taking him in his arms, cried: + +"I must kiss you now you've beaten me!" + +Tyltyl, who was a good-hearted little fellow, did not know what to do; +and the Cat swore between her teeth like a wild beast. Fortunately, +dear little Mytyl interfered on our friend's behalf: + +"No, no; I want him to stay," she pleaded. "I'm frightened when Tylo's +not with us." + +Time was short and they had to come to a decision. + +"I'll find some other way to get rid of the idiot!" thought the Cat. +And, turning to the Dog, she said, in her most gracious manner, "We +shall be _so_ pleased if you will join us!" + +As they entered the great forest, the Children stuck close together, +with the Cat and the Dog on either side of them. They were awed by the +silence and the darkness and they felt much relieved when the Cat +exclaimed: + +"Here we are! Turn the diamond!" + +Then the light spread around them and showed them a wonderful sight. +They were standing in the middle of a large round space in the heart +of the forest, where all the old, old Trees seemed to reach up to the +sky. Wide avenues formed a white star amidst the dark green of the +wood. Everything was peaceful and still; but suddenly a strange shiver +ran through the foliage; the branches moved and stretched like human +arms; the roots raised the earth that covered them, came together, +took the shapes of legs and feet and stood on the ground; a tremendous +crash rang through the air; the trunks of the Trees burst open and +each of them let out its soul, which made its appearance like a funny +human figure. + +Some stepped slowly from their trunks; others came out with a jump; +and all of them gathered inquisitively round our friends. + +The talkative Poplar began to chatter like a magpie: + +"Little Men! We shall be able to talk to them! We have done with +silence!... Where do they come from?... Who are they?" + +And so he rattled on. + +The Lime-tree, who was a jolly, fat fellow, came up calmly, smoking +his pipe; the conceited and dandified Chestnut-tree screwed his glass +into his eye to stare at the Children. He wore a coat of green silk +embroidered with pink and white flowers. He thought the little ones +too poor-looking and turned away in derision. + +"He thinks he's everybody, since he has taken to living in town! He +despises us!" sneered the Poplar, who was jealous of him. + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" wept the Willow, a wretched little stunted +fellow, who came clattering along in a pair of wooden shoes too big +for him. "They have come to cut off my head and arms for firewood!" + +Tyltyl could not believe his eyes. He never stopped asking the Cat +questions: + +"Who's this?... Who's that?..." + +And Tylette introduced the soul of each Tree to him. + +There was the Elm, who was a sort of short-winded, paunchy, crabby +gnome; the Beech, an elegant, sprightly person; the Birch, who looked +like the ghosts in the Palace of Night, with his white flowing +garments and his restless gestures. The tallest figure was the +Fir-tree: Tyltyl found it very difficult to see his face perched right +at the top of his long, thin body; but he looked gentle and sad, +whereas the Cypress, who stood near him, dressed all in black, +frightened Tyltyl terribly. + +However, so far nothing very dreadful had happened. The Trees, +delighted at being able to talk, were all chattering together; and our +young friend was simply going to ask them where the Blue Bird was +hidden, when, all of a sudden, silence reigned. The Trees bowed +respectfully and stood aside to make way for an immensely old Tree, +dressed in a long gown embroidered with moss and lichen. He leaned +with one hand on a stick and with the other on a young Oak Sapling who +acted as his guide, for the Old Oak was blind. His long white beard +streamed in the wind. + +"It's the King!" said Tyltyl to himself, when he saw his mistletoe +crown. "I will ask him the secret of the forest." + +And he was just going up to him, when he stopped, seized with surprise +and joy: there sat the Blue Bird before him, perched on the old Oak's +shoulder. + +"He has the Blue Bird!" cried the boy, gleefully. "Quick! Quick! Give +him to me!" + +"Silence! Hold your tongue!" said the greatly shocked Trees. + +"Take off your hat, Tyltyl," said the Cat. "It's the Oak!" + +The poor Child at once obeyed with a smile; he did not understand the +danger that threatened him and he did not hesitate to answer, "Yes, +Sir," when the Oak asked him if he was Tyl the woodcutter's son. + +Then the Oak, trembling with rage, began to lay a terrible charge +against Daddy Tyl: + +"In my family alone," he said, "your father has put to death six +hundred of my sons, four hundred and seventy-five uncles and aunts, +twelve hundred cousins of both sexes, three hundred and eighty +daughters-in-law and twelve thousand great-grandsons!" + +No doubt his anger made him exaggerate a little; but Tyltyl listened +without protest and said, very politely: + +"I beg your pardon, Sir, for disturbing you.... The Cat said that you +would tell us where the Blue Bird is." + +The Oak was too old not to know all there was to know about Men and +Animals. He smiled in his beard when he guessed the trap laid by the +Cat and he felt very glad at it, for he had long wished to revenge the +whole forest for the slavery to which Man had subjected it. + +"It's for the Fairy Berylune's little girl, who is very ill," the boy +continued. + +"Enough!" said the Oak, silencing him. "I do not hear the Animals.... +Where are they?... All this concerns them as much as us.... We, the +Trees, must not assume the responsibility alone for the grave measures +that have become necessary." + +"Here they come!" said the Fir-tree, looking over the top of the other +Trees. "They are following the Rabbit.... I can see the souls of the +Horse, the Bull, the Ox, the Cow, the Wolf, the Sheep, the Pig, the +Goat, and the Bear...." + +All the Animals now arrived. They walked on their hind-legs and were +dressed like human beings. They solemnly took up their positions in a +circle among the Trees, all except the frivolous Goat, who began to +skip down the avenues, and the Pig, who hoped to find some glorious +truffles among the roots that had newly left the ground. + +"Are all here present?" asked the Oak. + +"The Hen could not leave her eggs," said the Rabbit, "the Hare was out +for a run, the Stag has pains in his horns and his corns, the Fox is +ill--here is the doctor's certificate--the Goose did not understand +and the Turkey flew into a passion...." + +"Look!" whispered Tyltyl to Mytyl. "Aren't they funny? They are just +like the rich children's fine toys in the windows at Christmas-time." + +The Rabbit especially made them laugh, with his cocked hat over his +big ears, his blue, embroidered coat and his drum slung in front of +him. + +Meanwhile, the Oak was explaining the situation to his brothers the +Trees and to the Animals. Treacherous Tylette had been quite right in +reckoning on their hatred. + +"The child you see before you," said the Oak, "thanks to a talisman +stolen from the powers of Earth, is able to take possession of our +Blue Bird and thus to snatch from us the secret which we have kept +since the origin of life.... Now we know enough of Man to entertain no +doubt as to the fate which he reserves for us, once he is in +possession of this secret.... Any hesitation would be both foolish and +criminal.... It is a serious moment; the child must be done away with +before it is too late...." + +"What is he saying?" asked Tyltyl, who could not make out what the old +Tree was driving at. + +The Dog was prowling round the Oak and now showed his fangs: + +"Do you see my teeth, you old cripple?" he growled. + +"He is insulting the Oak!" said the Beech indignantly. + +"Drive him out!" shouted the Oak, angrily. "He's a traitor!" + +"What did I tell you?" whispered the Cat to Tyltyl. "I will arrange +things.... But send him away." + +"Will you be off!" said Tyltyl to the Dog. + +"Do let me worry the gouty old beggar's moss slippers!" begged Tylo. + +Tyltyl tried in vain to prevent him. The rage of Tylo, who understood +the danger, knew no bounds; and he would have succeeded in saving his +master, if the Cat had not thought of calling in the Ivy, who till +then had kept his distance. The Dog pranced about like a madman, +abusing everybody. He railed at the Ivy: + +"Come on, if you dare, you old ball of twine, you!" + +The onlookers growled; the Oak was pale with fury at seeing his +authority denied; the Trees and the Animals were indignant, but, as +they were cowards, not one of them dared protest; and the Dog would +have settled all of them, if he had gone on with his rebellion. But +Tyltyl threatened him harshly; and, suddenly yielding to his docile +instincts, Tylo lay down at his master's feet. Thus it is that our +finest virtues are treated as faults, when we exercise them without +discrimination. + +From that moment, the Children were lost. The Ivy gagged and bound +the poor Dog, who was then taken behind the Chestnut-tree and tied to +his biggest root. + +"Now," cried the Oak, in a voice of thunder, "we can take counsel +quietly.... This is the first time that it is given us to judge Man! I +do not think that, after the monstrous injustice which we have +suffered, there can remain the least doubt as to the sentence that +awaits him...." + +One cry rang from every throat: + +"Death! Death! Death!" + +The poor Children did not at first understand their doom, for the +Trees and Animals, who were more accustomed to talking their own +special language, did not speak very distinctly; and, besides, the +innocent Children could never imagine such cruelty! + +"What is the matter with them?" asked the boy. "Are they displeased?" + +"Don't be alarmed," said the Cat. "They are a little annoyed because +Spring is late...." + +And she went on talking into Tyltyl's ear, to divert his attention +from what was happening. + +While the trusting lad was listening to her fibs, the others were +discussing which form of execution would be the most practical and the +least dangerous. The Bull suggested a good butt with the horns; the +Beech offered his highest branch to hang the little Children on; and +the Ivy was already preparing a slip-knot! The Fir-tree was willing to +give the four planks for the coffin and the Cypress the perpetual +grant of a tomb. + +"By far the simplest way," whispered the Willow, "would be to drown +them in one of my rivers." + +And the Pig grunted between his teeth: + +"In my opinion, the great thing would be to eat the little girl.... +She ought to be very tender...." + +"Silence!" roared the Oak. "What we have to decide is which of us +shall have the honour of striking the first blow!" + +"That honour falls to you, our King!" said the Fir-tree. + +"Alas, I am too old!" replied the Oak. "I am blind and infirm! To you, +my evergreen brother, be the glory, in my place, of striking the +decisive blow that shall set us free." + +But the Fir-tree declined the honour on the pretext that he was +already to have the pleasure of burying the two victims and that he +was afraid of rousing jealousy. He suggested the Beech, as owning the +best club. + +"It is out of the question," said the Beech. "You know I am +worm-eaten! Ask the Elm and the Cypress." + +Thereupon the Elm began to moan and groan: a mole had twisted his +great toe the night before and he could hardly stand upright; and the +Cypress excused himself and so did the Poplar, who declared that he +was ill and shivering with fever. Then the Oak's indignation flared +up: + +"You are afraid of Man!" he exclaimed. "Even those unprotected and +unarmed little Children inspire you with terror!... Well, I shall go +forth alone, old and shaky and blind as I am, against the hereditary +enemy!... Where is he?..." + +And groping his way with his stick, he moved towards Tyltyl, growling +as he went. + +Our poor little friend had been very much afraid during the last few +minutes. The Cat had left him suddenly, saying that she wanted to +smooth down the excitement, and had not come back. Mytyl nestled +trembling against him; and he felt very lonely, very unhappy among +those dreadful people whose anger he was beginning to notice. When he +saw the Oak marching on him with a threatening air, he drew his +pocket-knife and defied him like a man: + +"Is it I he's after, that old one, with his big stick?" he cried. + +But, at the sight of the knife, Man's irresistible weapon, all the +Trees shook with fright and rushed at the Oak to hold him back. There +was a struggle; and the old King, conquered by the weight of years, +threw away his stick: + +"Shame on us!" he shouted. "Shame on us! Let the Animals deliver +us!..." + +The Animals were only waiting for this! All wanted to be revenged +together. Fortunately, their very eagerness caused a scrimmage which +delayed the murder of the dear little ones. + +Mytyl uttered piercing screams. + +"Don't be afraid," said Tyltyl, doing his best to protect her. "I have +my knife." + +"The little chap means to die game!" said the Cock. + +"That's the one I shall eat first," said the Pig, eyeing Mytyl +greedily. + +"What have I done to all of you?" asked Tyltyl. + +"Nothing at all, my little man," said the Sheep. "Eaten my little +brother, my two sisters, my three uncles, my aunt, my grandpapa and my +grandmamma.... Wait, wait, when you're down, you shall see that I have +teeth also...." + +And so the Sheep and the Horse, who were the greatest cowards, waited +for the little fellow to be knocked down before they dared take their +share in the spoil. + +While they were talking, the Wolf and the Bear treacherously attacked +Tyltyl from behind and pushed him over. It was an awful moment. All +the Animals, seeing him on the ground, tried to get at him. The boy +raised himself to one knee and brandished his knife. Mytyl uttered +yells of distress; and, to crown all, it suddenly became dark. + +Tyltyl called wildly for assistance: + +"Help! Help!... Tylo! Tylo!... To the rescue!... Where is Tylette?... +Come! Come!..." + +The Cat's voice was heard in the distance, where she was craftily +keeping out of sight: + +"I can't come!" she whined. "I'm wounded!" + +All this time, plucky little Tyltyl was defending himself as best he +could, but he was alone against all of them, felt that he was going to +be killed and, in a faltering voice, cried once more: + +"Help!... Tylo! Tylo!... I can't hold out!... There are too many of +them!... The Bear!... The Pig! The Wolf! The Fir-tree! The Beech!... +Tylo! Tylo! Tylo!..." + +Then the Dog came leaping along, dragging his broken bonds and +elbowing his way through the Trees and Animals and flung himself +before his master, whom he defended furiously: + +"Here, my little god! Don't be afraid! Have at them! I know how to use +my teeth!" + +All the Trees and Animals raised a loud outcry: + +"Renegade!... Idiot!... Traitor!... Felon!... Simpleton!... Sneak!... +Leave him!... He's a dead man!... Come over to us!..." + +The Dog fought on: + +"Never! Never!... I alone against all of you!... Never! Never!... True +to the gods, to the best, to the greatest!... Take care, my little +master, here's the Bear!... Look out for the Bull!" + +Tyltyl vainly tried to defend himself: + +"I'm done for, Tylo! It was a blow from the Elm! My hand's bleeding!" +And he dropped to the ground. "No, I can hold out no longer!" + +"They are coming!" said the Dog. "I hear somebody!... We are saved! It +is Light!... Saved! Saved!... See, they're afraid, they're +retreating!... Saved, my little king!..." + +And, sure enough, Light was coming towards them; and with her the dawn +rose over the forest, which became light as day. + +"What is it?... What has happened?" she asked, quite alarmed at the +sight of the little ones and their dear Tylo covered with wounds and +bruises. "Why, my poor boy, didn't you know? Turn the diamond +quickly!" + +Tyltyl hastened to obey; and immediately the souls of all the Trees +rushed back into their trunks, which closed upon them. The souls of +the Animals also disappeared; and there was nothing to be seen but a +cow and a sheep browsing peacefully in the distance. The forest became +harmless once more; and Tyltyl looked around him in amazement: + +"No matter," he said, "but for the Dog ... and if I hadn't had my +knife!..." + +Light thought that he had been punished enough and did not scold him. +Besides, she was very much upset by the horrible danger which he had +run. + +Tyltyl, Mytyl and the Dog, glad to meet again safe and sound, +exchanged wild kisses. They laughingly counted their wounds, which +were not very serious. + +Tylette was the only one to make a fuss: + +"The Dog's broken my paw!" she mewed. + +Tylo felt as if he could have made a mouthful of her: + +"Never mind!" he said. "It'll keep!" + +"Leave her alone, will you, you ugly beast?" said Mytyl. + +Our friends went back to the Temple of Light to rest after their +adventure. Tyltyl, repenting of his disobedience, dared not even +mention the Blue Bird of which he had caught a glimpse; and Light said +to the Children, gently: + +"Let this teach you, dears, that Man is all alone against all in this +world. Never forget that." + +[Illustration: A regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her +eyes, flooding all around her] + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE LEAVE-TAKING + + +Weeks and months had passed since the children's departure on their +journey; and the hour of separation was at hand. Light had been very +sad lately; she had counted the days in sorrow, without a word to the +Animals and Things, who had no idea of the misfortune that threatened +them. + +On the day when we see them for the last time, they were all out in +the gardens of the temple. Light stood watching them from a marble +terrace, with Tyltyl and Mytyl sleeping by her side. Much had happened +in the past twelve months; but the life of the Animals and Things, +which had no intelligence to guide it, had made no progress, on the +contrary. Bread had eaten so much that he was now not able to walk: +Milk, devoted as ever, dragged him along in a Bath chair. Fire's nasty +temper had made him quarrel with everybody and he had become very +lonely and unhappy in consequence. Water, who had no will of her own, +had ended by yielding to Sugar's sweet entreaties: they were now +married; and Sugar presented a most piteous sight. The poor fellow +was reduced to a shadow of his former self, shrank visibly day by day +and was sillier than ever, while Water, in marrying, had lost her +principal charm, her simplicity. The Cat had remained the liar that +she always was; and our dear friend Tylo had never been able to +overcome his hatred for her. + +"Poor things!" thought Light, with a sigh. "They have not gained much +by receiving the benefit of life! They have travelled and seen nothing +of all the wonders that surrounded them in my peaceful temple; they +were either quarrelling with one another or over-eating themselves +until they fell ill. They were too foolish to enjoy their happiness +and they will recognize it for the first time presently, when they are +about to lose it...." + +At that moment, a pretty dove, with silver wings, alighted on her +knees. It wore an emerald collar round its neck, with a note fastened +to the clasp. The dove was the Fairy Berylune's messenger. Light +opened the letter and read these few words: + +"Remember that the year is over." + +Then Light stood up, waved her wand and everything disappeared from +sight. + +A few seconds later, the whole company were gathered together outside +a high wall with a small door in it. The first rays of the dawn were +gilding the tree-tops. Tyltyl and Mytyl, whom Light was fondly +supporting with her arms, woke up, rubbed their eyes and looked around +them in astonishment. + +"What?" said Light to Tyltyl. "Don't you know that wall and that +little door?" + +The sleepy boy shook his head: he remembered nothing. Then Light +assisted his memory: + +"The wall," she said, "surrounds a house which we left one evening +just a year ago to-day...." + +"Just a year ago?... Why, then...." And, clapping his hands with glee, +Tyltyl ran to the door. "We must be near Mummy!... I want to kiss her +at once, at once, at once!" + +But Light stopped him. It was too early, she said: Mummy and Daddy +were still asleep and he must not wake them with a start. + +"Besides," she added, "the door will not open till the hour strikes." + +"What hour?" asked the boy. + +"The hour of separation," Light answered, sadly. + +"What!" said Tyltyl, in great distress. "Are you leaving us?" + +"I must," said Light. "The year is past. The Fairy will come back and +ask you for the Blue Bird." + +"But I haven't got the Blue Bird!" cried Tyltyl. "The one of the Land +of Memory turned quite black, the one of the Future flew away, the +Night's are dead, those in the Graveyard were not blue and I could not +catch the one in the Forest!... Will the Fairy be angry?... What will +she say?..." + +"Never mind, dear," said Light. "You did your best. And, though you +did not find the Blue Bird, you deserved to do so, for the good-will, +pluck and courage which you showed." + +Light's face beamed with happiness as she spoke these words, for she +knew that to deserve to find the Blue Bird was very much the same +thing as finding it; but she was not allowed to say this, for it was a +beautiful mystery, which Tyltyl had to solve for himself. She turned +to the Animals and Things, who stood weeping in a corner, and told +them to come and kiss the Children. + +Bread at once put down the cage at Tyltyl's feet and began to make a +speech: + +"In the name of all, I crave permission...." + +"You sha'n't have mine!" cried Fire. + +"Order!" cried Water. + +"We still have tongues of our own!" roared Fire. + +"Yes! Yes!" screamed Sugar, who, knowing that his end was at hand, +kept kissing Water and melting before the others' eyes. + +Poor Bread in vain tried to make his voice heard above the din. Light +had to interfere and command silence. Then Bread spoke his last words: + +"I am leaving you," he said, between his sobs. "I am leaving you, my +dear Children, and you will no longer see me in my living form.... +Your eyes are about to close to the invisible life of Things; but I +shall be always there, in the bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table, +beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, the most faithful +companion, the oldest friend of Man...." + +"Well, and what about me?" shouted Fire, angrily. + +"Silence!" said Light. "The hour is passing.... Be quick and say +good-bye to the Children...." + +Fire rushed forward, took hold of the Children, one after the other, +and kissed them so violently that they screamed with pain: + +"Oh! Oh!... He's burning me!..." + +"Oh! Oh!... He's scorched my nose!..." + +"Let me kiss the place and make it well," said Water, going up to the +children gently. + +This gave Fire his chance: + +"Take care," he said, "you'll get wet." + +"I am loving and gentle," said Water. "I am kind to human beings...." + +"What about those you drown?" asked Fire. + +But Water pretended not to hear: + +"Love the wells, listen to the brooks," she said. "I shall always be +there. When you sit down in the evening, beside the springs, try to +understand what they are trying to say...." + +Then she had to break off, for a regular waterfall of tears came +gushing from her eyes, flooding all around her. However, she resumed: + +"Think of me when you see the water-bottle.... You will find me also +in the ewer, the watering-can, the cistern and the tap...." + +Then Sugar came up, with a limping walk, for he could hardly stand on +his feet. He uttered a few words of sorrow, in an affected voice and +then stopped, for tears, he said, were not in harmony with his +temperament. + +"Humbug!" cried Bread. + +"Sugar-plum! Lollipop! Caramel!" yelped Fire. + +[Illustration: Closely pursued by the Dog, who overwhelmed her with +bites, blows and kicks] + +And all began to laugh, except the two children, who were very sad: + +"Where are Tylette and Tylo gone to?" asked our hero. + +At that moment, the Cat came running up, in a terrible state: her hair +was on end and dishevelled, her clothes were torn and she was holding +a handkerchief to her cheek, as though she had the tooth-ache. She +uttered terrible groans and was closely pursued by the Dog, who +overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks. The others rushed in +between them to separate them, but the two enemies continued to insult +and glare at each other. The Cat accused the Dog of pulling her tail +and putting tin tacks in her food and beating her. The Dog simply +growled and denied none of his actions: + +"You've had some," he kept saying, "you've had some and you're going +to have some more!" + +But, suddenly, he stopped and, as he was panting with excitement, it +could be seen that his tongue turned quite white: Light had told him +to kiss the Children for the last time. + +"For the last time?" stammered poor Tylo. "Are we to part from these +poor Children?" + +His grief was such that he was incapable of understanding anything. + +"Yes," said Light. "The hour which you know of is at hand.... We are +going to return to silence...." + +Thereupon the Dog, suddenly realizing his misfortune, began to utter +real howls of despair and fling himself upon the Children, whom he +loaded with mad and violent caresses: + +"No! No!" he cried. "I refuse!... I refuse!... I shall always talk!... +And I shall be very good.... You will keep me with you and I shall +learn to read and write and play dominoes!... And I shall always be +very clean.... And I shall never steal anything in the kitchen +again...." + +He went on his knees before the two Children, sobbing and entreating, +and, when Tyltyl, with his eyes full of tears, remained silent, dear +Tylo had a last magnificent idea: running up to the Cat, he offered, +with smiles that looked like grins, to kiss her. Tylette, who did not +possess his spirit of self-sacrifice, leaped back and took refuge by +Mytyl's side. Then Mytyl said, innocently: + +"You, Tylette, are the only one that hasn't kissed us yet." + +The Cat put on a mincing tone: + +"Children," said she, "I love you both as much as you deserve." + +There was a pause. + +"And now," said Light, "let me, in my turn, give you a last kiss...." + +As she spoke, she spread her veil round them as if she would have +wrapped them for the last time in her luminous might. Then she gave +them each a long and loving kiss. Tyltyl and Mytyl hung on to her +beseechingly: + +"No, no, no, Light!" they cried. "Stay here with us!... Daddy won't +mind.... We will tell Mummy how kind you have been.... Where will you +go all alone?"... + +"Not very far, my Children," said Light. "Over there to the Land of +the Silence of Things." + +"No, no," said Tyltyl. "I won't have you go...." + +But Light quieted them with a motherly gesture and said words to them +which they never forgot. Long after, when they were a grandfather and +grandmother in their turn, Tyltyl and Mytyl still remembered them and +used to repeat them to their grandchildren. + +Here are Light's touching words: + +"Listen, Tyltyl. Do not forget, child, that everything that you see in +this world has neither beginning nor end. If you keep this thought in +your heart and let it grow up with you, you will always, in all +circumstances, know what to say, what to do and what to hope for." + +And, when our two friends began to sob, she added, lovingly: + +"Do not cry, my dear little ones.... I have not a voice like Water; I +have only my brightness, which Man does not understand.... But I watch +over him to the end of his days.... Never forget that I am speaking to +you in every spreading moonbeam, in every twinkling star, in every +dawn that rises, in every lamp that is lit, in every good and bright +thought of your soul...." + +At that moment, the grandfather's clock in the cottage struck eight +o'clock. Light stopped for a moment and then, in a voice that grew +suddenly fainter, whispered: + +"Good-bye!... Good-bye!... The hour is striking!... Good-bye!" + +Her veil faded away, her smile became paler, her eyes closed, her form +vanished and, through their tears, the children saw nothing but a thin +ray of light dying away at their feet. Then they turned to the others +... but these had disappeared.... + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE AWAKENING + + +The grandfather's clock in Tyl the woodcutter's cottage had struck +eight; and his two little Children, Tyltyl and Mytyl, were still +asleep in their little beds. Mummy Tyl stood looking at them, with her +arms akimbo and her apron tucked up, laughing and scolding in the same +breath: + +"I can't let them go on sleeping till mid-day," she said. "Come, get +up, you little lazybones!" + +But it was no use shaking them, kissing them or pulling the +bed-clothes off them: they kept on falling back upon their pillows, +with their noses pointing at the ceiling, their mouths wide open, +their eyes shut and their cheeks all pink. + +At last, after receiving a gentle thump in the ribs, Tyltyl opened one +eye and murmured: + +"What?... Light?... Where are you?... No, no, don't go away...." + +"Light!" cried Mummy Tyl, laughing. "Why, of course, it's light.... +Has been for ever so long!... What's the matter with you?... You look +quite blinded...." + +"Mummy!... Mummy!" said Tyltyl, rubbing his eyes. "It's you!..." + +"Why, of course, it's I!... Why do you stare at me in that way?... Is +my nose turned upside down, by any chance?" + +Tyltyl was quite awake by this time and did not trouble to answer the +question. He was beside himself with delight! It was ages and ages +since he had seen his Mummy and he never tired of kissing her. + +Mummy Tyl began to be uneasy. What could the matter be? Had her boy +lost his senses? Here he was suddenly talking of a long journey in the +company of the Fairy and Water and Milk and Sugar and Fire and Bread +and Light! He made believe that he had been away a year!... + +"But you haven't left the room!" cried Mummy Tyl, who was now nearly +beside herself with fright. "I put you to bed last night and here you +are this morning! It's Christmas Day: don't you hear the bells in the +village?..." + +"Of course, it's Christmas Day," said Tyltyl, obstinately, "seeing +that I went away a year ago, on Christmas Eve!... You're not angry +with me?... Did you feel very sad?... And what did Daddy say?..." + +"Come, you're still asleep!" said Mummy Tyl, trying to take comfort. +"You've been dreaming!... Get up and put on your breeches and your +little jacket...." + +"Hullo, I've got my shirt on!" said Tyltyl. + +And, leaping up, he knelt down on the bed and began to dress, while +his mother kept on looking at him with a scared face. + +The little boy rattled on: + +"Ask Mytyl, if you don't believe me.... Oh, we have had such +adventures!... We saw Grandad and Granny ... yes, in the Land of +Memory ... it was on our way. They are dead, but they are quite well, +aren't they, Mytyl?" + +And Mytyl, who was now beginning to wake up, joined her brother in +describing their visit to the grandparents and the fun which they had +had with their little brothers and sisters. + +This was too much for Mummy Tyl. She ran to the door of the cottage +and called with all her might to her husband, who was working on the +edge of the forest: + +"Oh, dear, oh, dear!" she cried. "I shall lose them as I lost the +others!... Do come!... Come quick...." + +Daddy Tyl soon entered the cottage, with his axe in his hand; he +listened to his wife's lamentations, while the two Children told the +story of their adventures over again and asked him what he had done +during the year. + +"You see, you see!" said Mummy Tyl, crying. "They have lost their +heads, something will happen to them; run and fetch the doctor...." + +But the woodcutter was not the man to put himself out for such a +trifle. He kissed the little ones, calmly lit his pipe and declared +that they looked very well and that there was no hurry. + +At that moment, there came a knock at the door and the neighbour +walked in. She was a little old woman leaning on a stick and very much +like the Fairy Berylune. The Children at once flung their arms around +her neck and capered round her, shouting merrily: + +"It's the Fairy Berylune!" + +The neighbour, who was a little hard of hearing, paid no attention to +their cries and said to Mummy Tyl: + +"I have come to ask for a bit of fire for my Christmas stew.... It's +very chilly this morning.... Good-morning, children...." + +Meanwhile, Tyltyl had become a little thoughtful. No doubt, he was +glad to see the old Fairy again; but what would she say when she heard +that he had not the Blue Bird? He made up his mind like a man and +went up to her boldly: + +"Fairy Berylune, I could not find the Blue Bird...." + +"What is he saying?" asked the neighbor, quite taken aback. + +Thereupon Mummy Tyl began to fret again: + +"Come, Tyltyl, don't you know Goody Berlingot?" + +"Why, yes, of course," said Tyltyl, looking the neighbor up and down. +"It's the Fairy Berylune." + +"Bery ... what?" asked the neighbor. + +"Berylune," answered Tyltyl, calmly. + +"Berlingot," said the neighbor. "You mean Berlingot." + +Tyltyl was a little put out by her positive way of talking; and he +answered: + +"Berylune or Berlingot, as you please, ma'am, but I know what I'm +saying...." + +Daddy Tyl was beginning to have enough of it: + +"We must put a stop to this," he said. "I will give them a smack or +two." + +"Don't," said the neighbor; "it's not worth while. It's only a little +fit of dreaming; they must have been sleeping in the moonbeams.... My +little girl, who is very ill, is often like that...." + +Mummy Tyl put aside her own anxiety for a moment and asked after the +health of Neighbor Berlingot's little girl. + +"She's only so-so," said the neighbor, shaking her head. "She can't +get up.... The doctor says it's her nerves.... I know what would cure +her, for all that. She was asking me for it only this morning, for her +Christmas present...." + +She hesitated a little, looked at Tyltyl with a sigh and added, in a +disheartened tone: + +"What can I do? It's a fancy she has...." + +The others looked at one another in silence: they knew what the +neighbor's words meant. Her little girl had long been saying that she +would get well if Tyltyl would only give her his dove; but he was so +fond of it that he refused to part with it.... + +"Well," said Mummy Tyl to her son, "won't you give your bird to that +poor little thing? She has been dying to have it for ever so long!..." + +"My bird!" cried Tyltyl, slapping his forehead as though they had +spoken of something quite out of the way. "My bird!" he repeated. +"That's true, I was forgetting about him!... And the cage!... Mytyl, +do you see the cage?... It's the one which Bread carried.... Yes, yes, +it's the same one, there it is, there it is!" + +[Illustration: "It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have been +miles and miles and miles and he was here all the time!"] + +Tyltyl would not believe his eyes. He took a chair, put it under the +cage and climbed on to it gaily, saying: + +"Of course, I'll give him to her, of course, I will!..." + +Then he stopped, in amazement: + +"Why, he's blue!" he said. "It's my dove, just the same, but he has +turned blue while I was away!" + +And our hero jumped down from the chair and began to skip for joy, +crying: + +"It's the Blue Bird we were looking for! We have been miles and miles +and miles and he was here all the time!... He was here, at home!... +Oh, but how wonderful!... Mytyl, do you see the bird? What would Light +say?... There, Madame Berlingot, take him quickly to your little +girl...." + +While he was talking, Mummy Tyl threw herself into her husband's arms +and moaned: + +"You see?... You see?... He's taken bad again.... He's wandering...." + +Meantime, Neighbor Berlingot beamed all over her face, clasped her +hands together and mumbled her thanks. When Tyltyl gave her the bird, +she could hardly believe her eyes. She hugged the boy in her arms and +wept with joy and gratitude: + +"Do you give it me?" she kept saying. "Do you give it me like that, +straight away and for nothing?... Goodness, how happy she will be!... +I fly, I fly!... I will come back to tell you what she says...." + +"Yes, yes, go quickly," said Tyltyl, "for some of them change their +color!" + +Neighbour Berlingot ran out and Tyltyl shut the door after her. Then +he turned round on the threshold, looked at the walls of the cottage, +looked all around him and seemed wonderstruck: + +"Daddy, Mummy, what have you done to the house?" he asked. "It's just +as it was, but it's much prettier." + +His parents looked at each other in bewilderment; and the little boy +went on: + +"Why, yes, everything has been painted and made to look like new; +everything is clean and polished.... And look at the forest outside +the window!... How big and fine it is!... One would think it was quite +new!... How happy I feel here, oh, how happy I feel!" + +The worthy woodcutter and his wife could not make out what was coming +over their son; but you, my dear little readers, who have followed +Tyltyl and Mytyl through their beautiful dream, will have guessed what +it was that altered everything in our young hero's view. + +It was not for nothing that the Fairy, in his dream, had given him a +talisman to open his eyes. He had learned to see the beauty of things +around him; he had passed through trials that had developed his +courage; while pursuing the Blue Bird, the Bird of Happiness that was +to bring happiness to the Fairy's little girl, he had become +open-handed and so good-natured that the mere thought of giving +pleasure to others filled his heart with joy. And, while travelling +through endless, wonderful, imaginary regions, his mind had opened out +to life. + +The boy was right, when he thought everything more beautiful, for, to +his richer and purer understanding, everything must needs seem +infinitely fairer than before. + +Meanwhile, Tyltyl continued his joyful inspection of the cottage. He +leaned over the bread-pan to speak a kind word to the Loaves; he +rushed at Tylo, who was sleeping in his basket, and congratulated him +on the good fight which he had made in the forest. + +Mytyl stooped down to stroke Tylette, who was snoozing by the stove, +and said: + +"Well, Tylette?... You know me, I see, but you have stopped talking." + +Then Tyltyl put his hand up to his forehead: + +"Hullo!" he cried. "The diamond's gone!... Who's taken my little green +hat?... Never mind, I don't want it any more!... Ah, there's Fire! +Good-morning, sir! He'll be crackling to make Water angry!" He ran to +the tap, turned it on and bent down over the water. "Good-morning, +Water, good-morning!... What does she say?... She still talks, but I +don't understand her as well as I did.... Oh, how happy I am, how +happy I am!..." + +"So am I, so am I!" cried Mytyl. + +And our two young friends took each other's hands and began to scamper +round the kitchen. + +Mummy Tyl felt a little relieved at seeing them so full of life and +spirits. Besides, Daddy Tyl was so calm and placid. He sat eating his +porridge and laughing: + +"You see, they are _playing_ at being happy!" he said. + +Of course, the poor dear man did not know that a wonderful dream had +taught his little children not to play at being happy, but to _be_ +happy, which is the greatest and most difficult of lessons. + +"I like Light best of all," said Tyltyl to Mytyl, standing on tip-toe +by the window. "You can see her over there, through the trees of the +forest. To-night, she will be in the lamp. Dear, oh, dear, how lovely +it all is and how glad I feel, how glad I...." + +He stopped and listened. Everybody lent an ear. They heard laughter +and merry voices; and the sounds came nearer. + +"It's her voice!" cried Tyltyl. "Let me open the door!" + +As a matter of fact, it was the little girl, with her mother, Neighbor +Berlingot. + +"Look at her," said Goody Berlingot, quite overcome with joy. "She can +run, she can dance, she can fly! It's a miracle! When she saw the +bird, she jumped, just like that...." + +And Goody Berlingot hopped from one leg to the other at the risk of +falling and breaking her long, hooked nose. + +The Children clapped their hands and everybody laughed. + +The little girl was there, in her long white night-dress, standing in +the middle of the kitchen, a little surprised to find herself on her +feet after so many months' illness. She smiled and pressed Tyltyl's +dove to her heart. + +Tyltyl looked first at the child and then at Mytyl: + +"Don't you think she's very like Light?" he asked. + +"She is much smaller," said Mytyl. + +"Yes, indeed!" said Tyltyl. "But she will grow!..." + +And the three Children tried to put a little food down the Bird's +beak, while the parents began to feel easier in their minds and looked +at them and smiled. + +Tyltyl was radiant. I will not conceal from you, my dear little +readers, that the Dove had hardly changed colour at all and that it +was joy and happiness that decked him with a magnificent bright blue +plumage in our hero's eyes. No matter! Tyltyl, without knowing it, had +discovered Light's great secret, which is _that we draw nearer to +happiness by trying to give it to others_. + +But now something happened. Everybody became excited, the Children +screamed, the parents threw up their arms and rushed to the open door: +the Bird had suddenly escaped! He was flying away as fast as he could. + +"My bird! My bird!" sobbed the little girl. + +But Tyltyl was the first to run to the staircase and he returned in +triumph: + +"It's all right!" he said. "Don't cry! He is still in the house and we +shall find him again." + +And he gave a kiss to the little girl, who was already smiling through +her tears: + +"You'll be sure to catch him again, won't you?" she asked. + +"Trust me," replied our friend, confidentially. "I now know where he +is." + +You also, my dear little readers, now know where the Blue Bird is. +Dear Light revealed nothing to the woodcutter's Children, but she +showed them the road to happiness by teaching them to be good and kind +and generous. + +Suppose that, at the beginning of this story, she had said to them: + +"Go straight back home. The Blue Bird is there, in the humble cottage, +in the wicker cage, with your dear father and mother who love you." + +The Children would never have believed her: + +"What!" Tyltyl would have answered. "The Blue Bird, my dove? Nonsense: +my dove is grey!... Happiness, in the cottage? With Daddy and Mummy? +Oh, I say! There are no toys at home and it's awfully boring there: we +want to go ever so far and meet with tremendous adventures and have +all sorts of fun...." + +That is what he would have said; and he and Mytyl would have set out +in spite of everything, without listening to Light's advice, for the +most certain truths are good for nothing if we do not put them to the +test ourselves. It only takes a moment to tell a child all the wisdom +in the world, but our whole lives are not long enough to help us +understand it, because our own experience is our only light. + +Each of us must seek out happiness for himself; and he has to take +endless pains and undergo many a cruel disappointment before he learns +to become happy by appreciating the simple and perfect pleasures that +are always within easy reach of his mind and heart. + + THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Blue Bird for Children, by Georgette Leblanc + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BLUE BIRD FOR CHILDREN *** + +***** This file should be named 27991.txt or 27991.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/9/9/27991/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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