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JULIUS ZEYER
443

running of waters. The whole finally becomes obscured and shadowed.

The tinkling music does not cease throughout the interval of darkness, or through the Finale.


Finale

The Stage lightens as in the beginning of the realistic set for Act One.

The Old Woman is leaning on the Boy's arm, as before her transfigured appearance.

Boy.—I am going along to help you now surely. It is a bad hurt you have.

Old Woman.—It is a strong young lad of Ireland I need now indeed!

Boy (To Blind Singer).—I am going with the poor woman to help her. It is great stories you told me, till I was myself seeing visions with them! (He looks down and sees the rose tree in the Center. The Rose appears upon it unplucked as at first.) I did not see that rose till now! Its a queer thing I did not, but I surely saw it in those dreams your stories were giving me!

Blind Singer.—It might be it opened the while we were talking. Why wouldn't it be growing by the Well of Hazels, with the Seven Rivers under the ground watering it?

Boy.—Do you think it is here they are running out of sight under the ground, and they singing?

Blind Singer.—Isn't it the music you can hear in them that would be the way you could tell them? and isn't it the Red Rose of Ireland that would be growing out of those rivers, and they keeping the true life in her? (He steps up towards the Old Woman and places his hand under her arm as if to help her go on her way with the Boy.)

Old Woman (To Blind Singer).—Thank you kindly, sir! It is a grand strong lad I have to help me now!

Boy (To Blind Man).—I am glad I met you surely, sir! It is an understanding and a knowledge you have given me I had not before, with the grand things you were telling me!

Old Woman (To the Boy).—What was he telling you at all?

Boy (A little slowly and thoughtfully).—He was telling me about Ireland,—and the wound that got to be a red rose on her heart.

Old Woman (To Blind Singer).—May you be telling many