ACT IV · 3

BETSY [chimes in]—

“Some one to chew I long. I seeking go …”

KOKO KLÍNGEN—

“But even so …”

BETSY—

“No one to chew can find.”

KOKO KLÍNGEN—

“A raft sails by,”

BETSY—

“It cometh nigh; Two generals upon it …”

KOKO KLÍNGEN—

“Two generals are we: By fate's hard decree, To this island we flee.”

And then, the refrain—

“By fate's hard decree, To this island we flee.”

LADY. Charmant!

BETSY. But just think how silly!

KOKO KLÍNGEN. Yes, that's the charm of it!

LADY. And who is to be Aero?

BETSY. I am. And I have had a costume made, but mamma says it's “not decent.” And it is not a bit less decent than a ball dress. [To Theodore Ivánitch] Is Bourdier's man here?

216 THEODORE IVÁNITCH. Yes, he is waiting in the kitchen.

LADY. Well, and how will you represent Aeronaut?

BETSY. Oh, you'll see. I don't want to spoil the pleasure for you. Au revoir.

LADY. Good-bye! [They bow. Exit Lady].

BETSY [to Koko Klíngen] Come up to mamma.

Betsy and Koko go upstairs. Jacob enters from servants' quarters, carrying a tray with teacups, cakes, &c., and goes panting across the stage.

JACOB [to the Footmen] How d'you do? How d'you do? [Footmen bow].

JACOB [to Theodore Ivánitch] Couldn't you tell Gregory to help a bit! I'm ready to drop.… [Exit up the stairs].

FIRST FOOTMAN. That is a hard-working chap you've got there.

THEODORE IVÁNITCH. Yes, a good fellow. But there now—he doesn't satisfy the mistress, she says his appearance is ungainly. And now they've gone and told tales about him for letting some peasants into the kitchen yesterday. It is a bad look-out: they may dismiss him. And he is a good fellow.

SECOND FOOTMAN. What peasants were they?