ACT I
7
MARIGOLD
Yes. I've never really seen them since. I pretend to talk to them just as if they were really there, but— (With sudden excitement) Wouldn't it be lovely if they suddenly came out and began to talk—Mole from under the ground there, and the Water Rat from his hole in the bank, and the old Badger from the dead leaves in the ditch, and Mr. Toad—
NURSE
I should be that frightened, if they were all big.
MARIGOLD
Oh no, you wouldn't, because they wouldn't know we were here. We should just listen to them without their knowing anything about it. (She calls out) Mr. Mole! Mr. Rat! Mr. Toad! Oh, Nurse, wouldn't it be lovely?
NURSE
Oo, I can hear something! Listen!
MARIGOLD
That's the music again. Quick! Hide!
(It is dark suddenly, and we hear music, very thin and clear and far off: "the horns of Elfland faintly blowing." Gradually it grows light again. There is no NURSE, no MARIGOLD now. But near where MARIGOLD was lying there is a curious upheaval going on. The earth moves and humps up and falls back again. Somebody is at work underneath. We hear breathings and
