HE. She does not know I love her--
Ah yes, she knows;
The sky is blue above her,
The buds disclose
The first wild rose--
Ah yes, she knows, she knows!
SHE. He cares not that I love him--
Ah yes, he cares;
The sky is blue above him,
A thrush declares
The world is theirs--
Ah yes, how much he cares!
TOGETHER. For those who sing, etc.
DAUGHTER (looking up at him). It is a pretty song.
SINGER. The words, I thought, were good. I liked the words.
DAUGHTER. Who thinks of the words of a song if the tune be pretty?
SINGER. But if the heart of the singer be in the words?
DAUGHTER (suddenly, as, she gets up). Tell me about Chloe.
SINGER (surprised). Chloe?
DAUGHTER. Or whatever her name was.
SINGER (hurt). I am not sure that I understand this conversation.
DAUGHTER. I mean the first one.
SINGER. I am not sure that I like this conversation.
DAUGHTER. She was the first, wasn't she--the one who made you
renounce the world and take to the road?
SINGER (stiffly). Her name was not Chloe.
DAUGHTER (coaxingly). What was it?
SINGER (annoyed). Why rake up the dead ashes of the past? I was but
a boy. It was five months ago. Besides, her name was Penelope.
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