him, but I have liberty to make
known all I will find out about yourself.

_Taig_: Hurry on so. Little I care when once
I'm wed with the King's daughter!

_Nurse_: That will never be!

_Taig_: The Queen is befriending me and in
dread of losing me. I will threaten her if there
is any delay I'll go look for another girl of a
wife.

_Nurse_: I will make no delay. I'll have my
story and my testimony before the white dawn
of the morrow.

_Taig_: Do so and welcome! Before the yellow
light of this evening I'll be the King's son-in-law!
Bring your news, then, and little thanks you'll
get for it! The King and Queen must keep up
my name then for their own credit's sake. _(Makes
a face at her as King comes in with Dall Glic, and
servants with cushions. Nurse goes out, shaking her
fist.) (Rises.)_ I was just asking to see you, King,
to say there is a hurry on me....

_King: (Sitting down on window seat while Servant
arranges cushions about him.)_ Keep your business
a while. It's a poor thing to be going through
business the very minute the dinner is ended.

_Taig_: I wouldn't but that it is pressing.

_King_: Go now to the Queen, in her parlour,
and be chatting and whistling to the birds. I give
you my word since I rose up from the table I am
going here and there, up and down, craving and
striving to find a place where I'll get leave to lay
my head on the cushions for one little minute.

_(Taig goes reluctantly.)_

_Dall Glic: (Taking cushions from servants.)_ Let
you go now and leave the King to his rest.

_(They go out.)_

_King_: I don't know in the world why anyone
would consent to be a king, and never to be left
to himself, but to be worried and wearied and
interfered with from dark to daybreak and from
morning to the fall of night.

_Dall Glic_: I will be going out now. I have
but one word only to say....

_King_: Let it be a short word! I would be
better pleased to hear the sound of breezes in
the sycamores, and the humming of bees in the
hive and the crooning and sleepy sounds of the
sea!

_Dall Glic_: There is one thing only could cause
me to annoy you.

_King_: It should be a queer big thing that
wouldn't wait till I have my rest taken.

_Dall Glic_: So it is a big matter, and a weighty
one.

_King_: Not to be left in quiet and all I am after
using! Food that was easy to eat! Drink that
was easy to drink! That's the dinner that _was_
a dinner. That cook now is a wonder!

_Dall Glic