UR. But these English, whom did they fight before? The Boers,
was it not?

SUBALTERN. Yes, but a great many English think now that it was a
_betise_. There was also great provocation. And nevertheless, who
knows if there was not in that affair also a German plot?

BOURGEOIS. It is very likely. Then Monsieur thinks that we are true
friends, the English and the French?

SUBALTERN. But yes, Monsieur, because we love, both of us, liberty and
peace.

XIV

A PASSING IN JUNE, 1915

PROLOGUE

SCENE. _The parlour of an Auberge._

PERSONS. _A stoist motherly_ MADAME, _a wrinkled fatherly_
MONSIEUR, _and a plain but pleasant_ MA'MSELLE. _Some English
soldiers drinking_. CECIL _is talking in French to_ MONSIEUR,
_and they are all very friendly_.

MADAME. Alors, vous n'avez pas encore ete aux tranchees?

CECIL. Mais non, Madame, peut-etre ce soir.

(MONSIEUR _and_ MADAME _exchange glances_. CECIL _rises to go._)

CECIL. A Jeudi, Monsieur, Madame, Ma'mselle.

MONSIEUR, MADAME, AND MA'MSELLE (_in chorus_). A Jeudi, Monsieur.

MADAME (_earnestly_). Bon courage, Monsieur!

(_Curtain_)

ACT I. DAWN

CECIL _is discovered lying behind a wall of sandbags. On one
side are the sandbags, and on the other an idyllic spring scene,
with flowers and orchards seen in the half-light of a spring
morning. The dawn breaks gently, and soon bullets begin to ping
through the air, flattening themselves against the sandbags, or
passing over_ CECIL's _head. He wakes and yawns, and then
composes himself with his eyes open._

_Enter Allegorical personages_: FATHER SUN, MOTHER EARTH, _and
a chorus of_ GRASSES, POPPIES, CORNFLOWERS, RAGGED ROBINS,
DAISIES, BEETLES, BEES, FLIES, _and insects of all kinds._

FATHER SUN.

Wake, children, rub your eyes,
Up and dance and sing and play,
Not a cloud is in the skies;
This is going to be _my_ day.
See the tiny dew-drop glisten
In my glancing golden ray;
See the shadows dancing, listen
To the lark so blithe and gay.
Up, children, dance and play,
This is my own festal day.

FLOWERS, BEETLES, ETC.

Dance and sing
In a ring,
Naughty clouds are chased away;
Oh what fun,
Father Sun
Is going to shine the whole long day.

MOTHER EARTH. That's right, children. This is the day to grow in; but
don't forget to come home to dinner; I've got such a nice dinn