She never knows how-- She must hark to her mother Who sings to her now. Sleep then, ladykin, peeping so; Hide your handies and ley lei lo.

[She bends over HYGD and kisses her; they laugh softly together. LEAR parts the curtains of the door at the back, stands there a moment, then goes away noiselessly.]

The lish baby otter Is sleeky and streaming, With catching bright fishes Ere babies learn dreaming; But no wet little otter Is ever so warm As the fleecy-wrapt baby 'Twixt me and my arm. Sleep big mousie...

Hygd (suddenly irritable):

Be quiet ... I cannot bear it.

[She turns her head away from GONERIL and closes her eyes.]

[As GONERIL watches her in silence GORMFLAITH enters by the door beyond the bed. She is young and tall and fresh-coloured; her red hair coils and crisps close to her little head, showing its shape. Her movements are soft and unhurried; her manner is quiet and ingratiating and a little too agreeable; she speaks a little too gently.]

Goneril (meeting her near the door and speaking in a low voice):

Why did you leave the Queen? Where have you been? Why have you so neglected this grave duty?

Gormflaith:

This is the instant of my duty, Princess: From midnight until now was Merryn's watch. I thought to find her here: is she not here?

[HYGD turns to look at the speakers; then, turning back, closes her eyes again and lies as if asleep.]

Goneril:

I found the Queen alone. I heard her cry your name.

Gormflaith:

Your anger is not too great, Madam; I grieve That one so old as Merryn should act thus-- So old and trusted and favoured, and so callous.

Goneril:

The Queen has had no food since yester-night.

Gormflaith:

Madam, that is too monstrous to conceive: I will seek food. I will prepare it now.

Goneril:

Stay here: and know, if the Queen is left again, You shall be beaten with two rods at once.

[She picks up the cup and goes out by the door beyond the bed.]

[GORMFLAITH turns the chair a little away from the bed so that she can watch the jar door, and, seating herself, draws a letter from her bosom.]

Gormflaith (to herself, reading):

"Open your window when the moon is dead, And I will come again. The men say everywhere that you are faithless, The women say your face is a false face And your eyes shifty eyes. Ah, but I love you, Gormflaith. Do not forget your window-latch to-night, For when the moon is dead the house is still."

[LEAR again parts the door-curtains at the back, and, seeing GORMFLAITH, enters. At the first slight rustle of the curtains GORMFLAITH stealthily slips the letter back into her bosom before turning gradually, a finger to her lips, to see who approaches her.]

Lear (leaning over the side of her chair):

Lady, what do you read?

Gormflaith:

I read a letter, Sire.

Lear:

A letter--a letter--what read you in a letter?

Gormflaith (taking another letter from her girdle):

Your words to me--my lonely joy your words ... "If you are steady and true as your gaze "--

Lear (tearing the letter from her, crumpling it, and flinging it to the back of the room):

Pest! You should not carry a king's letters about, Nor hoard a king's letters.

Gormflaith:

No, Sire.

Lear:

Must the King also stand in the presence now?

Gormflaith (rising):

Pardon my troubled mind; you have taken my letter from me.

[LEAR seats himself and takes GORMFLAITH'S hand.]

Gormflaith:

Wait, wait--I might be seen. The Queen may waken yet.

[Stepping lightly to the led, she noiselessly slips the curtain on that side as far forward as it will come. Then she returns to LEAR, who draws her to him and seats her on his knee.]

Lear:

You have been long in coming: