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Chapter 9. The Leave-Taking
Weeks and months had passed since the children'sdeparture on their journey, and the hour ofseparation was at hand.
Light had been very sad lately, she had countedthe days in sorrow, without a word to the animalsand things,
who had no idea of the misfortune that threatenedthem. On the day when we see them for the lasttime,
they were all out in the gardens of the temple.Light stood watching them from a marble terrace,
with Toddle and Middle sleeping by her side. Muchhad happened in the past twelve months,
but the life of the animals and things, which hadno intelligence to guide it,
had made no progress, on the contrary. Bread hadeaten so much that he was now not able to walk,
Milk, devoted as ever, dragged him along in a bathchair. Fire's nasty temper had made him quarrel
with everybody and he had become very lonely andunhappy in consequence. Water, who had no will
of her own had ended by yielding to Sugar's sweetentreaties, they were now married, and Sugar
presented a most piteous sight. The poor fellowwas reduced to a shadow of his former self,
shrank visibly day by day and was sillier thanever, while Water, in marrying, had lost her
principal charm, her simplicity. The cat hadremained the liar that she always was, and our
dear friend Tylo had never been able to overcomehis hatred for her. Poor things! thought Light,
with a sigh. They have not gained much byreceiving the benefit of life. They have
travelled and seen nothing of all the wonders thatsurrounded them in my peaceful temple,
they were either quarrelling with one another orover-eating themselves until they fell ill.
They were too foolish to enjoy their happiness andthey will recognise it for the first time
presently, when they are about to lose it. At thatmoment, a pretty dove, with silver wings,
alighted on her knees. It wore an emerald collarround its neck, with a note fastened to the clasp.
The dove was the fairy Bariloone's messenger.Light opened the letter and read these few words.
Remember that the year is over. Then Light stoodup, waved her wand and everything
disappeared from sight. A few seconds later, thewhole company were gathered together outside ahigh
wall with a small door in it. The first rays ofthe dawn were gilding the treetops. Tylville and
Midal, whom Light was fondly supporting with herarms, woke up, rubbed their eyes and looked
around them in astonishment. What? said Light toTylville. Don't you know that wall and that
door? The sleepy boy shook his head, he rememberednothing. Then Light assisted his memory.
The wall, she said, surrounds a house which weleft one evening just a year ago today.
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Just a year ago? Why, then? And, clapping hishands with glee, Tylville ran to the door.
We must be near Mummy. I want to kiss her at once,at once, at once. But Light stopped him.
It was too early, she said, Mummy and Daddy werestill asleep and he must not wake them
with a start. Besides, she added, the door willnot open till the hour strikes.
What hour? asked the boy. The hour of separation,Light answered, sadly.
What? said Tylville, in great distress. Are youleaving us?
I must, said Light. The year is past. The fairywill come back and ask you for the blue bird.
But I haven't got the blue bird, cried Tylville.The one of the land of memory turned quite black,
the one of the future flew away, the knights aredead, those in the graveyard were not blue and
I could not catch the one in the forest. Will thefairy be angry? What will she say?
Never mind, dear, said Light. You did your best.And, though you did not find the blue bird,
you deserved to do so, for the good will, pluckand courage which you showed.
Light's face beamed with happiness as she spokethese words, for she knew that to deserve to
find the blue bird was very much the same thing asfinding it, but she was not allowed to say this,
for it was a beautiful mystery, which Tylville hadto solve for himself.
She turned to the animals and things, who stood weeping in a corner, and told them to come and
kiss the children. Bread at once put down the cageat Tylville's feet and began to make a speech.
In the name of all, I crave permission. You shan'thave mine, cried Fire.
Order, cried Water. We still have tongues of ourown, warred Fire.
Yes! Yes! screamed Sugar, who, knowing that hisend was at hand, kept kissing Water and melting
before the other's eyes. Poor Bread in vain triedto make his voice heard above the din.
Light had to interfere and command silence. ThenBread spoke his last words.
I am leaving you, he said between his sobs. I amleaving you, my dear children,
and you will no longer see me in my living form.Your eyes are about to close to the invisible
life of things, but I shall be always there, inthe bread-pan, on the shelf, on the table,
beside the soup, I who am, if I may say so, themost faithful companion, the oldest friend of man.
Well, and what about me? shouted Fire angrily.
Silence, said Light. The hour is passing. Be quickand say good-bye to the children.
Fire rushed forward, took hold of the children,one after the other, and kissed them so violently
that they screamed with pain. Oh! oh! he's burningme! Oh! oh! he scorched my nose!
Let me kiss the place and make it well, saidWater, going up to the children gently.
This gave Fire his chance. Take care, he said, you'll get wet.
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I am loving and gentle, said Water. I am kind tohuman beings.
What about those you drown? asked Fire. But Waterpretended not to hear.
Love the wells, listen to the brooks, she said. Ishall always be there. When you sit down in the
evening, beside the springs, try to understandwhat they are trying to say. Then she had to
break off, for a regular waterfall of tears came gushing from her eyes, flooding all around
her. However, she resumed. Think of me when yousee the water-bottle. You will find me also in
the ewer, the watering-can, the cistern and thetap. Then Sugar came up, with a limping walk,
for he could hardly stand on his feet. He uttereda few words of sorrow, in an affected voice and
then stopped, for tears, he said, were not inharmony with his temperament.
Humbug, cried Bread. Sugar Plum. Lollipop. Caramel. Yelped Fire.
Closely pursued by the dog, Who. Overwhelmed herwith bites, blows and kicks.
And all began to laugh, except the two children,who were very sad.
Where are Tylette and Tylo gone to? asked ourhero.
At that moment, the cat came running up, in aterrible state, her hair was on end and
disheveled, her clothes were torn and she washolding a handkerchief to her cheek, as though
she had a toothache. She uttered terrible groansand was closely pursued by the dog,
who overwhelmed her with bites, blows and kicks.The others rushed in between them to separate
them, but the two enemies continued to insult andglare at each other. The cat accused the dog of
pulling her tail and putting tin-tacks in her foodand beating her. The dog simply growled and
denied none of his actions. You've had some, hekept saying, you've had some and you're going
to have some more. But, suddenly, he stopped and,as he was panting with excitement, it could
be seen that his tongue turned quite white, Lighthad told him to kiss the children for the lasttime.
For the last time? stammered poor Tylo. Are wedepart from these poor children?
His grief was such that he was incapable ofunderstanding anything.
Yes, said Light. The hour which you know of is athand. We are going to return to silence.
Thereupon the dog, suddenly realizing his misfortune, began to utter real howls of
despair and fling himself upon the children, whomhe loaded with mad and violent caresses.
No! no, he cried. I refuse! I refuse! I shallalways talk. And I shall be very good.
You will keep me with you and I shall learn toread and write and play dominoes.
And I shall always be very clean. And I shallnever steal anything in the kitchen again.
He went on his knees before the two children, sobbing and entreating, and, when Tylbo,
with his eyes full of tears, remained silent, dearTylo had a last magnificent idea,
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running up to the cat, he offered, with smilesthat looked like grins, to kiss her.
Tylet, who did not possess a spirit of self-sacrifice, leapt back and took refuge by
Midal's side. Then Midal said, innocently. You, Tylet, are the only one that hasn't kissed us
yet. The cat put on a mincing tone. Children, saidshe, I love you both as much as you deserve.
There was a pause. And now, said Light, let me, inmy turn, give you a last kiss.
As she spoke, she spread her veil round them as ifshe would have wrapped them for the last
time in her luminous might. Then she gave themeach a long and loving kiss. Tylbo and Midal hung
on to her beseechingly. No, no, no, Light, theycried. Stay here with us. Daddy won't mind.
We will tell mummy how kind you have been. Wherewill you go all alone?
Not very far, my children, said Light. Over thereto the land of the silence of things.
No, no, said Tyltle. I won't have you go. ButLight quieted them with a motherly gesture and
said words to them which they never forgot. Longafter, when they were a grandfather and
grandmother in their turn, Tyltle and Midal stillremembered them and used to repeat them to their
grandchildren. Here are Light's touching words.Listen, Tyltle. Do not forget, child, that
everything that you see in this world has neitherbeginning nor end. If you keep this thought in
your heart and let it grow up with you, you willalways, in all circumstances, know what to say,
what to do and what to hope for. And, when our twofriends began to sob, she added, lovingly.
Do not cry, my dear little ones. I have not avoice like water, I have only my brightness,
which man does not understand. But I watch overhim to the end of his days. Never forget that I
am speaking to you in every spreading moonbeam, inevery twinkling star, in every dawn that rises,
in every lamp that is lit, in every good andbright thought of your soul.
At that moment, the grandfather's clock in thecottage struck eight o'clock. Light stopped for a
moment and then, in a voice that grew suddenly fainter, whispered. Good-bye! Good-bye! The hour
is striking! Good-bye! Her veil faded away, hersmile became paler, her eyes closed, her form
vanished and, through their tears, the childrensaw nothing but a thin ray of light dying away at
their feet. Then they turned to the others, butthese had disappeared.
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