The Piper - novelonlinefull.com
You’re read light novel The Piper Part 14 online at NovelOnlineFull.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit NovelOnlineFull.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy
Thine, thine!--And thou hast piped her wits away.
Thine!
PIPER [holding her off]
No, not mine!
BARBARA [to him]
Why did you steal me hence?
When did you love me?--Was it on first sight?
PIPER [confounded]
I, love thee?
MICHAEL --Knave! thief! liar!
PIPER --Give me breath.
[Holds off BARBARA gently.]
BARBARA Where are you taking me?
PIPER I? Taking thee?
MICHAEL [to her]
He shall not steal thee!
BARBARA [in a daze]
I must follow him.
PIPER No! 'T is too much. You shall not follow me!
I'll not be followed.--Damsel, sit you down.
Here is too much! I love you not.
BARBARA [wonderingly]
You do not?
Why did you pipe to me?
MICHAEL --And steal her wits, Stealer of all the children!
BARBARA [vaguely]
Are they safe?
PIPER [to MICHAEL]
Oh, your good faith!-- [To her]
They're safe.
BARBARA I knew--I knew it!
PIPER And so art thou. But never shall they go To Hamelin more; and never shale thou go To be a nun.
BARBARA To be a nun,--no, no! Ah me, I'm spent.
Sir, take me with you.
MICHAEL [still enraged to the PIPES]
Rid her of the spell!
Is this thy pledge?
PIPER [distracted]
I do but rub my wits-- To think--to think.
[To himself]
What shall I do with her, Now that she's here!--Suppose her bound to stay!
[To them]
Hearken.--You, Michael, on to Rudersheim--
MICHAEL And leave her here? No, no!
PIPER Then take the girl.
BARBARA To Rudersheim? No, never, never!
PIPER Well . . .
Hearken.--There is the hermit, over the hill.
[Apart, wildly]
But how--suppose she will not marry him?
I will not take her where the children are.
And yet-- [An idea strikes him. To her]
Hark, now;--hark, now, and tell me truly; Can you spin cloth?
BARBARA [amazed]
I? Spin?
PIPER [eagerly]
Can you make shoes?
BARBARA I--_I_ make shoes!--Fellow!
PIPER So.
MICHAEL Art thou mad!
PIPER With me you may not go! But you'll be safe.
Hearken:--you, Michael, go to Rudersheim; And tell the nuns--
BARBARA No, no! I dare not have it!
Oh, they would send and take me! No, no, no!
PIPER Would you go back to Hamelin?
BARBARA No--no--no!
Ah, I am spent.
[Droops towards the PIPER; falters and sinks down on the bank beside the well, in a swoon.--The PIPER is abashed and rueful for the moment.
