THE VOICE
A pigeon.

THE WHITE HEN
[Looking for him.] Where?

THE PIGEON
On the sloping roof.

THE WHITE HEN
[Lifting her head and seeing him.] Ah!

THE PIGEON
Though I am the bearer of an important missive, I would not miss the
opportunity—­Good evening, Hen!

THE WHITE HEN
Postman, howdedo?

THE PIGEON
My duty on the Postal Service of the Air obliging me this summer evening
to pass your habitations, I should be most happy if—­

THE WHITE HEN
[Spying a crumb of some sort.] One moment, please.

ANOTHER HEN
[Running eagerly towards her.] What are you eating?

ALL THE HENS
[Arriving at a run.] What’s she eating?

THE WHITE HEN
A simple grain of wheat.

THE GREY HEN [Taking up her conversation with the WHITE HEN.] As I was telling you, I mean to stay right on the door-step there—­[Showing the door of the house.]

THE WHITE HEN
[Looking at the door.] The door is shut.

THE GREY HEN
Yes, but I shall hear the hour striking, and I will catch a look at my
Cuckoo by stretching my neck,—­

THE PIGEON
[Calling, slightly out of patience.] White Hen!

THE WHITE HEN
One moment, please! [To the GREY HEN.]—­Catch a look at your Cuckoo,
by stretching your neck where?—­Where?

THE GREY HEN [Pointing with her beak at the small, round opening at the foot of the door.] Through the cat-hole!

THE PIGEON [Raising his voice to a shout.] Am I to be kept here cooling my feet on your rain-pipe?  Hi, there, whitest of Hens!

THE WHITE HEN
[Hopping towards him.] You were saying?

THE PIGEON
I was about to say—­

THE WHITE HEN
What, bluest of Pigeons?

THE PIGEON That I should consider myself past expression fortunate if—­But no!  I am abashed at my own boldness!—­if I might be so favoured as to be permitted to get a glimpse—­

THE WHITE HEN
Of what?

THE PIGEON
Oh, just a glimpse, the very least glimpse of—­

ALL THE HENS
[Impatiently.] Of what?—­What?

THE PIGEON
Of his comb!

THE WHITE HEN
[Laughing, to the others.] Ha! ha! he wishes to see—­

THE PIGEON
[In great excitement.] That’s it!  Just to see—­

THE WHITE HEN
There, there, cool down!

THE PIGEON
I am shaking with excitement!

THE WHITE HEN
You are shaking down the roof!

THE PIGEON
You can’t think how we admire him!

THE WHITE HEN
Oh, everyone admires him!

THE PIGEON
And I promised my missis to tell her what he is like!

THE WHITE HEN [Quietly pecking.] Oh, he’s a fine fellow, no doubt of that!