[Some rush out madly; others go into their houses for lights; some are left on their knees, weeping for joy.

The PIPER sounds a few notes; then lifts his hand and listens, smiling.—­Uproar in the distance.—­A great harking of dogs;—­shouts and cheers; then the high, sweet voices of the Children.

The piping is drowned in cries of joy.  The sun comes out, still rosy, in a flood of light.  The crowd rushes in.  Fat burghers hug each other, and laugh and cry.  They are all younger, their faces bloom, as by a miracle.

The Children pour in.  Some are carried, some run hand-in-hand.  Everywhere women embrace their own.  KURT has his sons.—­CHEAT-THE-DEVIL comes, with a daisy-chain around his neck, all smiles.

An uproar of light and faces.

HANS the Butcher
The treasure for the Piper!

ALL
  Ay, ay, Piper!

HANS the Butcher
The thousand guilders!

PIPER
  Give them Michael there,
For all us three.  I hate to carry things;—­
Saving out one!
[He waves his hand to JAN in the window.—­VERONIKA appears behind
him, shining with new life.  JAN leans out and points to the ground.
Heja!  What now?—­
[Picking up one of JAN’S winged shoes.]

HANS’ WIFE
  Look!  Look!—­
And wings upon it!  Mercy, what a shoe.—­
Don’t give it back.—­The child will fly away!

PIPER
No, no!
[Looking up at the window soothingly.]
He only wanted one to show—­

JAN
To Mother!—­See.
[Showing her his other foot, joyously]

PIPER
[to him]
  And this,—­wilt leave it here? 
Here—­with—­

JAN
The Lonely Man!  Oh, make Him smile!

[The PIPER crosses to the Shrine, with the little shoe, and hangs it up there; then he turns towards the window, waving his hand.

CHILDREN
Where are you going? . . .
[They run and cling.]

PIPER
Ah, the high-road now!

CHILDREN
Oh! why?

PIPER
  I have to find somebody there. 
Yes, now and every day, and everywhere
The wide world over.—­So:  good-night, good-morning,
Good-by!  There’s so much piping left to do,—­
I must be off, and pipe.

CHILDREN
  Oh! why?

PIPER
  I promised,
Look you! . . .

CHILDREN
Who is it?

PIPER
Why,—­the Lonely Man.

[He waves them farewells and goes.  The Children dance and laugh and sparkle.  Through the hundred sounds of joy, there comes a far-off piping.

THE END