Servant: I will.

Guardian: The Messengers will have a good report to bring back of them.  They have come to be good scholars, in poetry, in music, in languages, in history, in numbers and all sorts.  The old Queen-Godmother will be well satisfied with their report.

Servant: She might and she might not.

Guardian: They would be hard to please if they are not well pleased with the lads, as to learning and as to manners and behaviour.

Servant: Maybe so.  Maybe so.  There are strange things in the world.

Guardian: You’re in bad humour, my poor Gillie.  Have you been quarrelling with the cook, or did you get up on the wrong side of your bed?

Servant: There is times when it is hard not to be in a bad humour.

Guardian: What are you grumbling and hinting at?

Servant: There’s times when it’s hard to believe that witchcraft is gone out of the world.

Guardian: That is a thing that has been done away with in this Island through my government, and through enlightenment and through learning.

Servant: Maybe so.  Maybe so.

Guardian: I suppose a three-legged chicken has come out of the shell, or a magpie has come before you in your path?  Or maybe some token in the stars?

Servant: It would take more than that to put me astray.

Guardian: Whatever it is you had best tell it out.

Servant: To see lads of princes, sons of kings, and the makings of kings, that were mannerly and well behaved and as civil as a child a few hours ago, to be sitting in a corner at one time as if in dread of the light, and tricking and fooling and grabbing at other times.

Guardian: Oh, is that all!  The poor lads.  They’re out of their habits because of their Godmother’s Messengers coming.  They are making merry and funning, thinking there might be messages for them or presents.

Servant: Funning is natural.  But blowing their nose with their fingers is not natural.

Guardian: High spirits.  Just to torment you in their joy.

Servant: To get a bit of chalk, and to make marks in the Hall of dancing, and to go playing hop-scotch.

Guardian: High spirits, high spirits!  I never saw boys better behaved or more gentle or with more sweetness of speech.  I am thinking there is not one among them but will earn the name of Honey-mouth.

Servant: Have it your own way.  But is it a natural thing, I am asking, for the finger nails to make great growth in one day?

Guardian: Stop, stop, be quiet.  Here now are the Dowager Messengers. (Two old ladies in travelling costume appear; bowing low to them.) You are welcome for the sake of her that sent you, and for your own sakes.

1st Dowager Messenger: We are come from the Court of the Godmother Queen, for news of the Princes now in your charge;