GERVASE.  It can’t be! (He goes cautiously forward and looks again) It is!

(He comes back, and walks gently off through the trees.)

(MELISANDE comes in.  She has no hat; her hair is in two plaits to her waist; she is wearing a dress which might belong to any century.  She stands in the middle of the glade, looks round it, holds out her hands to it for a moment, and then clasps them with a sigh of happiness. . . .)

(GERVASE, his cloak thrown away, comes in behind her.  For a moment he is half-hidden by the trees.)

GERVASE (very softly).  Princess!

(She hears but thinks she is still dreaming.  She smiles a little.)

GERVASE (a little more loudly).  Princess!

(She listens and nods to herself, GERVASE steps out into the open.)

GERVASE.  Princess!

(She turns round.)

MELISANDE (looking at him wonderingly).  You!

GERVASE.  At your service, Princess.

MELISANDE.  It was you who came last night.

GERVASE.  I was at your father’s court last night.  I saw you.  You looked at me.

MELISANDE.  I thought it was only a dream when I looked at you.  I thought it was a dream when you called me just now.  Is it still a dream?

GERVASE.  If it is a dream, let us go on dreaming.

MELISANDE.  Where do you come from?  Fairyland?

GERVASE.  This is Fairyland.  We are in the enchanted forest.

MELISANDE (with a sigh of happiness).  Ah!

GERVASE.  You have been looking for it?

MELISANDE.  For so long. (She is silent for a little, and then says with a smile) May one sit down in an enchanted forest?

GERVASE.  Your throne awaits you. (He spreads his cloak over the log.)

MELISANDE.  Thank you. . . .  Won’t you sit, too?

GERVASE (shaking his head).  I haven’t finished looking at you yet. . . . 
You are very lovely, Princess.

MELISANDE.  Am I?

GERVASE.  Haven’t they told you?

MELISANDE.  Perhaps I wondered sometimes.

GERVASE.  Very lovely. . . .  Have you a name which goes with it?

MELISANDE.  My name is Melisande.

GERVASE (his whole heart in it).  Melisande!

MELISANDE (content at last).  Ah!

GERVASE (solemnly).  Now the Princess Melisande was very beautiful. (He lies down on the grass near her, looks up at her and is silent for a little.)

MELISANDE (smiling shyly).  May we talk about you, now?

GERVASE.  It is for the Princess to say what we shall talk about.  If your Royal Highness commands, then I will even talk about myself.

MELISANDE.  You see, I don’t know your name yet.

GERVASE.  I am called Gervase.

MELISANDE.  Gervase.  It is a pretty name.

GERVASE.  I have been keeping it for this morning.

MELISANDE.  It will be Prince Gervase, will it not, if this is
Fairyland?