_] No, he has not!
THE BLACK HEN
[_As promptly._] No, he has not!
THE BLACKBIRD
[_Thrusting out his head._] Hush!--An a?rial drama! The Butterfly,
absorbed in his head of blossom, banquets, all oblivious of--
[_A great green gauze butterfly-net appears above the wall, softly
coming towards the_ BUTTERFLY _settled on one of the flowers._]
A HEN
What is that?
THE TURKEY
[_Solemnly._] Fate!
THE BLACKBIRD
In a thin disguise of gauze!
THE WHITE HEN
Oh, a net--at the end of a cane!
THE BLACKBIRD
No harm in the cane--it's the kid at the other end of the cane! [_Half
aloud, watching the_ BUTTERFLY.] You neat little fop, sailing from rose
to rose, to-night you'll be neat as a pin can make you!
ALL
[_Watching the cautious approach of the net beyond the wall._]
Nearer--Nearer--Hush! He'll catch it!--No he won't!--Yes, he will!
SUDDENLY OUTSIDE
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
[_At the sound, the_ BUTTERFLY _flies off. The_ NET _wavers a moment,
with an effect of disappointment, then disappears._]
SEVERAL HENS
What?--Eh?--What was it?
A HEN
[_Who having hopped up on a wheelbarrow can follow the flight of the_
BUTTERFLY.] He is off and away, over the meadow.
THE BLACKBIRD
[_With ironical emphasis._] It's Chantecler, practicing knight-errantry!
THE PIGEON
[_With emotion._] Chantecler!
A HEN
He is coming!
ANOTHER HEN
He is just outside--
THE WHITE HEN
[_To the_ PIGEON.
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