Улисс

           Cavaliersbehindthemarchandsuspendtheirarms,withhandsdescendingto,touching,risingfromtheirshoulders.)

           HOURS:Youmaytouchmy.

           CAVALIERS:MayItouchyour?

           HOURS:O,butlightly!

           CAVALIERS:O,solightly!

           THEPIANOLA:

           Mylittleshylittlelasshasawaist.

           (ZoeandStephenturnboldlywithlooserswing.Thetwilighthoursadvancefromlonglandshadows,dispersed,lagging,languideyed,theircheeksdelicatewithcipriaandfalsefaintbloom.Theyareingreygauzewithdarkbatsleevesthatflutterinthelandbreeze.)

           MAGINNI:Avanthuit!Traversé!Salut!Coursdemains!Croisé!

           (Thenighthours,onebyone,stealtothelastplace.Morning,noonandtwilighthoursretreatbeforethem.Theyaremasked,withdaggeredhairandbraceletsofdullbells.Wearytheycurchycurchyunderveils.)

           THEBRACELETS:Heigho!Heigho!

           ZOE:(Twirling,herhandtoherbrow.)O!

           MAGINNI:Lestiroirs!Chaînededames!Lacorbeille!Dosàdos!

           (Arabesquingwearilytheyweaveapatternonthefloor,weaving,unweaving,curtseying,twirling,simplyswirling.)

           ZOE:I’mgiddy!

           (Shefreesherself,droopsonachair.StephenseizesFlorryandturnswithher.)

           MAGINNI:Boulangère!Lesronds!Lesponts!Chevauxdebois!Escargots!

           (Twining,receding,withinterchanginghandsthenighthourslinkeacheachwitharchingarmsinamosaicofmovements.StephenandFlorryturncumbrously.)

           MAGINNI:Dansezavecvosdames!Changezdedames!Donnezlepetitbouquetàvotredame!Remerciez!

           THEPIANOLA:

           Best,bestofall,

           Baraabum!

           KITTY:(Jumpsup.)O,theyplayedthatonthehobbyhorsesattheMirusbazaar!

           (SherunstoStephen.