Chapter 5

_Seven years have elapsed_.

_The same scene_.

_Curtain discovers_ MAH PHRU _seated on a high verandah_. _A clearance has been made in the surrounding trees to give a full view of the road beyond_. _She is watching_, _always watching_. _With her are two beautiful little boys_.

"To-day, perhaps," _she murmurs_. "Perhaps to-morrow; but without fail--one day."

"Look!" _she cries_. "At last my lord returns!"

_Coming up the jungle road_, _in view of the audience_, _are a bevy of horsemen_.

MAH PHRU, _wondering_, _descends to greet them_. _Enter_ U. RAI GYAN THOO. _He is dressed all in white_, _which is Burmese mourning_. MAH PHRU _sinks back_--_she fears the worst_. _The old man reassures her_. _He tells her that_ MENG BENG _has sent for his sons_--_that the Queen is dead_, _and there is no heir_.

"Queen? What Queen?" _demands_ MAH PHRU.

"The Queen of Burmah."

_So_ MAH PHRU _learns for the first time that her lover is the ruler of the country_, _supreme master of and dictator to everyone_.

_Weeping_, _but not daring to disobey_, _she summons the children to her_; _then_, _sinking on her knees_, _entreats in moving and pathetic words to be permitted to go with them_, _in the lowest most menial capacity_. U. RAI GYAN THOO _refuses_. _There is no place for her in the greatness of the world yonder_. "Even Kings forget," _he says_. "It is the command of the supreme Lord of the Earth and of the Sky that she remain where she is."

_Then he orders his followers to make the necessary arrangements for the safe journey of their future king and his brother_.

_The children stand passive in their gay dress_, _but are bewildered and afraid_.

MAH PHRU _has risen to her feet_. _She appears as if turned to bronze_--_a model of restraint and dignity_, _blent with colour and beauty and infinite grace_.

THE CURTAIN DESCENDS SLOWLY