At him, hens to peck him! At him, geese to beat him! At him, all of
you!
[_They all rush upon the Ugly Duckling, who escapes them, running out of
the farmyard into the moor._]
SCENE II
TIME: _the next winter_.
PLACE: _the Peasant's cottage_.
* * * * *
THE PEASANT.
HIS WIFE.
ELIZABETH.
THE CAT.
THE HEN.
THE UGLY DUCKLING.
* * * * *
[_The_ PEASANT _enters the cottage, carrying the_ UGLY DUCKLING.]
PEASANT. See what I'm bringing you!
WIFE. Why, 't is a duckling--half frozen, too!
PEASANT. I found him frozen in the pond. I had to break the ice to get him
out.
ELIZABETH. Give him to me, father. I will put him behind the stove.
PEASANT (_giving Duckling to Elizabeth_). That's a good child.
WIFE. Handle him tenderly, daughter.
ELIZABETH (_taking off her shawl_). He shall lie upon my shawl. You poor,
dear, ugly little duckling!
[_She places the Duckling upon the shawl behind the stove, near the_ CAT
_and_ HEN.]
PEASANT. 'T is the duckling I told you of!
WIFE. The one you saw on the pond yesterday?
PEASANT. Aye, and the day before, and all winter long, for that matter.
Yesterday I saw him try to join the wild ducks on the river, but they drove
him back to the pond.
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