An Impromptu Duet

"But why to Hespan? You aren't a native Hespaniard, are you?"

"Well, yes and no. I was born in Nom Malbra, which of course is a Hespan colony. My mother was a native Nom Malbran, but my father was a soldier from Hespan, so that meant that I had citizenship. There weren't many opportunities for an ambitious young man in the land of my birth, so when I was old enough I made my way north to Hespan and set up my business there."

"I see. But this seems like a rather poor and out of the way part of Hespan to retire to?"

"Well, I used to come through here a lot on my trading journeys, and found that I liked the region. The people are friendly but not too nosey."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

"I was only teasing. But now it looks as though Bella is ready to play her nistle, so we should stop talking for a while."

Sure enough, Bella began to play. She's very good, Astra thought. Wait a moment, I know that tune. There are words to it. How do they go? Yes, I remember.

Feeling totally uninhibited, Astra began to sing, in a pleasant contralto:

Say goodbye my own true lover,
As we sing a lovers' song.
How it breaks my heart to leave you
Now the carnival is gone.
High above, the dawn is waiting,
And my tears are falling rain.
For the carnival is over.
We may never meet again.

Like a drum, my heart was beating,
And your kiss was sweet as wine.
But the joys of love are fleeting
For Pierrot and Columbine.
Now the harbour light is calling;
This will be our last goodbye.
Though the carnival is over,
I will love you till I die

1. Bella and Astra finished, and received a round of applause.
2. Halfway through, Granny arrived. She and Mary had a whispered conversation.

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