The Cat and Fiddle Book Part 10

JIM. Read something very nice. Then we can think about it afterwards.

That will keep us awake. [_They sit up._

TIM. Oh, this is the one I like--"Ride a c.o.c.k-horse to Banbury Cross, To see a fine lady upon a white horse: Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."

JIM. Oh yes, I love that one. Let's talk about it.

TIM. What do you think a c.o.c.k-horse is?

JIM. I can't imagine. Do you think it's a horse with a c.o.c.k's head?

TIM. Oh, I wonder if he'd be like our Chanticleer, all white with a beautiful red comb.

JIM. Or perhaps he'd be like our Rooster, all black and speckly. I wonder if he'd crow all the same, as our c.o.c.ks do in the morning under our windows.

TIM [_laughing_]. Oh dear, how funny Chanticleer would look with a horse's body! or is it a c.o.c.k's head and a horse's body?

JIM [_laughing_]. You couldn't ride him so easily.

TIM. I should think it's a great big c.o.c.k and wings sticking out like that [_stretching his arms_], and with a beautiful horse's back and a long tail. Oh, I should like to ride him!

JIM. So should I. [_They begin to talk sleepily._

TIM. And what about the fine lady? What do you think Banbury Cross is like?

JIM. Oh, there's the picture. Look, it's a great stone thing; and there's the fine lady all in white, with a crown on.

TIM. I wish there was a picture of the c.o.c.k-horse too.

JIM [_more sleepily_], I should like to ride on it--and--go to see the fine lady.

TIM. Yes, we'd go to Banbury Cross and--see--her.

[_Talking more and more sleepily. The book falls out of his hand on to the floor as they both go to sleep._

CURTAIN

SCENE II.--THE DREAM

_A market place. A ring of children dancing hand in hand round Banbury Cross, which stands in the middle, half way up stage. Children sing_:

"Ride a c.o.c.k-horse to Banbury Cross To see a fine lady upon a white horse: Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She shall have music wherever she goes."

_At the end of the tune they leave off dancing after singing it through._

FIRST CHILD. Oh, I'm _so_ out of breath.

SECOND CHILD. Let's rest a little.

THIRD CHILD. Yes, till the Procession comes.

[_They all stand and sit at back._

FOURTH CHILD. Oh, look! there's someone coming.

[_Enter JIMMY and TIMMY, riding c.o.c.k-horses (hobby horses with c.o.c.ks' heads). They gallop round Cross._

TIM. There, Rooster, we've just done it. You _are_ a good one to go.

JIM. So are you, Chanticleer.

FIRST CHILD. Oh, are you the beginning of the procession, please?

JIM. What procession?

CHILD. The fine lady that is coming on a white horse--the Queen of the Revels.

TIM. What are revels?

CHILD. Games and dancing and all sorts of fun.

TIM. Oh, how nice!

CHILD. Isn't it!

[_The children jump for joy and clap their hands._

JIM [_to_ TIM]. I _am_ glad we came.

TIM. So am I.

CHILDREN. Hooray! Hooray! Here she comes.

[_Looking off R. Enter the fine lady on her white horse. The MASTER OF THE REVELS leads her. Two boys walk in front playing a tune on cazoos, etc. Escort of fairies, etc., if available. The Queen's horse stops at the foot of Banbury Cross--she hands a roll of paper to the MASTER, who receives it with a bow._

CROWD. Hooray! Hooray!

MASTER. Here is the list of the Revels--the first will be a race.

JIM [_to_ TIM]. That will be fun. I like seeing races.

MASTER. First race, c.o.c.k-horses--three times round Banbury Cross. How many entries?

JIM [_to_ TIM]. Do you suppose that's us?

TIM. I don't see any others.