The Cat and Fiddle Book Part 11

MASTER [_loud_]. Any entries?

JIM. c.o.c.k-horse Chanticleer, ridden by Jim.

TIM. c.o.c.k-horse Rooster, ridden by Tim.

MASTER. One, two, three, off!

[_They ride round and round, crowd cheer, etc. They come in a dead heat._

MASTER. A dead heat--no prize.

JIM. No prize?

MASTER. No. Don't talk. Next revel, a dance.

[_All dance, TIM and JIM and their steeds marking time._

MASTER. Next revel, crowing compet.i.tion.

[_One after another they crow, very badly. CHANT. crows, everyone claps. Then ROOSTER crows, they clap again._

CHILD. That's not fair--he's a professional.

ANOTHER CHILD. Never mind! Well done, Rooster. [_All clap._

[_Scene must be changed as quickly as possible, the crowing going on uninterruptedly from the time the curtain falls until after it goes up again._

[Ill.u.s.tration: 6. RIDE A c.o.c.k HORSE.

Ride a c.o.c.khorse to Ban-bury Cross, to see a fine lady up-on a white horse, Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, She will make music wher-e-ver she goes.]

SCENE III

_Same as Scene I. TIM and JIM in bed asleep--crowing going on outside.

TIM sits up and rubs his eyes._

TIM. No, no, Rooster, leave off now. You've got the prize. [_He sits up and rubs his eyes._] Jim, we must ride back now. [_Gradually more wide-awake._] Why, that's Chanticleer crowing outside!

[_JIM also sits up._

JIM. What's that crowing? Where am I?

TIM. I've been dreaming I was riding a c.o.c.k-horse.

JIM. And I dreamt I saw the fine lady. Oh, I'm so sleepy.

[_They both fall back on pillow and go to sleep again._

_Enter NURSE._

NURSE. What, asleep still! Come, it's time to get up. And you've been taking a book to bed, you naughty boys, and reading it instead of going to sleep. That's why you're so tired this morning. What's it about? Why, what absurd stuff!

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

CURTAIN _falls as she reads_

LITTLE MISS m.u.f.fET

_NURSE and MISS m.u.f.fET, reading at table._

m.u.f.fET [_reading her lesson_]. C, A, T, cat; M, A, T, mat. I've done my lessons very well to-day, haven't I?

NURSE. Yes, Miss m.u.f.fet dear, you've been a very good little girl. Now, just read those two sentences and then we will go out.

m.u.f.fET [_reading_]. THE CAT IS ON THE MAT. THE BAT IS ON THE MAT. Oh, I don't like that story.

NURSE [_surprised_]. Why not?

m.u.f.fET. About the bat. It frightens me to read about a bat on the mat. I don't like bats.

NURSE. Why, you silly little girl, they don't do you any harm.

m.u.f.fET. They make me afraid. I can't bear bats--they're nearly as bad as spiders.

NURSE. I never saw such a foolish little child. Spiders don't do you any harm, either.

m.u.f.fET. Oh, they're worse than bats. You won't let one come near me, nursie, will you?

NURSE [_smiling_]. Of course not, my poppet. Now, it's time to go out.

Put your things on and we'll take the baby into the grounds.

[_NURSE ties on m.u.f.fET'S hat, and while she dresses her they talk._

m.u.f.fET. Nursie, you know that you said if I were good at my lesson I could choose my luncheon?

NURSE. I did, yes.

m.u.f.fET. And _do_ let me take it out with me to have outside.

NURSE. Then you must have something that's easy to carry. What do you say to some nice bread and b.u.t.ter?