a dead fox,
in place of getting a run across country after it.
Come on now! We'll have the moon wasted.
We'll hardly get there before the dawn of day.

_1st Prince_: Whatever time you get there the
Guardian will be awake. There is a cock of Denmark
perched on the curtain rod of his bed,
specially to waken him if there is any stir.

_Ogre_: There is, is there? What a fool you
think me to be. Do you see that pot?

_2nd Prince_: We do see it.

_Ogre_: Look what there is in it.

_3rd Prince_: Nothing but a few bare bones.

_Ogre_: Well, that is all that is left of the Judge's
cock of Denmark, that was brought to me awhile
ago by a fox that is my messenger, and that I have
boiled and ate and devoured.

_All the Princes_: O! O! O!

_Ogre_: (_Cracking his whip_.) He was boiled in
the little pot. Come on now and lead the way, or
I give you my word it is in the big pot your own
bones will be making broth for my breakfast in the
morning! (_Cracks whip_.) Now, right about face!
Quick march!

CURTAIN

SCENE II

_(The Winter Garden, evening. The Servant
settling benches and a table.)_

_Guardian: (Coming in.)_ Are the Dowager
Messengers come? They are late.

_Servant:_ They are come. They are at the
looking-glasses settling themselves.

_Guardian:_ As soon as they are ready you will
call in the Princes for their examination before
them, and their tasks.

_Servant:_ I will.

_Guardian:_ The Messengers will have a good
report to bring back of them. They have come
to be good scholars, in poetry, in music, in languages,
in history, in numbers and all sorts. The
old Queen-Godmother will be well satisfied with
their report.

_Servant:_ She might and she might not.

_Guardian:_ They would be hard to please if they
are not well pleased with the lads, as to learning
and as to manners and behaviour.

_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe so. There are
strange things in the world.

_Guardian:_ You're in bad humour, my poor
Gillie. Have you been quarrelling with the cook,
or did you get up on the wrong side of your
bed?

_Servant:_ There is times when it is hard not to
be in a bad humour.

_Guardian:_ What are you grumbling and hinting at?

_Servant:_ There's times when it's hard to believe
that witchcraft is gone out of the world.

_Guardian:_ That is a thing that has been done
away with in this Island through my government,
and through enlightenment and through learning.

_Servant:_ Maybe so. Maybe s