oking
over his shoulder in fear of being caught._

PETER. Don't be frightened. I'm here to protect you. Help yourself to the
cakes. William, do you think you could deliver a message for me ... a very
important message?...

_The circus music is heard._ WILLIAM _sits at the tray and_ PETER _seats
himself opposite as though he were the host doing the honours._ WILLIAM,
_being unconsciously coaxed by_ PETER, _is prevailed upon to choose the
biggest cake. He takes a bite, looking towards_ PETER.

WILLIAM. [_To himself._] Ha!... Think I am dreaming. [_Rubbing his little
stomach ecstatically._] Hope I won't wake up and find there wasn't any
cake.

PETER. Don't worry, you won't. [WILLIAM _has taken another piece of cake
which he nibbles at--now holding a piece in each hand._] Pretty
substantial dream, eh? There's a fine, fat raisin. [WILLIAM _eats the
raisin, then looks into the sugar-bowl._] Don't hesitate, William. Sugar
won't hurt you now. Nothing can hurt you any more. Fall to, William--help
yourself. [WILLIAM _looks over his shoulder, fearing the return of_
FREDERIK.] Oh, he won't come back in a hurry. Ha! Frederik thought he saw
me, William; well, he didn't. He had a bad conscience--hallucination.
[WILLIAM _nibbles a lump of sugar._] Now, William, I have a message for
you. Won't you try and take it for me, eh? [_But_ WILLIAM _eats another
lump of sugar._] I see ... I can't expect to get any assistance from a boy
while his little stomach's calling. [WILLIAM _empties the cream jug and
helps himself to cakes. Presently the music dies out._] Now I'm going to
tell you something. [_Impressively._] You're a very lucky boy, William; I
congratulate you. Do you know why--of all this household--you are the only
one to help me?... This is the secret: in a little time--it won't be
long--you're going--[_As though he were imparting the most delightful
information._]--to know better! Think of _that_! Isn't the news splendid?
[_But_ WILLIAM _eats on._] Think of what most of us have to endure before
_we_ know better! Why, William, you're going into the circus without
paying for a ticket. You're laying down the burden before you climb the
hill. And in your case, William, you are fortunate indeed; for there are
some little soldiers in this world already handicapped when they begin the
battle of life.... Their parents haven't fitted them for the struggle....
Like little moon moths,--they look in at the windows; they beat at the
panes; the