SCENE I

_TIMMY and JIMMY in separate beds, feet to audience, as the curtain goes up. TIM sits up cautiously._

TIM. Jim, are you asleep?

JIM [_sitting up and laughing_]. Yes, sound, are you?

TIM. Yes. I _do_ think it's so boring being in bed, don't you?

JIM. Horrid. I hate being asleep.

TIM. But it's so difficult to keep awake sometimes, even if one has a book to look at.

JIM. I can't think why Nurse doesn't like us to bring our book to bed. This is just the time to have it. It gives one nice dreams. [_He takes up book from the ground by his bed._] Look, I've got mine.

TIM. It would be safer to wait till she's been.

JIM [_putting it under pillow_]. Perhaps it would.

TIM. I _do_ like it when Nurse looks in very softly and then says to Mother outside, "They're sound asleep, ma'am," when we're awake all the time!

JIM. Take care, here she comes.

[_NURSE opens door with precaution, comes to beds, looks at both boys, who pretend to be sound asleep. She goes on tiptoe to door, opens it, says, "They're sound asleep, ma'am," and goes out quietly. The boys put out their heads, listen, and then sit up._

TIM. Now the book!

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 cock-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 cock-horse is?

JIM. I can't imagine. Do you think it's a horse with a cock'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 cocks 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 cock'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 cock 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 cock-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