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 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."

_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 cock-horses (hobby horses with cocks' 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, Cock-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.

MASTER [_loud_]. Any entries?

JIM. Cock-horse Chanticleer, ridden by Jim.

TIM. Cock-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 competition.

[_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._