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.
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._
_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._
THIRD CHILD. Yes, till the Procession comes.
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.
FIRST CHILD. Oh, are you the beginning of the procession, please?