Head Cook:  Welcome, Princess; the pie awaits your pleasure!

Princess:  Good! (She comes to the table, sees Prince, who starts, and drops dishes.  He stands staring at her; does not pick dishes up.)

Princess:  Why—­who is this strange gentleman—­

Head Cook (shocked):  Hush—­hush—­Your Highness, it is only the new scullion!

Princess (amazed):  Scullion!

Greening:  O Princess, how could you take that ragged creature for a gentleman?

Sweeting:  I think he looks too fierce for safety.  Look how the jackanapes eyes Your Highness!

Princess:  He is, indeed, in sorry plight.

Prince:  Sorry, indeed, if my rags offend Your Highness—­

Greening:  Address yourself to us, fellow!  ’Tis not for such as you to speak to the Princess!

Prince:  Nay, I am in her service, ladies, and it is her I answer if she desires to question me!

Greening:  Insolent!  I’d have him put in the stocks.

Sweeting:  Or whipped at the whipping-post!

Princess:  Peace, ladies!  I would hear him.  How is it you are not in my livery, if you are in my service?

Prince:  I have but just this moment reached the castle.  I have been traveling in the forest, where the wolves and brambles alike delayed me.

Princess:  The wolves?  Oh, they have hurt you

Ladies (trying to stop her):  Your Highness!

Princess:  But see—­his wrist is bleeding.  I am sure it hurts you!  Let me bind it for you (to Prince).

Greening:  Princess! how can you stoop to touch a scullion?

Sweeting:  Your Highness is strangely forgetting yourself!

Princess:  Nay, ladies, it is you who forget yourselves!

DUET (Princess and Prince).

(Air, “When We Are Married.”—­Belle of New York.)

Princess:  You should be thinking what you can do To help the people who live to serve you!  Though I’m a princess, plainly I see I must act kindly to those who serve me!

Prince:  Long was my journey, I’m weary and sore, But such a princess I’ve ne’er seen before!  Nothing I ask for, save only to be Here in the castle, my Princess to see!

  Princess:  Though I am a princess, plainly I see,
  I must act kindly to those who serve me!

  Prince:  Nothing I ask for, save only to be
  Here in the castle, my Princess to see!

(The Princess binds up his wrist up stage.)

Greening (furiously to Head Cook):  How did you come to engage such a scurvy-looking fellow?

Head Cook:  Of a truth, madame, I vould not have done so, madame, but my scullions have all gone, and I had none to guard ze Christmas pie to-night!