PETER.  F—?

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [In pantomime—­as before.] Father.

PETER.  Oh... [Spelling out the word.] S-c-o-u-n-d-r-e-l—­whoever he is! [Calls.] William. [WILLIAM looks up from his book.] You’re very contented here with me, are you not?

WILLIAM.  Yes, sir.

PETER.  And you want to stay here?

WILLIAM.  Yes, sir. [At that moment, a country circus band—­playing a typical parade march—­blares out as it comes up some distant street.] There’s a circus in town.

PETER.  A circus?

WILLIAM.  Yes, sir.  The parade has started. [Opens the window and looks out towards left.] Here it comes—­

PETER. [Hurrying to the door.] Where?  Where?

WILLIAM. [Pointing.] There!

PETER. [As delighted as WILLIAM.] You’re right.  It’s coming this way!  Here come the chariots. [Gestures to the BATHOLOMMEYS to join him at the window.  The music comes nearer and nearer—­the parade is supposed to be passing. WILLIAM gives a cry of delight as a clown appears at the window with handbills under his arm.

THE CLOWN. [As he throws the handbills into the room.] Billy Miller’s big show and monster circus is in town this afternoon.  Only one ring.  No confusion. [Seeing WILLIAM.] Circus day comes but once a year, little sir.  Come early and see the wild animals and hear the lions roar-r-r!  Mind! [Holding up his finger to WILLIAM.] I shall expect to see you.  Wonderful troupe of trained mice in the side show. [Sings.]

  “Uncle Rat has gone to town,
  Ha!  H’m! 
  Uncle Rat has gone to town
  To buy Miss Mouse a—­”

[Ends the song abruptly.] Ha!  Ha!  Ha!  Ha! [The CLOWN disappears, repeating “Billy Miller’s Big Show,” &c., until his voice is lost and the voices of shouting children are heard as they run after him.

PETER. [Putting his hand in his pocket.] We’ll go.  You may buy the tickets, William—­two front seats. [FREDERIK re-enters with a floral catalogue.

MRS. BATHOLOMMEY. [Apart to REV.  MR. BATHOLOMMEY—­looking at PETER.] Somebody ought to tell him.

WILLIAM. [Getting the money from PETER.] I’m going!  I’m going! [Dances.] Oh, Mr. Grimm, there ain’t anyone else like you in the world.  When the other boys laugh at your funny old hat, I never do. [Pointing to PETER’S hat on the peg.

PETER.  My hat?  They laugh at my hat?

WILLIAM.  We’ll have such a good time at the circus.  It’s too bad you’ve got to die, Mr. Grimm.

There is a pause. PETER stops short, looking at WILLIAM. The others are startled, but stand motionless, watching the effect of WILLIAM’S revelation. FREDERIK doesn’t know what to make of it.  There is an ominous silence in the room.  Then MRS. BATHOLOMMEY, whose smile has been frozen on her face, takes WILLIAM’S hand and is about to draw him away, when PETER lays his hand on WILLIAM’S shoulder.  MRS. BATHOLOMMEY steps back.