WILLIAM. [Seeing the cakes.] Um!  Cakes! [He steals to the tray, looking over his shoulder in fear of being caught.

PETER.  Don’t be frightened.  I’m here to protect you.  Help yourself to the cakes.  William, do you think you could deliver a message for me ... a very important message?...

The circus music is heard. WILLIAM sits at the tray and PETER seats himself opposite as though he were the host doing the honours. WILLIAM, being unconsciously coaxed by PETER, is prevailed upon to choose the biggest cake.  He takes a bite, looking towards PETER.

WILLIAM. [To himself.] Ha!...  Think I am dreaming. [Rubbing his little stomach ecstatically.] Hope I won’t wake up and find there wasn’t any cake.

PETER.  Don’t worry, you won’t. [WILLIAM has taken another piece of cake which he nibbles at—­now holding a piece in each hand.] Pretty substantial dream, eh?  There’s a fine, fat raisin. [WILLIAM eats the raisin, then looks into the sugar-bowl.] Don’t hesitate, William.  Sugar won’t hurt you now.  Nothing can hurt you any more.  Fall to, William—­help yourself. [WILLIAM looks over his shoulder, fearing the return of FREDERIK.] Oh, he won’t come back in a hurry.  Ha!  Frederik thought he saw me, William; well, he didn’t.  He had a bad conscience—­hallucination. [WILLIAM nibbles a lump of sugar.] Now, William, I have a message for you.  Won’t you try and take it for me, eh? [But WILLIAM eats another lump of sugar.] I see ...  I can’t expect to get any assistance from a boy while his little stomach’s calling. [WILLIAM empties the cream jug and helps himself to cakes.  Presently the music dies out.] Now I’m going to tell you something. [Impressively.] You’re a very lucky boy, William; I congratulate you.  Do you know why—­of all this household—­you are the only one to help me?...  This is the secret:  in a little time—­it won’t be long—­you’re going—­[As though he were imparting the most delightful information.]—­to know better!  Think of that!  Isn’t the news splendid? [But WILLIAM eats on.] Think of what most of us have to endure before we know better!  Why, William, you’re going into the circus without paying for a ticket.  You’re laying down the burden before you climb the hill.  And in your case, William, you are fortunate indeed; for there are some little soldiers in this world already handicapped when they begin the battle of life....  Their parents haven’t fitted them for the struggle....  Like little moon moths,—­they look in at the windows; they beat at the panes; they see the lights of happy firesides—­the lights of home; but they never get in....  You are one of these wanderers, William....  And so, it is well for you that before your playing time is over—­before your man’s work begins,—­you’re going to know the great secret.  Happy boy!  No coarsening