GOOD WIFE (looking at cakes).  Burnt to cinders!  Not one of them fit to eat!

KING.  I am sorry—­I—­

GOOD WIFE (interrupting). Oh, you good-for-nothing!  I would like to beat you!

KING.  What can I do to make it right?

GOODWIFE (taking up a stick).  You’ll mix more dough!  More dough!  Do you hear?

KING.  I’ll be glad to do it, Madam!

GOODWIFE (flourishing stick).  In with you!  Now in with you, and get to work!

[The King enters the hut.  Enter DANISH CHIEF and DANES from the forest.  They carry spears and shields.]

GOODWIFE (with fear; dropping stick).  The Danes!

CHIEF (haughtily). Aye, Danes!

GOODWIFE.  I have no silver!  Not a piece, sir!

CHIEF.  Burn the hut, men!

DANES.  Aye!  Aye!

[They start toward the hut.  The Goodwife falls on her knees before them.]

GOODWIFE.  I pray you, spare my home!

[Illustration:  “NOT ONE OF THEM FIT TO EAT!”]

CHIEF.  We spare no home to any English.  Do you not know that?

GOODWIFE.  I’ve heard so—­

FIRST DANE.  We’ll burn every home on English land before we go!

SECOND DANE.  And drive every Englishman into the seas!

DANES.  Aye!  Aye!

GOODWIFE (sobbing). I pray you—­

CHIEF (roughly). Come, get up!  Get up and cease your weeping!  I like it not.  Get up, I say!

[Goodwife rises, trembling with fear.]

CHIEF.  Now listen; we will not burn your hut, if you will tell us what we wish to know.

GOODWIFE.  I will tell you what I can—­

CHIEF.  Did King Alfred pass this way in flight?

GOODWIFE (starting).  What?  Our king in flight?

CHIEF (angrily).  Come, no tears for him!  Did he pass this way, I say?

GOODWIFE.  No, my lord.

FIRST DANE.  Do not believe her, chief!  There’s not an Englishman that would not hide him from us!

GOODWIFE (forgetting her fear).  Aye, and die for him!

CHIEF (angrily). Say not such words to me!  I am your king that is to be!

DANES.  Aye!  Aye!

CHIEF.  Go search within the hut, Danes!

[Danes enter hut.  They come out immediately bringing King Alfred.]

FIRST DANE.  We found this man within, chief.

SECOND DANE.  ’Tis only her husband, I think.

GOODWIFE (indignantly). Husband, say you?—­that beggar!

CHIEF (showing suspicion).  Ah, a beggar—!

GOODWIFE.  Yes, my lord, he came but just before you.

FIRST DANE (whispering).  Hear that, my lord,—­just before us!

SECOND DANE (whispering).  It may be King Alfred!

THIRD DANE (whispering).  Disguised as a beggar, sir!