Kitchen: Trouble, indeed! She'd find it no trouble to choose a sweetheart from those nice young men if she were allowed to see them, but she'll never do that, if her ladies have a word in the matter! (Furious talking outside.)
Kitchen: Oh dearie, dearie, dearie, dear! If it isn't the head cook! And oh, my stars, what's happened?
(Enter Head Cook, angrily. Kitchenmaid and Cooklet both stand trembling with fright.)
Head Cook: Nevaire did I hear such impertinence. Who has gone, do you sink? Who has packed up their traps and left me to-night—to-night of all nights! Ze night I make ze Christmas pie! Ze night ze Princess comes with all her ladies to give ze final stir-about! Who? Vat? Ven? Vy? Vy?? vy???
Cooklet and Kitchen (falling on their knees, clasping their hands entreatingly): O sir, pray calm yourself!
Head Cook (dancing about with rage, and shouting): Calm! I am nevaire so perfectly calm in my life! My scullions have gone! Zey vill not vatch ze pie! Because zey fear ze Brownies!
Kitchen: The scullions gone?
Cooklet: Then who's to guard it?
Head Cook: You—of course—you earthworms!
Both: O dear, kind cook, we daren't! (They grovel with fear.)