He paused, catching sight of Willem for the first time. Now, it is a well-grounded tradition in one-ring circus life that no clown stays long in the business or scores a hit in it unless he is genuinely fond of children. Noting the all-absorbing bliss and adoration in Willem's wide eyes, the clown grinned at the boy in right brotherly fashion.
"Howdy!" said he cordially. "Shake!"
Marvelling, overcome with rapture, feeling as though the proffered honour was one far too wonderful to be real, Willem shyly extended his hand and met the friendly grasp of the flour-dusted fingers. The clown, striking an attitude, began in shrill, exaggerated diction, to chant the antiquated "Frog Opera" song:
"Uncle Rat has gone to town,—Ha-H'm!
Uncle Rat has gone to town,"
he sang on, addressing Willem,
"To buy his niece a wedding gown."
"Ha-H'm!" intoned Willem, delightedly; laughing aloud as he realised he was actually singing with a real live clown.
"What shall the wedding breakfast be?"
continued the clown, interrogating the equally youthful and delighted Peter Grimm. And this time more voices than Peter's and Willem's caught up the refrain:
"Ha-H'm!
Hard-boiled eggs and a cup of tea,"