Only something to make me a bit like a beast.—

What now? There’s a pattering over my head——!

[Looks up.

It’s the grandfather ape,—with his fists full of filth——!

[Huddles together apprehensively, and keeps still for a while. The ape makes a motion; Peer Gynt begins coaxing and wheedling him, as he might a dog.

Ay,—are you there, my good old Bus!

He’s a good beast, he is! He will listen to reason!

He wouldn’t throw;—I should think not, indeed!

It is me! Pip-pip! We are first-rate friends!

Ai-ai! Don’t you hear, I can talk your language?