ILSE
I thought I had a dream.
PIPER
Again?
ILSE
. . . It was some lady, calling me.
HANSEL
Yes, and a fat man called us to come quick;
A fat man, he was crying—about me!
That same fat man I dreamt of, yesterday.
PIPER
Come, did you ever see a fat man cry,
About a little Boy?
[The Strollers are convulsed with hoarse mirth.
HANSEL
No,—Never.
ILSE
Never!
Oh, what a funny dream!
[They giggle together.] [The PIPER silences the Strollers, with a gesture of warning towards the rocky door.
PIPER
[to himself]
'T is Hans the Butcher.
[To the Children]
Well, what did he say?