G. M.—What, can you not even spare me a crust of bread?
T.—No, I shall have to eat it up all myself in order to keep up my strength while I am cutting wood this afternoon.
G. M.—(Lifting up his hand and speaking in a loud, warning tone.) Take care, young man, lest your meal and your wood-cutting come to an untimely end. (He goes away.)
T.—Tiresome old creature! He's gone, at any-rate. Now I can lunch in peace. (Opens lid of hamper. Starts.) Oh, what has happened? Where has everything gone? My beautiful luncheon has disappeared! The sausage rolls have turned to sticks! (Throws out sticks, leaves, etc., as he speaks.) The salad into dead leaves! The chicken sandwiches and jam tart into brown paper! Oh, what an unfortunate youth I am! Now I shall have no luncheon. It is all because of that horrid grey man. He was an enchanter, I suppose, or a fairy of some kind. Why didn't he say so at once? Then I might have given him a piece of chicken. Well, it's too late now, I suppose. Perhaps I had better cut some wood, there's nothing else to do. There's a tree that would be easy enough.
(Goes out r. carrying his axe over his shoulder. A cry is heard.)
Oh, dear! Oh, dear me! (Comes in again holding his arm.) Oh, I've chopped my hand nearly off! Oh, what a day of misfortunes this is! I must go home and send for the doctor, while my mother makes me some jelly and arrowroot.
(Ties handkerchief round his neck as a sling. Puts left hand into it. Exit carrying hamper and axe.)
Curtain.
Scene. III. The same.
Enter Jack with a small basket.
J.—Ah, now I think I'll sit down and have my luncheon. Working so hard has made me rather hungry. (Looks off l.) That's a great heap of wood, I must say, to have cut in two hours. I wonder what my mother has put into the basket? Tom took such good things away with him yesterday—but my mother said she had nothing for me except some bones the dog had left, and some stale pieces of crust that had been thrown away. (Looks into basket.) Never mind, a good appetite and a good conscience make everything taste well. So here goes!
(Sits down. Draws handkerchief over his knees.)