"An' the dastardly cannibal sawed down the tree but the other pirate came an' they escaped an' the proud an' beautiful daughter of the dastardly cannibal escaped with them. She wasn't dastardly like wot her father was. She didn't like eatin' human folks. She didn't like the taste, so she was glad to get to a country where they didn't do it an' they was married an' she was the queen of the pirates an' he was the king of the pirates, an' she was proud an' beautiful an' said 'Avaunt!' when anyone tried to cheek her jus' like a reel queen. Is your tale anything like that?"
"No," groaned Mr. Strange.
"Well," said William, comfortably ensconced in an arm-chair, "now I've told you my tale, you oughter tell me yours. I say, is there any of that cake left wot you so kin'ly gave me some of yesterday?"
The young man waved a limp hand towards the sideboard cupboard.
William took a large slice of plum cake and returned to his chair.
"I always get so's I mus' have something to eat about this time, don't you?" he said pleasantly. "I can eat mos' times but sometimes I feel so's I mus' eat.... Well, go on an' tell me about your tale, now. I've told you about mine an' I'll help you, you know, about wot to write nex'."
"I don't want you to," said the young man desperately.
"Oh, it's no bother," said William kindly. "Don't you think about that. I wanter help you. You gave me big bits of cake to-day an' yesterday an' I wanter help you an' I've wrote tales myself an' I know wot it's like. An' don't worry about knockin' over my water things. I've gotter fren' who's promised to catch some more to-morrow an' we'll bring them along soon's we've gottem. That was jolly good cake." The young man automatically waved a hand towards the cupboard again. "Thanks. I don't mind a bit more. It's jolly good cake.... Now tell me about your tale so's I can help. Wot's it about?"
"It's—it's just about a man," said Mr. Strange feebly.
"Wot sort of a man?" said William with his mouth full of cake.