aster came
next, bowing and smiling at Peter as he passed him, then a Bear
paddling clumsily along on its hind legs, its great red mouth wide
open to show its long white teeth, then a Gooseberry Tart marked
"Stolen", then an Arithmetic with a mean sort of face, rulers for
legs, and compasses for arms; then a Clock that had been meddled with
by somebody (Rudolf felt certain it was not by him) and kept striking
all the time; then a Piano with a lot of horrid exercises waiting to
be practised; then last of all a familiar clumsy figure with one red
glaring eye--their old enemy, the Warming-pan!

As Rudolf was trying to take in these, and many others in that curious
throng, he felt himself sharply pinched by Ann. "Look, look," she
whispered, "over there where it's so dark, close to Peter. Oh, don't
you know _now_ who their Boss is?"

Rudolf looked. Clearly enough now he saw two flaming green eyes and a
clumsy black figure crouching on the ground. Before this figure every
one of the dancers made a low bow as he passed.

"Don't you know him?" repeated Ann, shivering with excitement. "It's
Manunderthebed!"

"Oh, well, what if it is?" whispered Rudolf. "I stopped bothering
about _him_ years ago. He's only for babies."

Ann was not deceived by Rudolf's cheerful tone. Manunderthebed might
not amount to much at home with nurse and mother to frighten him away,
but here in his own country it was not pleasant to meet him.

"He's horrid," said she. "Oh, look, Ruddy, what is he doing now?"

Manunderthebed had stretched out a long black arm and pointed to the
fire. Instantly the Bad Dreams stopped their dance and vanished into
the darkness. When they came again into the firelight the children saw
that the Cook, the Dancing-master, and several others carried large
dishes in their hands which they now presented with low bows to
Peter.

"It's the Banquet!" whispered the Knight-mare nervously. "If he
touches a morsel, he's lost. He'll go to sleep and dream Bad Dreams
forever and a day--which won't be pleasant, I assure you."

Ann and Rudolf had not waited for the Knight-mare to finish his
speech. They rushed on Peter, just as he had helped himself to an
enormous slice of mince pie, and while Ann threw her arms about his
neck, Rudolf snatched the tempting morsel out of his hand and cast it
in the fire. Of course Peter struggled and fussed and was not a bit
grateful, but Rudolf and Ann did not care, for the Knight-mare's
warning ra