[Illustration: THE SIGHT OF THE HATED CUTHBERT ABOUT TO EMBRACE HIS
JOAN GOADED WILLIAM TO TEMPORARY MADNESS.]

Mrs. de Vere Carter had filled Red Riding-Hood's basket with
packages of simple groceries, which included, among other things, a
paper bag of flour and a jar of jam.

William seized these wildly and hurled handfuls of flour at the
prostrate, screaming Cuthbert. The stage was suddenly pandemonium. The
other small actors promptly joined the battle. The prompter was too
panic-stricken to lower the curtain. The air was white with clouds of
flour. The victim scrambled to his feet and fled, a ghost-like figure,
round the table.

"Take him off me," he yelled. "Take him _off_ me. Take William off
me." His wailing was deafening.

The next second he was on the floor, with William on top of him.
William now varied the proceedings by emptying the jar of jam on to
Cuthbert's face and hair.

They were separated at last by the prompter and stage manager, while
the audience rose and cheered hysterically. But louder than the
cheering rose the sound of Cuthbert's lamentation.

"He'th a nathty, rough boy! He puthed me down. He'th methed my nith
clotheth. Boo-hoo!"

Mrs. de Vere Carter was inarticulate.