“Yes, he is a bold chap,” answered the Calico Clown, and he felt the least bit jealous because the Candy Rabbit thought the Tin Soldier chap was so fine. “I always wanted to be a soldier,” went on the Calico Clown, “but when I was small I began playing tricks and making jokes, so--look what I am!” and he held out his two long arms, on the end of each of which was a round, shiny piece of brass. These brasses were called “cymbals,” and they tinkled together with a clanging sound. “No use for me to wish to be a soldier,” sighed the Calico Clown. “My life is a joke!” “I like you best as you are. You’re real jolly, I think,” chattered a Monkey on a Stick, as he climbed up and then climbed down again. “We must have some fun in this world, as well as being guarded by Tin Soldiers.” “That is very true,” remarked a Lamb on Wheels, as she rolled over toward the White Rocking Horse. “I love jolly times. That’s why I’m always so glad when night comes and we toys may do as we please.” “We may, if there is no one to watch us,” said the Sawdust Doll, as she got up on her feet, rather stiffly, for, as I have said, she had been lying on her back all day, and you know how tiresome that is. “But we must be very careful not to start our fun until every one is away,” went on the Sawdust Doll. “I’ll take a look,” offered the Bold Tin Soldier. “I’ll come with you,” said the Calico Clown. “If we find that any boys or girls, or their fathers or mothers, have hidden themselves away in our Toy Town, to spy on us at our play, I’ll bang my cymbals together.” “And I’ll shout and wave my sword,” went on the Tin Soldier. “Surely that ought to scare them away,” bleated the Lamb on Wheels. “If it doesn’t, I’ll just gallop toward them,” said the White Rocking Horse. “That will make them run!” So the Bold Tin Soldier and the Calico Clown climbed down off the toy counter and walked slowly, and a little stiffly, over the floor toward the elevators. The one light shone dimly, and by its rays they could see that no one was in the store--not even the watchman. He was down on the first floor, near the perfumery counter. He loved the smell of perfumery, did that watchman. “No one is here!” said the Bold Tin Soldier, as he came marching back with the Calico Clown. “Not a soul to watch us? That’s fine!” shouted the Monkey on a Stick. “Now I’m going to have some fun!” and he began to run up and down so quickly that the Sawdust Doll cried: “Oh, please, Monkey! Not so fast, if you please! You make me dizzy!” “All right! I’ll go more slowly,” kindly offered the Monkey. “But when you’ve had to keep still all day, because so many boys and girls are watching you, when they’re not picking you up and punching you to see what you’re made of--I say when you’ve been that way all day, you want to go fast when you get the chance.” “I suppose so,” agreed the White Rocking Horse. “I feel like kicking my heels, too.”