'And if you could, you'd rather see those last scenes again than all the rest?' she said, frowning a little. 'Oh, wouldn't I just!' said Tommy; 'but may I--really and truly?' 'I see you are not one of _my_ boys,' said the Genius of Pantomime, rather sadly. 'It so happens that those closing scenes are the very ones I have least control over--they are a part of my kingdom which has fallen into sad decay and rebellion. But one thing, O Tommy, I _can_ do for you. I will give you the clown for a friend and companion--and much good may he do you!' 'But would he _come_?' he asked, hardly daring to believe in such condescension. 'He must, if _I_ bid him; it is for you to make him feel comfortable and at home with you;--the longer you can keep him the better I shall be pleased.' 'Oh, _how_ kind of you!' he cried; 'he shall stay all the holidays. I'd rather have him than anybody else. What fun we shall have--what fun!' The green fire faded out and the fairy with it. He must have fallen asleep again, for, when he opened his eyes, there was the clown at the foot of his bed making a face. ''Ullo!' said the clown; 'I say, are you the nice little boy I was told to come and stay with?' 'Yes, yes,' said Tommy; 'I am so glad to see you. I'm just going to get up.' 'I know you are,' said the clown, and upset him out of bed into the cold bath. This he could not help thinking a little bit unkind of the clown on such a cold morning, particularly as he followed it up by throwing a hair-brush, two pieces of soap, and a pair of shoes at him before he could get out again. But it woke him, at all events, and he ventured (with great respect) to throw one of the shoes back; it just grazed the clown's top-knot. To Tommy's alarm, the clown set up a hullaballoo as if he was mortally injured. 'You cruel, unkind little boy,' he sobbed, 'to play so rough with a poor clown!' 'But you threw them at me first,' pleaded Tommy, 'and much harder, too!' 'I'm the oldest,' said the clown, 'and you've got to make me feel at home, or I shall go away again.' 'I won't do it again, and I'm very sorry,' pleaded Tommy; but the clown wouldn't be friends with him for ever so long, and was only appeased at last by being allowed to put Tommy upside down in a tall wicker basket which stood in a corner. Then he helped Tommy to dress by buttoning all his clothes the wrong way, and hiding his stockings and necktie. While he was doing this, Sarah, the under-nurse, came in, and he strutted up to her and began to dance quietly. 'Go away, imperence,' said Sarah. 'Beautiful gal,' said the clown (though Sarah was extremely plain), 'I love yer!' and he put out his tongue and wagged his head at her until she ran out of the room in terror. He looked so absurd that Tommy was delighted with him again, and yet, when the bell rang for breakfast, he felt obliged to give his new friend a hint.