MR . BUNT
119
make the bear dance. He then withdraws, holding the imaginary strings in his hands.
He pulls one boldly, the arms go up a little slowly perhaps, and then hang as though sus pended. He pulls another; a foot comes up .
The people are beginning to see the joke. Annie and Dabs are clapping their hands, and now Mr. Bunt begins a jingling little tune on the organ and with the other hand pretends to pull the strings that make the bear dance.
No more ridiculous, absurd dance could be conceived and the bear is doing it wonderfully, with oh, so many little steps. How the chil dren are laughing and the pennies are raining down in the ring !
Finally the bear stops dancing, and Mr. Bunt
is collecting the money and Dabs is trying to imitate the bear, and the bear, who is watch ing him, suddenly tugs on his chain and starts, dragging Mr. Bunt with him. And then the crowd becomes frightened, and Rose leaves the window to open the door for the children . Mr. Bunt has fallen , and everyone is rushing to safety, while the bear becomes confused and finally drops on the bench , dazed. Mr. Bunt runs over to him and in a frightened manner is unstrapping the bear's head. As he draws it off, the door opens and Rose comes
