AMAL. I'll be the King's postman when I grow up.

WATCHMAN. Ha! ha! Postman, indeed! Rain or shine, rich or
poor, from house to house delivering letters--that's very great
work!

AMAL. That's what I'd like best. What makes you smile so? Oh,
yes, your work is great too. When it is silent everywhere in the
heat of the noonday, your gong sounds, Dong, dong, dong,-- and
sometimes when I wake up at night all of a sudden and find our
lamp blown out, I can hear through the darkness your gong slowly
sounding, Dong, dong, dong!

WATCHMAN. There's the village headman! I must be off. If he
catches me gossiping with you there'll be a great to do.

AMAL. The headman? Whereabouts is he?

WATCHMAN. Right down the road there; see that huge palm-leaf
umbrella hopping along? That's him!

AMAL. I suppose the King's made him our headman here?

WATCHMAN. Made him? Oh, no! A fussy busy-body! He knows so
many ways of making himself unpleasant that everybody is afraid
of him. It's just a game for the likes of him, making trouble
for everybody. I must be off now! Mustn't keep work waiting,
you know! I'll drop in again to-morrow morning and tell you all
the news of the town. [Exit]