[_Exit_ WILLIAM (L. 2 E.), _while THOMAS proceeds to scale the wall and climb the boughs of the nearest pear-tree. Melodramatic Music._ The Monster Man-trap _stealthily emerges from long grass below, and fixes a baleful eye on the unconscious_ THOMAS. _Thos._ I’ll fill my pockets, and on pears I’ll feast! [_Sees_ Man-trap, _and staggers._ Oh, lor--whatever is that hugly beast! Hi, help, here! call him off!... _The Monster._ ’Tis vain to holler-- My horders are--all trespassers to swoller! You just come down--I’m waiting ’ere to ketch you. (_Indignantly._) You _don’t_ expect I’m coming up to fetch you! _Thos._ (_politely._) Oh, not if it would inconvenience _you_, Sir! (_In agonised aside._) I feel my grip grow every moment looser! [_The_ Monster, _in a slow, uncouth manner, proceeds to scramble up the tree._ Oh, here’s a go! The horrid thing can _climb_! Too late I do repent me of my crime! [_Terrific sensation chase!_ The Monster Man-trap _leaps from bough to bough with horrible agility, and eventually secures his prey, and leaps with it to the ground._ _Thos._ (_in the_ Monster’s _jaws_). I’m sure you seem a kind, good-natured creature-- You will not harm me? _Monster._ No--I’ll only eat yer! [THOMAS _slowly vanishes down its cavernous jaws; faint yells are heard at intervals--then nothing but a dull champing sound; after which, dead silence. The_ Monster _smiles, with an air of repletion._ _Re-enter_ WILLIAM, _from_ R., _with_ BENJAMIN. _Benjamin._ I’m very glad you came--but where is Thomas? _Wm._ (_severely_). Tom is a wicked boy, and better from us, For on the road he stopped to scale a wall!... [_Sees_ Man-trap, _and starts._ What’s _that_? _Benj._ It will not hurt _good_ boys at all-- It’s only Father’s Man-trap--why so pale? _Wm._ The self-same tree! ... the wall that Tom _would_ scale! Where’s Thomas _now_? Ah, Tom, the wilful pride of you. [_The_ Man-trap _affects an elaborate unconsciousness._ [Illustration: Up a Tree!] _Benj._ (_with sudden enlightenment_). Man-trap, I do believe poor Tom’s inside of you! That sort of smile’s exceedingly suspicious. [_The_ Man-trap _endeavours to hide in the grass._ _Wm._ Ah, Monster, give him back--’tis true he’s vicious, And had no business to go making free with you! But think, so bad a boy will disagree with you! [WILLIAM _and_ BENJAMIN _kneel in attitudes of entreaty on either side of the_ Man-trap, _which shows signs of increasing emotion as the song proceeds._ _Benjamin_ (_sings_). Man-trap, bitter our distress is That you have unkindly penned In your innermost recesses One who used to be our friend!