[_EDITH, KATE, and _Girls_ retire and sit two and two, facing each other, in a line across._ _MABEL and FREDERIC enter from cave._ CHATTERING CHORUS. How beautifully blue the sky, The glass is rising very high, Continue fine I hope it may, And yet it rained but yesterday; To-morrow it may pour again (I hear the country wants some rain); Yet people say, I know not why, That we shall have a warm July. [_During MABEL’S solo the _Girls_ continue chatter pianissimo, but listening eagerly all the time._ SOLO--MABEL. Did ever maiden wake From dream of homely duty, To find her daylight break With such exceeding beauty? Did ever maiden close Her eyes on waking sadness, To dream of goodness knows How much exceeding gladness? _Fred._ Oh yes--ah, yes; this is exceeding gladness. [_FREDERIC and MABEL turn and see that the _Girls_ are listening; detected, they continue their chatter forte._ _Girls._ How beautifully blue the sky, etc. SOLO--FREDERIC. [_During this, _Girls_ continue their chatter pianissimo as before, but listening intently all the time._ Did ever pirate roll His soul in guilty dreaming, And wake to find that soul With peace and virtue beaming? Did ever pirate loathed Forsake his hideous mission, To find himself betrothed To lady of position? _Mab._ Ah, yes--ah, yes; I am a lady of position. [_MABEL and FREDERIC turn as before; _Girls_ resume their chatter forte._ ENSEMBLE. MABEL. FRED. GIRLS. Did ever maiden wake, Did ever pirate How beautifully blue loathed, etc. etc. the sky, etc. RECITATIVE.--FRED. Stay, we must not lose our senses; Men who stick at no offences Will anon be here. Piracy their dreadful trade is; Pray you, get you hence, young ladies, While the coast is clear. _Girls._ No, we must not lose our senses If they stick at no offences. Piracy their dreadful trade is-- Nice associates for young ladies! Let us disappear. [_During this chorus the _Pirates_ have entered stealthily, and formed in a semicircle behind the _Girls_. As the _Girls_ move to go off, each Pirate seizes a girl. KING seizes EDITH, SAMUEL seizes KATE._ _All._ Too late! _Pirates._ Ha! Ha! _All._ Too late!