[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._ _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_). | WILLIAM (_sings_). | Man-trap, bitter our distress is | In his downward course arrest him! That you have unkindly penned | (He may take a virtuous tack); In your innermost recesses | Pause awhile, ere you digest him. One who used to be our friend! | Make an effort--bring him back! [_The Man-trap is convulsed by a violent heave_; WILLIAM _and_ BENJAMIN_ bend forward in an agony of expectation, until a small shoe and the leg of_ THOMAS'S _pantaloons are finally emitted from the Monster's jaws._ _Benj._ (_exultantly_). See, WILLIAM, now he's coming ... here's his shoe for you! _The Man-trap_ (_with an accent of genuine regret_). I'm sorry--but that's all that I can do for you! _Wm._ (_raising the shoe and the leg of pantaloons, and holding them sorrowfully at arm's length_). He's met the fate which moralists all promise is The end of such depraved careers as THOMAS's! Oh, BENJAMIN, take warning by it _be_-time! (_More brightly_). But now to wash our hands--'tis nearly tea-time! [_Exeunt_ WILLIAM _and_ BENJAMIN, _to wash their hands, as Curtain falls. N.B. This finale is more truly artistic, and in accordance with modern dramatic ideas, than the conventional "picture."_ * * * * *