SCENE III.—_Enter_ FLORA _and_ ELSIE, _hand in hand. Both have

flowers; and_ ELSIE _carries a pretty lunch-basket_.

FLORA. What pretty flowers there were in that meadow! Why, I wanted every one!

ELSIE. Then we’d have to fetch a wagon to carry them home in, I guess.

FLORA. A wagonful of flowers! What would mamma say to that, I wonder?

ELSIE. All the vases together wouldn’t half hold ’em.

FLORA. Then I’d put them in my little crib, and have them for my bed.

ELSIE. Margery wouldn’t spread her white sheets on such a bed as that.

FLORA. But I could take flowers for bed-clothes, and smell them all night. Oh! what a—(_stops suddenly, and listens_). I hear music. Hark! (_Music heard faintly, as if afar off._) O Elsie! they’re coming, they’re coming! Hark! don’t you hear the singing?

ELSIE. Yes (_looking in the direction of the music_): they’re marching this way.

(_Singing comes gradually nearer, until the chorus is heard outside. Enter a procession of girls and boys, blind fiddler following. Boys are dressed in white trousers, with bright or striped jackets, flowers at the button-hole; girls in white, with garlands. All march round the stage, singing; then either eight or sixteen of them form a circle for dancing the May-dance. At intervals, in some pretty figure, the dancers pause, and sing a May-song, in which all join. Dancing ends with a march, which is interrupted by a girl rushing in from the show._)

SONG (_briskly, to “The Poacher’s Song,” or any lively tune_).

We come, we come, with dance and song, With hearts and voices gay; We come, we come, a happy throng; For now it is beautiful May.

We’ve lingered by the brookside To find the fairest flowers; We’ve rambled through the meadows wide These sunny, sunny hours.

(_All move round._)

CHORUS.

Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring With footsteps light and gay; Oh! we’ll dance and sing around the ring; For now ’tis the beautiful May.

GIRL (_rushing in_). Oh, come! do come and see the show! ’Tis the funniest show!

ALL TOGETHER. Where? where? (_Pressing about her._)

GIRL (_pointing_). Over yonder by the wood. Only a penny. Come!

ALL TOGETHER (_or nearly so_). Yes: let’s go! Come! Only a penny? We’ll all go!

(_All rush out_, ELSIE _leading_ FLORA. _Curtain falls._)