Page:Pirates of Penzance (Hitchcock publication).djvu/14

 Ruth, I will be quite candid with you. You are very dear to me, as you know, but I must be circumspect. You see, you are considerably older than I: a lad of twenty-cue usually looks for a wife of seventeen.

A wife of seventeen! You will find me a wife of a thousand!

No, but I shall find you a wife of forty-seven, and that is quite enough now. Ruth, tell me candidly and without reserve: compared with other women, how are you?

I will answer you truthfully, master: I have a slight cold, but otherwise I am quite well.

I am sorry for your cold, but I was referring rather to your personal appearance. Compared with other women, are you beautiful?

(Bashfully.) I have been told so, dear master.

Ah, but lately?

Oh no; years and years ago.

But what do you think yourself?

It is a delicate question to answer, but I think I am a fine woman.

That is your candid opinion?

Yes: I should be deceiving you if I told you other-wise.

Thank you, Ruth, I believe you, for I am sure you Would not practise on my inexperience. I wish to do the right thing, and if — I say, if- — you are really a fine woman, your age shall be no obstacle to our union. (Shakes hands with her.)

Hark! surely I hear voices. Who has ventured to approach our all but inaccessible lair? Can it be custom-house? No, it does not sound like custom-house.

(Aside.) Confusion! It is the voices of young girls! If he should see them I am lost.

(Climbing rocky arch R. C. and looking off L.) By all that's marvellous, a bevy of beautiful maidens!

(Aside.) Lost! lost! lost!

How lovely, how surpassingly lovely, is the plainest of them! What grace! what delicacy! what refinement! and Ruth — Ruth told me she was beautiful!

Oh false one, you have deceived me!

I have deceived you? Yes, deceived me! (Denouncing her)