[Pause. The Chirpy Man hides his face.
We looked at each other; our utterance choked by irrepressible lumps,
Though we feared neither man nor devil—we all had a horror of Mumps!
And, but for this Cherub's candour, ere many mere days had sped—
[Here the Pirate is stopped by uncontrollable emotion, and his audience, from the Captain downwards, express sympathy.
The Reciter (huskily, after wiping his eyes). I'm very sorry—it's foolish, I know, but I always do break down just here. I—I think I can go on now.
