 Noye orders his family to board the ark; again Mrs Noye and the Gossips refuse, preferring to carouse.The sons finally drag Mrs Noye on board, while the Gossips are swept away by the encroaching flood; she rewards her husband with a slap.Rain begins to fall, building to a great storm at the height of which the first verse of the naval hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" is heard from the ark.