He ceased-and Mary had withdrawn From her sweet face her veiling hands; But hard and harsh the father stands, When once a man's mind is resolved, The Saint who thought his child a catch, So you may judge the youth was ill able "Well! have you done?" was all he said. "Mary, your hand-we'll go to bed. "Where you have found it, Sir, before. Up stairs-upon the youth one look One look of anguish Mary cast. And then he was alone, Father and child were gone! He stands with downcast eyes, His thought his spirit flies To blend with hers! Until, dissolved, the cold thoughts flow Back on his startled heart; Then the harsh-tongued and desolate Heavily rose where Mary sate, And taunts and chidings bore. To wound too deep so soft a breast; He rose, and solemnly desired She'd say her prayers and go to sleep, And, begging also she'd not weep Herself into the scarlet fever, He left-as we will also leave her. Change we the scene— -To · square, Au trosième with the Muse repair. See in that room-the drapery's blue- Young-single-beautiful-in short, The veriest rose-buds of the court. On sickness, with some bosom friends, ""Tis I to deal-you saw their pearls? "The odious man-what!-diamonds dear? "So George will marry Bell, they say- "But Bell upon the match was bent-- "What made him live so well? -a club. “Well, they'll be happy, for he sings "Such songs-she wears the prettiest things! "With great economy they'll do-- 66 They've hired Lord Henry's house at Kew. "Love ev'n the poorest couple blesses, "And Carson makes the prettiest dresses. "Is that the deuce?-fie, love-the two! " O Lord!”—here shrieks appal the hearing, For at the casement to their view, A deuce-like two indeed appearing; One face gay, grinning with delight, The other sad and grave as night--Yet both in dusky hue alike, And strange uncouth, outlandish features---Enough, in real truth, to strike Some terror into those sweet creatures. Half in the room, and half without, And really it was quite heart-breaking So there arrested in amazement, Chang, serene and cool Replied---" O Ching, you are a fool! Enough I've now in sober sadness, Conceded to this shallow madness. Retreat we safely while we may." "You're quite enough to make a man swear,” Cried Ching-when suddenly his answer Dies on his lips, as half a score Of menials rush within the door. |