University of Virginia Library

Those whom the powers would have destroyed
They make of understanding void.
Phil, when at length the tale was o'er,
Proposed to have a dance once more,
And Kit, well pleased with her success
Of last night, was in readiness
To dance again, because she thought
This course with less of danger fraught,
And one who danced so perfectly
Needs must enjoy Phil's mastery
Of step and poise: and so she danced
Dance after dance, herself entranced
With his facility, and he
With her new affability.
Not only did she thus deceive
Herself, but made them all believe
That she relented. She was fair
Enough to make a man despair,
And rosy-cheeked with golden curl
Cut short, not so much like a girl
As like a lovely, glowing boy
Ere manhood hastens to destroy
The silky smoothness of his face,
Only that they have scant of grace
And she so much. In height she stood
Above the mean of womanhood,
But not unduly. She was slim,
As Australs are, of waist, and limb
At wrist and ankle, but more full
Up higher. Lithe and powerful
As health and constant exercise
Could make her, with her clear grey eyes,
Symbolic of her proud, brave soul,
A woman taken as a whole,
In her sole self embodying
All which makes man creation's king,
And woman its chief ornament.
No wonder then that all eyes bent
On her as she waltzed lightly by
With glowing cheek and sparkling eye
And ruffled curls, surrendering
Her motions to Phil's piloting
Without remonstrance, and thereby
Filling the grand deficiency
Which left her beauty incomplete,
That which makes maidenhood as sweet
As a moss-rose or violet,
Or the green grass of spring, ere yet
It feels the cruel searing stress
Of summer—maiden gentleness.

It is not easy to maintain
An attitude of cold disdain
When one is heated with a dance,
And Kit relaxed her vigilance
So far as to be cordial
To Phil's oft ineffectual
But still repeated courtesies,
So much so that he deemed his prize
Within his grasp, and suddenly
Waltzing her almost forcibly
Into the open boudoir, closed
The door behind him—and proposed.

Kit was so thunderstruck that he
Had kissed her twice triumphantly
Ere she gave her indignant ‘no,’
And then fierce tears began to flow
At the humiliating state
In which she found herself—irate
First with herself for being caught
In her own trap, then with Phil Forte
For having dared to offer her
Such ignominy, angrier
When she reflected how her mien
Must have encouraged him that e'en,
Yet did not hurry to the door
Now that the worst of it was o'er,
But stayed a little while to vent
Her anger and astonishment,
And to compose her countenance
Before she went back to the dance.

“How dare you, Phil?” she said at length,
When her mind had regained its strength,
“How dare you?” but then, seeing how
He was prostrated by the blow,
Her good heart triumphed and she said,
Lifting her gallant, graceful head
To look at him with firm, pained eyes,
“Phil, was it right or kind or wise
To take advantage of me thus?
I thought you were more generous,
Than to abuse my confidence,
Knowing, as you well do, the sense
Of loathing for the marriage-bond
I entertain. Were you as fond
Of me as you pretend you are,
You'd banish all such thoughts afar
And treat me as a brother, Phil,
In fact just like your brother Will.”

“You like him better. I have seen
Him kissing you—you...” “Why,” we've been
Neighbours and friends this twenty years,
And I'd do more than box his ears
Unless I knew that it was done
Merely to tease me—just his fun.
No, Phil. I do not love him more
But like him better, as before
You persecuted, I liked you,
And as I still should like you too
If you were fond enough of me
Not to tease me so cruelly.”
“Cruelly, Kit? It's not unkind
To love with one's whole heart and mind.”
“Love? what is there in me to love?”
“To love in you, who are above
All women in all graces which
The lot of womanhood enrich.”
“There's hardly any girl you meet
Who's not more graceful and more sweet.”
“O Kit, you cannot be so dull
As not to know how beautiful,
How graceful, how superb, how far
Above the common herd you are.”
“Phil, this is flattery, don't try
Me with mere compliments to buy.”
“Kit,” he said so reproachfully,
That she went up with softened eye,
And putting her two hands in his,
Said, “Well then, Phil, give me a kiss,
And promise never to refer
To this unpleasant rencontre,
And not to speak to me again
Of marriage. Then we can remain
Friends as before. I will not be
An atom different, and we
Can easily keep out of sight
All that has happened here to-night,
Otherwise I must go away
To-morrow early in the day.”

He did not take the proffered kiss,
But shook his head. “I can't do this:
I can but love you all my life,
And pray you to become my wife
Whenever chance lets me intrude
Upon you in a generous mood.”

“Well then, good-bye, Phil! take me back,
I'll say that I feel an attack
Of headache coming over me
And bid them good-night hurriedly.