 | A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." |  |
But only Will of all the Fortes
Paid much attention to the sports.
Phil was too busy with his suit,
Kit with contrivances astute
To fence it off. Lil and her lover
Wished to go ere it was half over,
And the rest scarce attended more
Than did the interested four.
Paid much attention to the sports.
Phil was too busy with his suit,
Kit with contrivances astute
To fence it off. Lil and her lover
Wished to go ere it was half over,
And the rest scarce attended more
Than did the interested four.
The two old folks had stayed at home,
Thinking it better not to come,
The neighbours being quite content
If any of their party went.
Thinking it better not to come,
The neighbours being quite content
If any of their party went.
Ida had grappled Chesterfield,
Who seemed agreeable to yield.
Indeed the cheerful little dame,
Always so kind, always the same,
And always fashionably dressed
(In fashions that became her best),
Was calculated to engage
A politician of his age
And corrigible bachelor
No less, if not indeed much more,
Than a mere girl whose prettiness
Was her sole claim to his address.
And these two bandied chaff all day
In what Will called a reckless way,
When he came back to steal a munch
Of their drawn-out, luxurious lunch.
Who seemed agreeable to yield.
Indeed the cheerful little dame,
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And always fashionably dressed
(In fashions that became her best),
Was calculated to engage
A politician of his age
And corrigible bachelor
No less, if not indeed much more,
Than a mere girl whose prettiness
Was her sole claim to his address.
And these two bandied chaff all day
In what Will called a reckless way,
When he came back to steal a munch
Of their drawn-out, luxurious lunch.
The barrister was trying on
Blandishments with Maud Morrison,
But found her less amenable
Than juries whom he handled well.
For firstly, Maud (who, if 'twere known,
Knew nought of her own race) looked down
Upon his humble origin;
And secondly, she was not in
The best of tempers, seeing Phil,
Whom she thought so adorable,
Wasting attention upon Kit,
Who barely tolerated it.
Blandishments with Maud Morrison,
But found her less amenable
Than juries whom he handled well.
For firstly, Maud (who, if 'twere known,
Knew nought of her own race) looked down
Upon his humble origin;
And secondly, she was not in
The best of tempers, seeing Phil,
Whom she thought so adorable,
Wasting attention upon Kit,
Who barely tolerated it.
Hall talked to Madge, or rather both
Sat by each other and seemed loath
To talk to others. Last of all,
Miss Ridley would have gone to wall
Had it not been for Kit, who was
The innocent but active cause
Of Phil's ineffable disgust,
For he had meant to have discussed
Matters for Kit's own private ear,
Which she was anxious not to hear,
And, seeing that the governess
Was all alone, began to express
Her pity and invited her
To come and sit down where they were,
Contriving that the talk should be
On subjects to include all three.
Kit really had a gracious heart
And liked to act a friendly part:
But there was truly to confess
One unto whom her kindliness
Would have been much more grateful than
The governess—the gentleman
Who sat on her right hand and gazed
Upon her face till well nigh dazed.
Sat by each other and seemed loath
To talk to others. Last of all,
Miss Ridley would have gone to wall
Had it not been for Kit, who was
The innocent but active cause
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For he had meant to have discussed
Matters for Kit's own private ear,
Which she was anxious not to hear,
And, seeing that the governess
Was all alone, began to express
Her pity and invited her
To come and sit down where they were,
Contriving that the talk should be
On subjects to include all three.
Kit really had a gracious heart
And liked to act a friendly part:
But there was truly to confess
One unto whom her kindliness
Would have been much more grateful than
The governess—the gentleman
Who sat on her right hand and gazed
Upon her face till well nigh dazed.
| A Summer Christmas and a Sonnet upon The S.S. "Ballaarat." | |