Rhyme? and reason? . He trilled a carol fresh and free:He laughed aloud for very glee:There came a breeze from off the sea : 88 THE THREE VOICES. It passed athwart the glooming flat—It fanned his forehead as he sat—It lightly bore away his hat, All to the feet of one who stoodLike maid enchanted in a wood,Frowning as darkly as she could. With huge umbrella, lank and brown, Unerringly she pinned it down, Right through the centre of the crown. Then, with an aspect cold and grim,Regardless of its battered rim,She took it up and gave it him. A while like one in dreams he stood,Then faltered forth
Rhyme? and reason? . He trilled a carol fresh and free:He laughed aloud for very glee:There came a breeze from off the sea : 88 THE THREE VOICES. It passed athwart the glooming flat—It fanned his forehead as he sat—It lightly bore away his hat, All to the feet of one who stoodLike maid enchanted in a wood,Frowning as darkly as she could. With huge umbrella, lank and brown, Unerringly she pinned it down, Right through the centre of the crown. Then, with an aspect cold and grim,Regardless of its battered rim,She took it up and gave it him. A while like one in dreams he stood,Then faltered forth his gratitudeIn words just short of being rude ; For it had lost its shape and shine,And it had cost him four-and-nine,And he was going out to ^^^•^ >is:Ppili-. UNERRINGLY SHE PIMNED IT DOWN 90 THE THREE VOICES. To dine! she sneered in acid bend thy being to a boneClothed in a radiance not its own! The tear-drop trickled to his chin :There was a meaning in her grinThat made him feel on fire within, Term it not radiance, said he : Tis solid nutriment to is Dinner: Tea is Tea. And she Yea so? Yet wherefore cease?Let thy scant knowledge find Men are Men, and Geese are Geese. He moaned: he knew not what to thought That I could get away!Strove with the thought But I must stay. To dine! she shrieked in swallow wines all foam and froth!To simper at a table-cloth I THE FIRST VOICE. 91 *Say, can thy noble spirit stoopTo join the gormandising troopWho find a solace in the soup? Canst thou desire or pie or puff?Thy well-bred manners were enough,Without such gross material stuff. Yet well-bred men, he faintly said, *Are not unwilling to be fed: Nor are they well without the bre
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Keywords: ., bookauthorcarrolll, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1901
