Page:Carroll - Rhyme and Reason.djvu/88

72 Understood his author's meaning; But, whatever was the reason, All was fruitless, as the picture Ended in an utter failure.
 * Next to him the eldest daughter:

She suggested very little, Only asked if he would take her With her look of 'passive beauty.'
 * Her idea of passive beauty

Was a squinting of the left-eye, Was a drooping of the right-eye, Was a smile that went up sideways To the corner of the nostrils. Hiawatha, when she asked him,
 * Took no notice of the question,

Looked as if he hadn't heard it; But, when pointedly appealed to, Smiled in his peculiar manner, Coughed and said it 'didn't matter,' Bit his lip and changed the subject.
 * Nor in this was he mistaken,

As the picture failed completely.
 * So in turn the other sisters.