Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/174

146 The Fourth arrived, and punctual Paul
 * Came, with his legal friend, at noon.

I thought it best! said he, 'to call:
 * One cannot settle things too soon.'

Poor Peter shuddered in despair:
 * His flowing locks he wildly tore:

And very soon his yellow hair
 * Was lying all about the floor.

The legal friend was standing by,
 * With sudden pity half unmanned:

The tear-drop trembled in his eye,
 * The signed agreemeent in his hand:

But when at length the legal soul
 * Resumed its customary force,

'The Law,' he said, 'we can't control:
 * Pay, or the Law must take its course!'

Said Paul 'How bitterly I rue
 * That fatal morning when I called!

Consider, Peter, what you do!
 * You won't be richer when you're bald!

Think you, by rending curls away,
 * To make your difliculties less?

Forbear this violence, I pray:
 * You do but add to my distress!