Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/57

 Yet she heeded not their offers, but dismissed them with a blessing; Then she let down all her back hair which had taken long in dressing.

Then she had convulsive sobbings in her agitated throttle, Then she wiped her pretty eyes and smelt her pretty smelling bottle.

So I whispered, "Dear, say,—what can the matter be with you? Does anything you've eaten, darling , disagree with you?"

But spite of all I said, her sobs grew more and more distressing And she tore her pretty back-hair, which had taken long in dressing.

Then she gazed upon the carpet, at the ceiling then above me, And she whispered, ", do you really, really love me?"

"Love you?" said I, then I sighed, and then I gazed upon her sweetly— For I think I do this sort of thing particularly neatly— "Send me to the Arctic regions, or illimitable azure, On a scientific goose-chase, with my or my !