XXIII.

Recovered? Yes?—So glad! Three daughters knitting,

Like three white butterflies upon the breeze

With evidently some design, came skipping

Round by the arbour in amongst the trees,

And if the truth were really known, to seize

Their innocent papa just thereabout;

'Tis wonderful how daughters coax and tease

At such auspicious times; I have no doubt

They stroked his handsome whiskers with a pretty pout.

XXIV.

(No. 1 Daughter.) “Papa dear, don't you find the heat oppressive?

So thoroughly enjoyable you say,

I really think it's something quite excessive,

Much worse, in fact, than it was yesterday;

It quite upsets me;—no, I'm not in play,

Indeed I've been quite indisposed of late,

And vexed with ailments many and many a day,

With troublesome ennui and mal-à-tête,

The Doctor thinks my nerves are in a wretched state!”

 Prev. P 15/167 next