Of medium height, and lovely spinsters too,

Charmingly gentle as they well could be,

With accomplishments and graces not a few,

As generous as one could wish to see,

The very pictures of sweet joviality.

X.

A dozen uncles and as many aunts

Were the idols of their precious little eyes;

And it was whispered that there was a chance

With Fate auspicious, of a great surprise

At some approaching day; 'tis never wise

To form conjectures or to fret and worry,

To count your gains before Aunt Some-one dies,

E'en though possessed of half the land in Surrey,

Or draw your own conclusions in too great a hurry.[5]

[5]

XI.

All information, as perchance, you know,

Is second hand; I write as folks dictate;

A Mrs. B. tells Mr. So-and-So

 Prev. P 8/167 next