"DID N'T you like the party, dear, to-night?" (Silence. She turns her head the other way.) "What have I done? Isn't my tie on right?" (No answer — but her eyes have things to say.) "Is it because I danced with Mrs. Chatt? Her husband made me, really." (She is dumb.) "Surely you can't be jealous that I sat Out with the silly Grimes girl?" (She is mum.) "I know I talked too much of me and mine — Was that the reason?" (Perfect stillness reigns.) "But I was proud — you simply looked divine! Can't you forgive me?" (Speechless she remains.) "Was it because I stumbled in that waltz? I always do some fool thing." (Not a word.) "I didn't mean to lose your smelling salts." ('T would seem the protestations were unheard.) "Oh, Mrs. Gad then told you that I said Her dress should have the prize?" (Hark! 'T is the wind.) "Or was it that I cut Ned Killer dead? He's a mere rake. Look at me, dear." (She's blind.) "Well, I confess I ought to be accursed For talking shop at dinner." (She is mute.) "I'm sorry that I used the wrong fork first." (Her hush and nature's hush are absolute.) "Oh, very well, then, since you're bound to sneer, I can fight, too, if quarrelling's such fun." She speaks! She smiles! "Why, I'm not angry, dear, I merely wished to know what you had done." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FORECLOSURE by STERLING ALLEN BROWN THE ROSE AND THORN by PAUL HAMILTON HAYNE THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT by EDWARD LEAR THE SECRETARY; WRITTEN AT THE HAGUE, 1696 by MATTHEW PRIOR SONNET: 3 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE MANDRAKE'S SONG; FRAGMENT by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES THE SECOND BROTHER; AN UNFINISHED DRAMA by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES |