My cloak—­oh!  I really don’t need it—­
      Well, carry it,—­so, in the folds—­
    I hate it, but Ma made me bring it;
      She’s frightened to death about colds.

    This is rather cooler than dancing. 
      They’re lovely piazzas up here;
    Those lanterns look sweet in the bushes,
      It’s lucky the night is so clear.

    I am rather tired—­in this corner?—­
      Very well, if you like—­I don’t care—­
    But you’ll have to sit on the railing—­
      You see there is only one chair.

    ’So long since you’ve seen me’—­oh, ages!—­
      Let’s see, why it’s ten days ago—­
    ’Seems years’—­oh! of course—­don’t look spooney—­
      It isn’t becoming, you know.

    How bright the stars seem to-night, don’t they? 
      What was it you said about eyes? 
    How sweet!—­why you must be a poet—­
      One never can tell till he tries.

    Why can’t you be sensible, Harry! 
      I don’t like men’s arms on my chair. 
    Be still! if you don’t stop this nonsense
      I’ll get up and leave you;—­so there!

    Oh! please don’t—­I don’t want to hear it—­
      A boy like you talking of love. 
    ’My answer!’—­Well, sir, you shall have it—­
      Just wait till I get off my glove.

    See that?—­Well, you needn’t look tragic,
      It’s only a solitaire ring,—­
    Of course I am ’proud of it’—­very—­
      It’s rather an elegant thing.

    Engaged!—­yes—­why, didn’t you know it? 
      I thought the news must have reached here—­
    Why, the wedding will be in October—­
      The ’happy man’—­Charley Leclear.

    Now don’t blame me—­I tried to stop you—­
      But you would go on like a goose;
    I’m sorry it happened—­forget it—­
      Don’t think of it—­don’t—­what’s the use?

    There’s somebody coming—­don’t look so—­
      Get up on the railing again—­
    Can’t you seem as if nothing had happened? 
      I never saw such geese as men!

    Ah, Charley, you’ve found me!  A galop? 
      The ‘Bahn frei?’ Yes; take my bouquet—­
    And my fan, if you will—­now I’m ready—­
      You’ll excuse me, of course, Mr. Gray.”

    MATINAL MUSINGS.

    Ten o’clock!  Well, I’m sure I can’t help it! 
      I’m up—­go away from the door! 
    Now, children, I’ll speak to your mother
      If you pound there like that any more.

    How tired I do feel?—­Where’s that cushion?—­
      I don’t want to move from this chair;
    I wish Marie’d make her appearance! 
      I really can’t do my own hair.

    I wish I’d not danced quite so often—­
      I knew I’d feel tired! but it’s hard
    To refuse a magnificent dancer
      If you have a place left on your card.