I strove to be reasonable. 'To let him have my photo, Elizabeth, would
only encourage his mad ideas. No, all this must be stopped
immediately. I shall take prompt measures. Once more, let me beg of
you never to mention this painful occurrence to any one.' I turned to
go out of the kitchen, but when I reached the door Elizabeth called to
me. 'I wanted to ask you a favour, miss, if it isn't troublin' you too
much,' she began.

'What is it?' I inquired rather absently, for my mind was very much
disturbed just then.

'You see, miss, it's this way. I gotta young man wot's very poetick,
like. 'E's always sendin' me portry copied from mottoes out o'
crackers. It's very 'ard to keep up with 'im.'

'Then how do you want me to help you?' I asked, puzzled.

'I wondered if you'd be so kind as to copy me a bit o' portry I sor in
one o' master's books. It sounds real pretty, but I can't get it down
right. My 'andwritin' is that bad.' She took a leather-bound volume
of Byron from the kitchen drawer. 'It's just this yere bit:--

"Yet, oh, yet thyself deceeve not,
Luv' may sink by slow decay;
But by suddint wrench beleeve not
'Earts can thus be torn away."'

'Have you had a quarrel with your young man?' I asked, perplexed at the
strange selection of verse.