"Dance through my hours of leisure?
Smoke?--bathe myself with scent?--
Play croquet? Oh, with pleasure!

"Wear all my hair in curl?
Stand at my door and wink--so--
At every passing girl?
My brothers, I should think so!

"For years I've longed for some
Excuse for this revulsion:
Now that excuse has come--
I do it on compulsion!!!"

He smoked and winked away--
This REVEREND HOPLEY PORTER--
The deuce there was to pay
At Assesmilk-cum-Worter.

And HOOPER holds his ground,
In mildness daily growing--
They think him, all around,
The mildest curate going.



Only A Dancing Girl