Volume 103 — "L'HOMME PROPOSE—."

They sat it out upon the stairs, Those dear old stairs! Ah me; how many A time they've cost, all unawares, A pretty penny! Why they were fools enough to go To sit on stairs, and miss the fun, Quite baffles me; but still, you know, It has been done. The lights were low—lights often are— I deem the fact though worth the noting, And strains of music from afar Came softly floating. So whilst she pondered what Mamma Would think, the band commenced to play The epidemical "Ta-ra- ra-boom-de-ay!" He gazed into her eyes (of blue), Sighed once as if it hurt him badly, Then told her how 'twas but too true He loved her madly. With highly creditable skill He turned the well-worn platitude— His own unworthiness until You really could Not but admire each word, each look. His speech was quite unrivalled in its Intensity—in fact it took At least ten minutes. A peroration full of flowers, A moisture in his other eye, And then a pause—it seemed of hours— For her reply. Her answer came. He thought of it, It haunted him for long years after, She simply burst into a fit Of ribald laughter. And certainly it was absurd, She laughed till she could laugh no more; She'd heard the same thing, to a word, The day before. Two tyros in the Art of Love, Each ARABELLA's ardent suitor, Unluckily were pupils of The self-same tutor! So, should you fail to understand A maiden's answer, this may show Why sometimes Man proposes and The Girl says "No!"