Lapsus Calami (Aug 1891)/The Last Ride together
For other versions of this work, see The Last Ride Together (Stephen).
2. The Last Ride together.
(From Her point of view.)
When I had firmly answered "No”,And he allowed that that was so, I really thought I should be free For good and all from Mr B., And that he would soberly acquiesce: I said that it would be discreet That for a while we should not meet; I promised I would always feel A kindly interest in his weal; I thanked him for his amorous zeal; In short, I said all I could but “yes.”
I said what I'm accustomed to; I acted as I always do; I promised he should find in me A friend,—a sister, if that might be: But he was still dissatisfied: He certainly was most polite; He said exactly what was right, He acted very properly, Except indeed for this, that he Insisted on inviting me To come with him for “one more last ride.”
A little while in doubt I stood:A ride, no doubt, would do me good:I had a habit and a hatExtremely well worth looking at: The weather was distinctly fine:My horse too wanted exercise,And time, when one is riding, flies:Besides it really seemed, you see,The only way of ridding meOf pertinacious Mr B.: So my head I graciously incline.
I won't say much of what happened next:I own I was extremely vexed:Indeed I should have been aghastIf any one had seen what passed: But nobody need ever knowThat, as I leaned forward to stir the fire,He advanced before I could well retire,And I suddenly felt, to my great alarm,The grasp of a warm unlicensed arm,An embrace in which I found no charm; I was awfully glad when he let me go.
Then we began to ride: my steedWas rather fresh, too fresh indeed,And at first I thought of little, saveThe way to escape an early grave, As the dust rose up on either side.My stern companion jogged alongOn a brown old cob both broad and strong: He looked as he does when he's writing verse,Or endeavouring not to swear and curse,Or wondering where he has left his purse:Indeed it was a sombre ride.
I spoke of the weather to Mr B.:But he neither listened nor spoke to me:I praised his horse, and I smiled the smileWhich was wont to move him once on a while;I said I was wearing his favourite flowers:But I wasted my words on the desert air,For he rode with a fixed and gloomy stare:I wonder what he was thinking about:As I don't read verse, I sha'n't find out:It was something subtle and deep, no doubt,A theme to detain a man for hours.
Ah! there was the corner where Mr S.So nearly induced me to whisper "yes":And here it was that the next but oneProposed on horseback, or would have done,Had his horse not most opportunely shied;Which perhaps was due to the unseen flickHe received from my whip: 'twas a scurvy trick,But I never could do with that young man:I hope his present young woman can.Well, I must say, never, since time began,Did I go for a duller or longer ride.
He never smiles and he never speaks:He might go on like this for weeks: He rolls a slightly frenzied eyeTowards the blue and burning sky, And the cob bounds on with tireless stride.If we aren't at home for lunch at twoI don't know what Papa will do;But I know full well he will say to me"I never approved of Mr B.:"It's the very devil that you and he "Ride, ride together, for ever ride."