AURORA LEIGH.
157
And then, with just a word, . . that 'Marian Erle
Was coming with her bridesmaids presently,'
Made haste to place me by the altar-stair,
Where he and other noble gentlemen
And high-born ladies, waited for the bride.
Was coming with her bridesmaids presently,'
Made haste to place me by the altar-stair,
Where he and other noble gentlemen
And high-born ladies, waited for the bride.
We waited. It was early: there was time
For greeting, and the morning's compliment;
And gradually a ripple of women's talk
Arose and fell, and tossed about a spray
Of English ss, soft as a silent hush,
And, notwithstanding, quite as audible
As louder phrases thrown out by the men.
—'Yes really, if we've need to wait in church,
We've need to talk there.'—'She? 'Tis Lady Ayr
In blue—not purple! that's the dowager.'
—'She looks as young.'—'She flirts as young, you mean!
Why if you had seen her upon Thursday night,
You'd call Miss Norris modest.'—'You again!
I waltzed with you three hours back. Up at six,
Up still at ten: scarce time to change one's shoes.
I feel as white and sulky as a ghost,
So pray don't speak to me, Lord Belcher.'—'No,
I'll look at you instead, and it's enough
While you have that face.' 'In church, my lord! fie, fie!'
—'Adair, you stayed for the Division?'—'Lost
By one.' 'The devil it is! I'm sorry for't.
And if I had not promised Mistress Grove' . .
—'You might have kept your word to Liverpool.'
'Constituents must remember, after all,
For greeting, and the morning's compliment;
And gradually a ripple of women's talk
Arose and fell, and tossed about a spray
Of English ss, soft as a silent hush,
And, notwithstanding, quite as audible
As louder phrases thrown out by the men.
—'Yes really, if we've need to wait in church,
We've need to talk there.'—'She? 'Tis Lady Ayr
In blue—not purple! that's the dowager.'
—'She looks as young.'—'She flirts as young, you mean!
Why if you had seen her upon Thursday night,
You'd call Miss Norris modest.'—'You again!
I waltzed with you three hours back. Up at six,
Up still at ten: scarce time to change one's shoes.
I feel as white and sulky as a ghost,
So pray don't speak to me, Lord Belcher.'—'No,
I'll look at you instead, and it's enough
While you have that face.' 'In church, my lord! fie, fie!'
—'Adair, you stayed for the Division?'—'Lost
By one.' 'The devil it is! I'm sorry for't.
And if I had not promised Mistress Grove' . .
—'You might have kept your word to Liverpool.'
'Constituents must remember, after all,
