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16
NORTH OF BOSTON
You needn't smile — I didn't recognise him —
I wasn't looking for him — and he's changed.
Wait till you see."
"Where did you say he'd been?"
" He didn't say. I dragged him to the house,
And gave him tea and tried to make him smoke.
I tried to make him talk about his travels.
Nothing would do: he just kept nodding off."
"What did he say? Did he say anything?"
" But little."
"Anything? Mary, confess
He said he'd come to ditch the meadow for
me."
"Warren!"
" But did he? I just want to know."
" Of course he did. What would you have
him say?
Surely you wouldn't grudge the poor old man
Some humble way to save his self-respect.
