A Legend of Camelot, Pictures and Poems, etc/The Contrast

by George du Maurier

For works with similar titles, see The Contrast.

THE CONTRAST.

At a Sale of Antique Furniture.

WHEN the mirror politely stood still for a space,
And she viewed herself there in that reeking old place,
While the tribes clustered, grinning, all round her sweet face,
Such a picture was framed as one don't often see;
On our Catalogue's margin we sketched her, pro tem.,
And just added those lively descendants of Shem
For a background—the brighter and fairer the gem,
The darker and plainer the setting should be!

"And she viewed herself there."