Love's Comedy Part 4

FALK.

To give them three or four days' treat, poor dears-- Soon he'll be buried over head and ears In Swedish muddles and official messings-- I see!

MRS. HALM [to FALK].

Now there's a man for you, in truth!

GULDSTAD.

They say he was a rogue, though, in his youth.

MISS JAY [offended].

There, Mr. Guldstad, I must break a lance!

I've heard as long as I can recollect, Most worthy people speak with great respect Of Pastor Strawman and his life's romance.

GULDSTAD [laughing].

Romance?

MISS JAY.

Romance! I call a match romantic At which mere worldly wisdom looks askance.

FALK.

You make my curiosity gigantic.

MISS JAY [continuing].

But certain people always grow splenetic-- Why, goodness knows--at everything pathetic, And scoff it down. We all know how, of late, An unfledged, upstart undergraduate Presumed, with brazen insolence, to declare That "William Russell"(1)was a poor affair!

FALK.

But what has this to do with Strawman, pray?

Is he a poem, or a Christian play?

MISS JAY [with tears of emotion].

No, Falk,--a man, with heart as large as day.

But when a--so to speak--mere lifeless thing Can put such venom into envy's sting, And stir up evil pa.s.sions fierce and fell Of such a depth--

FALK [sympathetically].

And such a length as well--

MISS JAY.

Why then, a man of your commanding brain Can't fail to see--

FALK.

Oh, yes, that's very plain.

But hitherto I haven't quite made out The nature, style, and plot of this romance.

It's something quite delightful I've no doubt-- But just a little inkling in advance--

STIVER.

I will abstract, in rapid _resume_, The leading points.

MISS JAY.

No, I am more _au fait_, I know the ins and outs--

MRS. HALM.

I know them too!

MISS JAY.

Oh Mrs. Halm! now let me tell it, do!

Well, Mr. Falk, you see--he pa.s.sed at college For quite a miracle of wit and knowledge, Had admirable taste in books and dress--

MRS. HALM.

And acted--privately--with great success.

MISS JAY.

Yes, wait a bit--he painted, played and wrote--

MRS. HALM.

And don't forget his gift of anecdote.

MISS JAY.

Do give me time; I know the whole affair: He made some verses, set them to an air, Also his own,--and found a publisher.

O heavens! with what romantic melancholy He played and sang his "Madrigals to Molly"!

MRS. HALM.

He was a genius, the simple fact.

GULDSTAD [to himself].

Hm! Some were of opinion he was cracked.

FALK.

A gray old stager,(2)whose sagacious head Was never upon mouldy parchments fed, Says "Love makes Petrarchs, just as many lambs And little occupation, Abrahams."

But who was Molly?

MISS JAY.

Molly? His elect, His lady-love, whom shortly we expect.

Of a great firm her father was a member--

GULDSTAD.

A timber house.

MISS JAY [curtly].

I'm really not aware.

GULDSTAD.

Did a large trade in scantlings, I remember.

MISS JAY.

That is the trivial side of the affair.

FALK.

A firm?