When Jane this brief appeal t’her father made—

“Pray tell me, father, why you seem so sad;

Oh! was it wrong to take it from the lad?

Forgive me, father, if I’ve done amiss:

He only press’d my hand and gave a kiss!”

Then George was comforted, and sped along,

Humming a kind of bass to Janie’s song;

But still he labour’d on in deep suspense—

Assur’d of this—that it would give offence

To all the folks[173] at Westonbury Hall;