He was being outrun, as he plainly perceived.
’Twas but nat’ral for him to give vent to his spleen,
And no one could say, but it really seemed mean
For Malindy to dance and be acting as though
She was tickled to death with a homelier beau.
But the kindly Neoma was there and alert;
She saw the great wit with his proud feelings hurt,
And smiling, she beckoned him over her way,
Where she flattered his pride as a clever girl may,
Till he told all he knew and a score of things more,