And before his few scattered thoughts were collected,
She rightly concluded—he’d Nothing to Say.
Then she lifted her skirts with a masterly hand,
And out of the puddles and ruts kept them well up,—
Thus showed that she had the most perfect command
Of the crinoline mysteries of her envelope,
’Twas done with the daintiest grace all the while,
And discovered the daintiest possible gaiter,—
Then she turned to her friend with a nod and a smile,