—So tantalize and so enrage by turns,

Until the two fall each on the other like

Two famished spiders, as the coveted fly,

That toys long, leaves their net and them at last!"

And so the missives followed thick and fast

For a month, say,—I still came at every turn

On the soft sly adder, endlong 'neath my tread.

I was met i' the street, made sign to in the church,

A slip was found i' the door-sill, scribbled word

'Twixt page and page o' the prayer-book in my place.