Take my whole life for your experiment!

If you are bound—in marriage, say—why, still,

Still, sure, there 's something for a friend to do,

Outside? A mere well-wisher, understand!

I 'll sit, my life long, at your gate, you know,

Swing it wide open to let you and him

Pass freely,—and you need not look, much less

Fling me a 'Thank you—are you there, old friend?'

Don't say that even: I should drop like shot!

So I feel now at least: some day, who knows?