Wrenched with an agony intense,
He spake, neglecting Sound and Sense,
And careless of all consequence:
'Mind—I believe—is Essence—Ent—
Abstract—that is—an Accident—
Which we—that is to say—I meant—'
When, with quick breath and cheeks all flushed,
At length his speech was somewhat hushed,
She looked at him, and he was crushed.
It needed not her calm reply: