Is ailing our poor baby."

Slowly he rose, with sullen grace,

The light gleamed on his cloudy face—

"I never knew 'twas a (man's!) place

Before, to tend a baby!"

My pulses throbbed; a terror crept

Throughout my heart; and, while I wept,

This noble man lay down and slept,

And left me with my baby.

Oh, you, light-hearted, beauteous maid,