Learnt yards of eloquence by heart,

Came, full of it, to press his suit;

At sight of me forgot his part ...

What could I say when he was mute?

"But there are ways and means for those

Who like to sit and blush alone,

And, undetected, to propose

In phrases other than their own ..."

(The P.M.G.'s suspicions rose;

This sounded like the telephone).