One evening to tea and to tracts.

The Butter-cups ranged, defamation ran high,

While every tongue join’d the debate;

Miss Sensitive said, ‘twixt a groan and a sigh,

Though she felt much concern’d—yet she thought her dear Vi

Had grown rather bulbous of late.

Thus the tale spread about through the busy parterre:

Miss Columbine turn'd up her nose,

And the prude Lady Lavender said, with a stare,

That her friend, Mary-gold, had been heard to declare,