we certainly expected no such stuff as the following, addressed to his bride:

“At Dawlish, 'mid the pools of brine,

You stept from rock to rock,

One hand quick tightening upon mine,

One holding up your frock.


I thought, indeed, by magic chance,

A third [day] from Heaven to win,

But as, at dusk, we reach’d Penzance,

A drizzling rain set in.”