“Oh, _why_ didst thou not go upon the stage? For thy shoulders are
better than Faversham’s and thy profile than E. H. Sothern’s!”
And he hath straightway _proposed_!
The youths of the land have I called “Mr. Smith”, and the octogenarians
addressed as “Silly Boy”. The fat man have I called “graceful”, and the
ourang-outang, “distinguished”.
And all of these were overcome.
Their fairy tales have I outstripped with better fairy tales, and their
devices with more subtile devices.
Verily, verily, men are as toys in mine hand; and, even as a child, do
I delight to play with them.
Lo, she that fisheth for an husband, laboreth against many odds, but
she that fisheth for amusement casteth her nets in pleasant waters, and
they shall return unto her heavy laden.