MOUSE: If I may be permitted to enquire, Why are you standing there in such a fright, Upon a chair, clutching your frock so tight About your--
CLARISSA: Help! Oh dear! I wonder what That girl’s about! Good heavens! I forgot It’s Jane’s day out. There’s no one in the house But me--
MOUSE: Fair lady! I am but a Mouse, A simple Mouse, but underneath this fur There beats a heart whose motto is _Sans Purr_. To see a lovely female in distress Rouses in me the spirit of _Noblesse_. To her protection instantly I fly. No common _Mus Domesticus_ am I! You may have heard--
CLARISSA: If only Jane were here! What _shall_ I do?
MOUSE: Dear lady, have no fear! As I was saying, doubtless you’ve heard tell How once a Mountain bore a Mouse-child. Well, _I_ was that Child! Or rather, to be more Strictly veracious, ’twas my Ancestor; And sometimes when I dream of deeds Titanic I think that Mountain must have been Volcanic! So have no fear! If any one should dare Molest you, I am here beneath your chair, Ready to spring--
CLARISSA: Mercy! I wonder why It squeaks like that! It’s crazy! I shall die If it--
MOUSE: Sweet lady! Though I cannot guess From your queer speech the cause of your distress, Your voice, quite meaningless to my Mouse ear, Is strangely sweet and musical and clear; And, though they violate our beauty-laws, I never saw such shapely hinder paws As yours, so smooth and beautiful to see, So silky white, like sticks of celery. Upon each side a tender sprig of gold-- Gold as pure Cheese, and toothsome to behold-- Climbs up and up! ’Tis called, so I am told By Mice more versed in lady-lore, a Clock. Once, it is said, a Mouse named Dickery Dock Ran up the--
MOUSE: I wonder if I dare! Only the brave deserve--
CLARISSA: O Lord! This chair Is giving way! If it should break!--What’s that? It’s Purrline’s mew! Here, Puss! Puss!--
MOUSE: What? The Cat! I’d _love_ to meet him! But it’s getting late. My wife’s expecting me. I musn’t wait!
CLARISSA: And is that _all_ you’ve got to say? Did you expect the Mouse to wait all day? For all _you_ care, I might have died of fright! My! But I’m glad it got away all right!
I never wasted any love On turtles, but the turtle-dove Is quite another thing; When I have nothing else to do, I love to hear them bill and coo While mating in the spring.