"Eh? what?" said Philip, who was busily engaged in writing a newspaper article. "Written a poem to a girl? All right. I'll listen presently."
"I don't want you to listen. I want your advice as to whether to send it or not."
"If you've wasted your time writing the thing,--by the way, take care the Doctor doesn't hear of it,--you may as well send it."
"The question is, whether she'll be offended."
"I'm glad it isn't more important, because I'm busy."
"Look here! Stop that anonymous stabber of yours and listen. It's to Miss Delane."
Philip stopped in the middle of a particularly vicious paragraph of the "stabber," and looked up with amusement on his face.
"It's a perfectly--you know--suitable poem," pursued Dale. "The only question is, will she think it a liberty?"
"Oh, send it. They like getting 'em;" and Philip took up his pen again.
"You don't know the sort of girl she is."
"Then what the deuce is the good of asking me? Ask Nellie."
Thus thrown, by his friend's indifference, on his own judgment, Dale made up his mind to send the verses,--he could not deny himself the pleasure,--but, half alarmed at his own audacity, which feeling was a new one in him, he "hedged" by inclosing with them a letter of an apologetic character. Miss Delane was not to suppose that he took the liberty of referring to her in the terms of his title: the little copy of verses had merely been suggested by a remark she made. He had failed to find an answer on the spot. Would she pardon him for giving his answer now in this indirect way?--and so forth.
The verses, with their accompanying letter, were received by Janet, and Janet had no doubt of what she did feel about them, but some considerable doubt as to what she ought to feel; so she carried them to her mother. Mrs. Delane put on her _pince-nez_ and read the documents in the case.
"I'm sure he didn't mean to be--anything but what's nice, mamma," said Janet.
"I dare say not, my dear. The question is, whether the young man knows his manners. Let's see."
After careful perusal, during which Janet watched her mother's face with some anxiety, Mrs. Delane delivered judgment.
"There's no positive harm in them," she said, "and I don't think we need take any actual steps. Still, Janet, he is evidently to be treated with discretion."