  For all the crowd that packed the house to-night, Marked you the vacant seat none came to claim,... The fourth row from the front, and to the right?... Vacant, I call it now.... But I could name A thing that happened when the lights were off, Of one who walked in buckles down the aisle, Wearing a great hat that he scorned to doff, And richly kerchiefed, wrist and neck in style. Once in the play—I swear it—once I heard, Along the tumult of our loud applause, A sly and ghostly chuckle at a word That Falstaff mouthed with those outrageous jaws ... I think he liked the play ... and stayed, no doubt, Long after us, and lingered going out. |
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