William U. Moulton

"'Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.'

"Didn't it though! I FAN-cy it does! If there's anything in the world that is quite entirely interesting, it's a man who daresn't say 'I love you,' though his eyes told the story long ago! Of course you don't know anything about it. Oh, no! Can't, for the soul of you, tell why he never comes near you without a tremor, or what possesses him to say 'yes,' instead of 'no,' or to kiss your little brother so often, and give him so much sugar-candy! Have no idea why he looks so 'distrait'and embarrassed, when you take another gentleman's arm or smile at him. Never see that bright magnetic sparkle in his eye when you call him Harry, instead of Mr. Fay. Don't see him pick up a rosebud that you dropped from your girdle, and hide it in his vest! (don't like it, either!!) You don't notice what a long job he makes of it, putting your shawl on. You haven't the slightest suspicion where the mate of your little kid glove went, the last time you went to walk; you are not at all magnetically affected yourself! Oh, no, not a bit of it! Just as cool as a fur—refrigerator!

"Don't feel a bit nervous when your mother gets up and leaves the room! Always have a topic at your tongue's end to dash off on. Never pick your ribbons all to pieces because you daresn't look him in the face. Never refuse to go to ride with him, when you are just dying to go. Never blush as red as a pulpit cushion, when your brother teases you about him, or say 'you don't care a fig for him.' When HIS ring at the door sends your heart to your mouth, you never snatch up a book and get so entirely absorbed in it, that he is obliged to touch your arm, before you can find out that he's in your presence! You never read his notes, when you could say them all off with your eyes shut! You never hide them where anybody can find them—without you should be taken with a fainting fit! You take precious good care to keep all that from Mr. Fay!

"All right, dear; don't hold out a single straw to help him ashore! Make him come every step of the way without a guide-board! but when be GETS THERE—hem!—if you own a soul—tell him so!

"'Faint heart never won fair lady,' hey! I differ! If there's anything that's a regular shower-bath to love, it's your 'veni, vidi, vici' man, who considers himself so excruciatingly omnipotent! Softly, sir! Forewarned, forearmed! You rouse all the antagonism in our nature! The more you are sure you'll win, the more you won't! You've to earn your laurels,—to win your battle; (if you ever noticed it!)

"Do you suppose we are going to lose all those interesting, half-broken sentences, and all those pretty little blunders you make when we come near you? If you only knew how interesting it was for us to see the color rush to your forehead, at such times, or to see you look so 'triste' when some old maid comes in to spend the evening, and you have to leave your little Paradise to go creeping home with her! or to see you manoeuvre one whole evening with a diplomacy (deserving a reward) for a seat next to us! Goodness gracious! I tell you 'faint hearts' never win anything else but 'fair ladies!'"