300 The Fatal Spot. (jSeft. 



However, they had nephews by the score— r- ,. . j ' 

 His holiness the Pope can have no more, -''^^w ,jn^O!'~ 

 And why should some be dying in despair, ' 



And other folks have happiness to spare ? ''- 



Perhaps they thought so — for they did not worry 

 Heaven with their prayers, but said there was no hurry. 



Meanwhile my Lady managed the estate. 

 Like other noble dames of modern date ; 

 Ejected tenants, purchased, and resold. 

 And every thing she touched was turned to gold ; 

 Till the whole country echoed with a fame 

 Which quite extinguished proud Sir Charles's name. 

 Delightful creature, thus to fill the purse ! 

 But tarry, neighbour, there is something worse. 

 For she was dauntless, and had special care 

 To hold it too, and take the lion's share ; 

 Whilst her astonished Lord, in his own castle. 

 Found himself nothing but a favourite vassal. 

 Pretty dilemma ! — for, to speak the truth. 

 He was a wild young fellow during youth ; 

 To use a Scottish phrase — a very sorner. 

 And now was standing for it in the corner ; 

 Half mad for cash to send across the waters. 

 To feed a colony of sons and daughters ; 

 And little doubting they would traverse oceans. 

 If he once failed these sturdy Nova-Scotians. 

 Oh ! what variety of wishes sprung 

 From his galled heart, and died upon his tongue ! 

 Yet it must be confessed they went no further, 

 Than natural death, and never reached to murther. 

 But she was wrapped in vanity, and sure 

 Husband of hers must be so good and pure ; 

 And as for any wickedness suppressed. 

 He might have had a window in his breast. 



But granting this, how could the man have erred. 

 Unless he were that very Irish bird 

 Which Paddy boasts of, who at once exists 

 Both here and there, exactly as he lists ? 

 For she had ears so fearfully contrived. 

 That every sound to those dread cells arrived ; 

 And such a matchless sight had Lady Mary, 

 She'd eye the welkin like an old grey fairy. 

 Well with the household fair his morals stood. 

 Ay, watched and warded, he was special good ; 

 A little dull, she owned, in rainy weather. 

 When they had oeen confined some days together. 

 And glad enough they were one dusky morn. 

 No doubt, to hear the cheering postman's horn ; 

 And eagerly they turned their letters over — 

 Most eagerly — a large one marked from Dover. 

 The black seal soon was broken, and they read 

 That Captain Dreadnought, of the Greys, was dead. 

 It might not be the Greys — ^there's many more 

 Valiant and brave besides that gallant corps. ~ 



But he was gallant — all the Dreadnoughts are — '^ 



And loved the battle and triumphal car ; "' 



Loved handsome women, too — and one he married. 

 Poor like himself, and her to India carried ; 



