Holy "Days and Holidays 



spring the young man's fancy lightly turns to 

 thoughts of standing in the street beneath the 

 window of his lady-love. The musical serenade 

 has gone out of fashion, which is a pity ; and 

 the lover sometimes cuts, it must be owned, 

 a rather ridiculous figure kicking his heels 

 in front of closed shutters, through which the 

 lady, unseen herself, is probably inspecting 

 him. As the shades of evening descend the 

 fair often becomes more kind ; the shutters are 

 thrown back and half a female form protrudes 

 from the window. The lover stands im- 

 mediately below with his head turned upwards 

 at what must be a very uncomfortable angle, 

 and courtship proceeds. This sort of thing may 

 go on for an indefinite period. In the case of 

 a great, and very coy, heiress, it is said to have 

 lasted five hours a day for five years. Such love- 

 making must be a monotonous, even if a very 

 earnest, business. Of 



" The love that's born of laughter, 



The love that's fed on tears ; 

 The cahn that reigncth after 



A storm of hopes and fears : 

 Eyes mutual longings darting. 



And linked hands that burn ; 

 The ' little death ' of parting. 



The rapture of return j" 



243 



