same old blue satin
She wore at the Charity Ball!
Is that Fanny Wade?--Edith Pommeton--
And Emma, and Jo--all the girls!
I knew they'd not miss my wedding--
I hope they'll all notice my pearls.
Is the carriage there?--give me my cloak, Jane,
Don't get it all over my veil--
No! you take the other seat, Charley--
I need all of this for my trail.

III.
DIVORCE.
A.D., 1886.
_The Club Window._

"Yes, I saw her pass with 'that scoundrel'--
For heaven's sake, old man, keep cool!
No end of the fellows are watching--
Go easy, don't act like a fool!
'Parading _your_ shame'!--I don't see it.
It's _hers_ now, alone; for at last
You drove her to give you good reason,
Divorced her, and so it's all passed.
For _you_, I mean; she has to bear it--
Poor child--the reproach and the shame;
I'm your friend--but come, hang it, old fellow,
I swear you were somewhat to blame.
'What the deuce do I mean?' Well, I'll tell you,
Though it's none of my business. Here!
Just light a cigar, and keep quiet--
You _started_ wrong, Charley Leclear.
You weren't in love when you married--
'Nor she!'--well, I know, but she tried
To keep it dark. You wouldn't let her,
But laughed at her for it. Her pride
Wouldn't stand that, you know. Did you ever
See a spirited girl in your life,
Who would patiently pose to be pitied
As a 'patient Griselda'-like wife
When her husband neglects her so plainly
As you did?--although, on the whole,
When the wife is the culprit, I've noticed
It's rather the favorite role.
So she flirted a little--in public--
She'd chances enough and to spare,
Ah, _then_ if you'd only turned jealous--
But you didn't notice nor care.
Then her sickness came--even we fellows
All thought you behaved like a scrub,
Leaving her for the nurse to take care of,
While you spent your time at the club.
She never forgave you. How could she?
If I'd been in her place myself,
By Jove, I'd have _left_ you. She didn't,
But told all her woes to Jack Guelph.
When a girl's lost all love for her husband,
And is cursed with a masculine friend
To confide in, and he is a blackguard,
She isn't far off from the end.
Oh, I'm through--of _course_ nobody blamed you