"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!

Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town?

And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?" -

"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.

- "You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks,

Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks;

And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!" -

"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.

- "At home in the barton you said 'thee' and 'thou,'

And 'thik oon,' and 'theas oon,' and 't'other'; but now

Your talking quite fits 'ee for high compa-ny!" -

"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.

- "Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak,

But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek,

And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!" -

"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.

- "You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,

And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem

To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!" -

"True. There's an advantage in ruin," said she.

- "I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,

And a delicate face, and could strut about Town!" -

"My dear—a raw country girl, such as you be,

Isn't equal to that. You ain't ruined," said she.

WESTBOURNE PARK VILLAS, 1866,