THE THREE VOICES.
105
"Not so," he urged, "nor once alone:
But there was that within her tone
Which chilled me to the very bone.
"Her style was anything but clear,
And most unpleasantly severe;
Her epithets were very queer.
"And yet, so grand were her replies,
I could not choose but deem her wise;
I did not dare to criticise;
"Nor did I leave her, till she went
So deep in tangled argument
That all my powers of thought were spent."
A little whisper inly slid;
"Yet truth is truth: you know you did—"
A little wink beneath the lid.
