An Empty Glass.
196
Nurse F.—
Oh! yes, no doubt I could,but what of it?
Oh! yes, no doubt I could,but what of it?
Hortense—
This of it, I am going to take your case
And nurse your patient while you get a rest.
It does not suit me that my real name
Should be disclosed, so I shall take these things,
Nurse Grey's, her basket, and her uniform,
And call myself Nurse Grey, and you shall guard
This secret with your life. Oh yes! you shall,
You'll say you never saw the basket here,
Suggest it has been stolen, gone astray.
You'll take these sovereigns, and buy postal notes
And send them to Nurse Grey without a word
Or sign of any kind, 'twill recompense.
And you will say, when the occasion comes,
That some one found a nurse, you do not know
Exactly who it was—some Melbourne girl.
Call black things white, and never turn a hair,
And guard this secret as you do your life.
If you betray me—you—you—Mabel Frere,
Or by a careless word let drop a hint,
I'll pay you, never fear! I'll pay you well.
This of it, I am going to take your case
And nurse your patient while you get a rest.
It does not suit me that my real name
Should be disclosed, so I shall take these things,
Nurse Grey's, her basket, and her uniform,
And call myself Nurse Grey, and you shall guard
This secret with your life. Oh yes! you shall,
You'll say you never saw the basket here,
Suggest it has been stolen, gone astray.
You'll take these sovereigns, and buy postal notes
And send them to Nurse Grey without a word
Or sign of any kind, 'twill recompense.
And you will say, when the occasion comes,
That some one found a nurse, you do not know
Exactly who it was—some Melbourne girl.
Call black things white, and never turn a hair,
And guard this secret as you do your life.
If you betray me—you—you—Mabel Frere,
Or by a careless word let drop a hint,
I'll pay you, never fear! I'll pay you well.
