In course of time all the
promises will be made either explicitly or implicitly conditional, the
only question being what is the least possible obligation that can be
incurred by both contracting parties at the smallest possible expense.
* * * * *
[Illustration: FIN DE SIECLE CHILDREN.
_He_. "I SAY, HILDA, I _SHOULD_ SO LIKE TO GIVE YOU A KISS!"
_She_ (_who WILL pick up such strange expressions from the Boys_).
"WOULD YOU, INDEED? 'I LIKE YOUR CHEEK'!"
_He_. "I'M SURE I SHOULD LIKE _YOURS_!"]
* * * * *
NOT CAUGHT YET!
The Boy and the Bird! And the Bird looks so old;--
Scarce the species of fowl to be easily "sold,"--
And the Boy is so young! It seems almost absurd
To suppose that that pinch is to capture that Bird!
An old form of chase, if the legends run right;
Like that, much akin, of the wild goose in flight.
But salt, just like chaff and the plainly spread net,
Was never regarded as promising yet.
But now? Well, the Birds of the age, like its Boys,
Its Wives, and its Weather, its Tastes and its Toys,
Have suffered a change, not a sea-change, but one
Which floors half the maxims, and spoils half the fun.
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