Would to heaven it might!
Our wedding's imminent; our purses light.
Courtship's a very serious affair.

FALK.
Just so: "_Qu'allais-tu faire dans cette galere?_"

STIVER.
Is courtship a "galere"?

FALK.
No, married lives;--
All servitude, captivity, and gyves.

STIVER [seeing MISS JAY approach].
You little know what wealth a man obtains
From woman's eloquence and woman's brains.

MISS JAY [aside to STIVER].
Will Guldstad give us credit, think you?

STIVER [peevishly].
I
Am not quite certain of it yet: I'll try.

[They withdraw in conversation; LIND and
ANNA approach.

LIND [aside to FALK].
I can't endure it longer; in post-haste
I must present her--

FALK.
You had best refrain,
And not initiate the eye profane
Into your mysteries--

LIND.
That would be a jest!--
From you, my fellow-boarder, and my mate,
To keep concealed my new-found happy state!
Nay, now, my head with Fortune's oil anointed--

FALK.
You think the occasion good to get it curled?
Well, my good friend, you won't be disappointed;
Go and announce your union to the world!

LIND.
Other reflections also weigh with me,
And one of more especial gravity;
Say that there lurked among our motley band
Some sneaking, sly pretender to her hand;
Say, his attentions became undisguised,--
We should be disagreeably compromised.

FALK.
Yes, it is true; it had escaped my mind,
You for a higher office were designed,
Love as his young licentiate has retained you;
Shortly you'll get a permanent position;
But it would be defying all tradition
If at the present moment he ordained you.

LIND.
Yes if the merchant does not--

FALK.
What of him?

ANNA [troubled].
Oh, it is Lind's unreasonable whim.

LIND.
Hush; I've a deep foreboding that the man
Will rob me of my treasure, if he can.
The fellow, as we know, comes daily down,
Is rich, unmarried, takes you round the town;
In short, my own, regard it as we will,
There are a thousand things that bode us ill.

ANNA [sighing].
Oh, it's too bad; to-day was so delicious!

FALK [sympathetically to LIND].
Don't wreck your joy, unfoundedly suspicious,
Don't hoist your flag till time the truth disclose--

ANNA.
Great God! Miss Jay is looking; hush, be still!

[She and LIND withdraw in different directions.

FALK [loo