ne here suspect. Yes, I know well enough that few men are
better calculated to win a woman's heart than I. I'm a fine
fellow, Dick, and worthy any woman's love--happy the girl who
gets me, say I. But I'm timid, Dick; shy--nervous--modest--
retiring--diffident--and I cannot tell her, Dick, I cannot tell
her! Ah, you've no idea what a poor opinion I have of myself,
and how little I deserve it.
RICH. Robin, do you call to mind how, years ago, we swore
that, come what might, we would always act upon our hearts'
dictates?
ROB. Aye, Dick, and I've always kept that oath. In doubt,
difficulty, and danger I've always asked my heart what I should
do, and it has never failed me.
RICH. Right! Let your heart be your compass, with a clear
conscience for your binnacle light, and you'll sail ten knots on
a bowline, clear of shoals, rocks, and quicksands! Well, now,
what does my heart say in this here difficult situation? Why, it
says, "Dick," it says--(it calls me Dick acos it's known me from
a babby)--"Dick," it says, "you ain't shy--you ain't
modest--speak you up for him as is!" Robin, my lad, just you lay
me alongside, and when she's becalmed under my lee, I'll spin her
a yarn that shall sarve to fish you two together for life!
ROB. Will you do this thing for me? Can you, do you think?
Yes (feeling his pulse). There's no false modesty about you.
Your--what I would call bumptious self-assertiveness (I mean the
expression in its complimentary sense) has already made you a
bos'n's mate, and it will make an admiral of you in time, if you
work it properly, you dear, incompetent old impostor! My dear
fellow, I'd give my right arm for one tenth of your modest
assurance!

SONG--ROBIN.

My boy, you may take it from me,
That of all the afflictions accurst
With which a man's saddled
And hampered and addled,
A diffident nature's the worst.
Though clever as clever can be--
A Crichton of early romance--
You must stir it and stump it,
And blow your own trumpet,
Or, trust me, you haven't a chance!

If you wish in the world to advance,
Your merits you're bound to enhance,
You