BEFORE AND AFTER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3058, 14 April 1881, Page 3

BEFORE AND AFTER.

This is a year before marriage. He is making her a call. He is at the front door ringing for her. He has been thinking all day of her. These are his boots newly blacked, his collar spotless, his form ditto outside, his gloves drawn on for the first time, his hair newly parted and oiled, his face newly shaven j his heart palpitates for her, his nerves are nervous for her, he fears she may be out, or that her parents may object, or, worse than that, some other fellow may be there with her. The door opens. She is there, and alone. He is happy. This is a year after marriage. He is ringing at the door. His face is unshaven, his collar much worn, his boots unblacked, his hair unbrushed. He rings again in exactly ten seconds. He gives the bell a short, pei'tulant pull. He is thinking of her. He is grumbling that she doesn't answer it sooner. He has not all day been thinking of her. He has gone farther, maybe, and fared worse. Now she opens it. He pushes past her and remarks : "Takes you for ever to answer that bell." His unbrushed boots sound sullenly as he ascends tht stairs. She follows meekly after. He rushes into the room and round the house, and sings out: " Isn't dinner ready yet ?" She bids him be patient but a moment. But he won't, because dinner isn't ready within one minutes after he gets home ; because this is the one year after marriage ; because the bloom is off' the rye, the clown rubbed from the peach, ancl various other considerations ; because it's the way of the world, of man, of matrimony. O Temora! 0 Mores ! O Matrimony !