Love’s Logic

Anonymous

I. HER RESPECTABLE PAPA’S

“MY dear, be sensible! Upon my word

This—for a woman even—is absurd;

His income ’s not a hundred pounds, I know.

He ’s not worth loving.”—“But I love him so!”

II. HER MOTHER’S

“You silly child, he is well made and tall;

But looks are far from being all in all.

His social standing ’s low, his family ’s low.

He ’s not worth loving.”—“And I love him so!”

III. HER ETERNAL FRIEND’S

“Is that he picking up the fallen fan?

My dear! he ’s such an awkward, ugly man!

You must be certain, pet, to answer ‘No.’

He ’s not worth loving.”—“And I love him so!”

IV. HER BROTHER’S

“By Jove! were I a girl—through horrid hap—

I wouldn’t have a milk-and-water chap.

The man has not a single spark of ‘go.’

He ’s not worth loving.”—“Yet I love him so!”

V. HER OWN

“And were he everything to which I ’ve listened:

Though he were ugly, awkward (and he isn’t),

Poor, low-born, and destitute of ‘go,’

He is worth loving, for I love him so.”