Modern Love XXXVI: My Lady unto Madam by George Meredith
My Lady unto Madam makes her bow. The charm of women is, that even while You're probed by them for tears, you yet may smile, Nay, laugh outright, as I have done just now. The interview was gracious: they anoint (To me aside) each other with fine praise: Discriminating compliments they raise, That hit with wondrous aim on the weak point: My Lady's nose of Nature might complain. It is not fashioned aptly to express Her character of large-browed steadfastness. But Madam says: Thereof she may be vain! Now, Madam's faulty feature is a glazed And inaccessible eye, that has soft fires, Wide gates, at love-time only. This admires My Lady. At the two I stand amazed.
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