直到午夜，她的针才一针接一针地完成她那件漂亮的粉红色连衣裙;“啊，祝福你，亲爱的，”她叹了口气。“我希望你会成功。”当她带着少女浪漫的羞涩而激动地走进怪人的大厅时，她觉得自己像舞会上的美女，但是……没人请她跳舞。她手里攥着节目单;她的笑容有点苍白;她一边听，一边为乐队鼓掌，假装喜欢旁观。每个女孩都有自己喜欢的情人，她看着他们进退。她徒劳地等了又等，但没有人请她跳舞。 Said Mother to me: "You'll agree That any young girl who wears specs, however so clever she be, Is lacking in glamour of sex." Said I: "There is one by the wall Who doesn't seem having a chance. She's ready to weep - Dash it all, I'm going to ask her to dance." I caught her just slipping away So quietly no one would know; But bravely she tried to seem gay, Though her heart might be aching with woe. Poor kid! She looked only sixteen, And she gave me a half frightened glance When I bowed as if she were a Queen, And I begged: "May I please have this dance?" She gave me her card: what a bluff! She'd written "Sir G." and "Sir G." So I cut out that Galahad stuff, And I scribbled "M.E" and "M.E."; She looked so forlorn and so frail, Submitting like one in a trance, So I acted the conquering male, And guided her into the dance. Then lo! to my joy and surprise Her waltzing I found was divine; And she took those damn specs from her eyes, And behold they were jewels a-shine; No lipstick nor rouge she had on, But no powder or paint could enhance On her cheeks the twin roses shone As I had with her dance after dance. Then all of a sudden I knew As we waltzed and reversed round the hall That all eyes were watching us two, And that she was the Belle of the Ball. The fellows came buzzing like bees, With swagger and posture and prance, But her programme was full of "M.E."s, So she couldn't afford them a dance. Said mother: "You've been a nice boy, But had a good time I suppose. You've filled that poor kid's heart with joy, From now she'll have plenty of beaus." . . . So fellows, please listen to me: Don't look at a wallflower askance; If a girl sitting lonely you see, Just bow, smile and beg for a dance.