The circle smiled, then whispered, and then sneered;

The misses bridled, and the matrons frowned;

Some hoped things might not turn out as they feared;

Some would not deem such women could be found;

Some ne'er believed one half of what they heard;

Some looked perplexed, and others looked profound:

And several pitied with sincere regret

Poor Lord Augustus Fitz-Plantagenet.