But, light and airy, stood on the alert,

And shone in the best part of dialogue,

By humouring always what they might assert,

And listening to the topics most in vogue,

Now grave, now gay, but never dull or pert;

And smiling but in secret—cunning rogue!

He ne'er presumed to make an error clearer;—

In short, there never was a better hearer.