by Thomas Hardy

"O 'Melia, my dear, this does everything crown!
Who could have supposed I should meet you in Town? And whence such fair garments, such prosperi-ty?"--

"O didn't you know I'd been ruined?" said she.

--"You left us in tatters, without shoes or socks, Tired of digging potatoes, and spudding up docks; And now you've gay bracelets and bright feathers three!"--

"Yes: that's how we dress when we're ruined," said she.

--"At home in the barton you said 'thee' and 'thou,'And 'thik oon' and 'theäs oon' and 't'other'; but nowYour talking quite fits 'ee for high compan-ny!"--

"Some polish is gained with one's ruin," said she.

--"Your hands were like paws then, your face blue and bleak But now I'm bewitched by your delicate cheek, And your little gloves fit as on any la-dy!"--

"We never do work when we're ruined," said she.

--"You used to call home-life a hag-ridden dream,
And you'd sigh, and you'd sock; but at present you seem To know not of megrims or melancho-ly!"--

"True. One's pretty lively when ruined," said she.

--"I wish I had feathers, a fine sweeping gown,
And a delicate face, and could strut about Town."--

"My dear - a raw country girl, such as you be,
Cannot quite expect that. You ain't ruined," said she