No. 23 - Entrance of Bridesmaids, and Song - Hester - "Trousseau."
Bridesmaids: | What a show of pretty things, Light and airy; Lawns transparent as the wings of a fairy; Morning gowns and robes de nuit, Most bewitching; Cambric fancies fair to see, And what stitching! And what stitching! Satins, silks or ev'ry sort, Most profuse, oh! Ev'ry thing en suite, in short, What a trousseau, What a trousseau, what a trousseau. Hush, a gentleman is near us. Let us hope he didn't overhear us. |
Hester: | Ladies, I heard the subject Of your conversation. One little word you spoke Has stirr'd my liveliest imagination. There's a word that maidens speak, Smiling archly as they do so; Rosy blushes deck the cheek At the mention of a trousseau. E'en the shyest girl that goes Fearing love and shrinking, shrinking At the sight of furbelows Finds herself a-thinking, thinking. |
Bridesmaids: | Finds herself a-thinking, thinking. |
Hester: | Trousseau, trousseau, word of mystery, Framed for ruby lips to say, Marking in a maiden's history One supreme eventful day. |
Bridesmaids: | Trousseau, trousseau, word of mystery, Framed for ruby lips to say, Marking in a maiden's history One supreme eventful day. |
Hester: | Did I wish I could reveal All the secrets of a trousseau, But I see the mute appeal In your eyes, and fear to do so. I could tell them through and through From a ribbon to a stocking, And my knowledge, if you knew, Would not be consider'd shocking. |
Bridesmaids: | Would not be consider'd shocking. |
Hester: | Do not blush, I am not mocking, Chivalry my lips shall seal. Thoughts are like a lady's stocking Made to hide and yet reveal. |
Bridesmaids: | We are blushing; this is shocking. Tell us how or why or when, Tell us what a lady's stocking Has to do with thoughts of men. |
Page modified 5 January 2017