They'd parted but a year before-she never thought he-d come,
She stammer-d, blushed, held out her hand, and called him -Mister Gum.-
How could he know that all the while she longed to murmur -John.-
He called her -Miss le Brook,- and asked how she was getting on.

They-d parted but a year before; they-d loved each other well,
But he-d been to the city, and he came back such a swell.
They longed to meet in fond embrace, they hungered for a kiss-
But Mary called him -Mister,- and the idiot called her -Miss.-


He stood and lean-d against the door-a stupid chap was he-
And, when she asked if he-d come in and have a cup of tea,
He looked to left, he looked to right, and then he glanced behind,
And slowly doffed his cabbage-tree, and said he -didn-t mind.-


She made a shy apology because the meat was tough,
And then she asked if he was sure his tea was sweet enough;
He stirred the tea and sipped it twice, and answer-d -plenty, quite;-
And cut the smallest piece of beef and said that it was -right.-


She glanced at him at times and cough-d an awkward little cough;
He stared at anything but her and said, -I must be off.-
That evening he went riding north-a sad and lonely ride-
She locked herself inside her room, and there sat down and cried.


They-d parted but a year before, they loved each other well-
But she was such a country girl and he was such a swell ;
They longed to meet in fond embrace, they hungered for a kiss-
But Mary called him -Mister- and the idiot called her -Miss.