18 JANUARY 1957, Page 14

A Well Behaved Young Lady • Dear Joan, may I ask

you a question or two? (Proud imperious Joan, reply.) Does your heart ever beat as others do? Will nothing melt that glacial eye?

Does the languorous charm of flanking June Never humble the toss of that spirited head? Does the night-scented stock, or the harvest moon Send you never a-sighing to bed?

In the frosty calm of a winter's night Does your spirit never take wings, and fly?

Or dance with the lambs in the spring sunlight?

Proud, imperious Joan, REPLY!

HAILSHAM