Oh, yes, I know you heard Wild tales of Honolulu; and were stirred With high ambitions to return to Yale, The envied hero of a wilder tale; You thought each maiden on this Isle, perchance Wore skirts of grass, and danced the Hula dance; And gave her lips to any man for gold. RALPH (_interrupting_) Oh, ’pon my honour, I was not so bold— GIRL (_ignoring_, _and with vehemence_) You thought the old time licence still prevailed; You did not know across the heavens had sailed A beautiful star in brilliancy arrayed, The _Self Respecting New Hawaiian Maid_— Who prides herself upon her blood and birth And holds her virtue at its priceless worth; And stands undaunted in her rightful place Snow white of soul, however brown of face, Warmer in blood than your white women are And yet more moral in her life by far Than many a leader in your halls of fashion. RALPH (_gazing at her with admiration_) I vow I like to see you in a passion; Such royal rage! Your forbear was, I know Kame-a-lili-like-kalico, Or some such name; who got in that great tiff And tumbled all his foes down off the cliff. I feel I’m lying with them in the valley While you stand all triumphant, on the Pali. GIRL (_smiling and softened_) You mean Kamehameha First, I’m sure. Yes, I am of his line. RALPH May it endure Until the end of time; for you are _great_; The world needs women like you. [GIRL _turns to go_. RALPH Oh, now wait! I want some flowers; please hang about my neck A dozen lais; and give me half a peck Of nice bouquets; then I will hire a band And celebrate my entrance to your land. I’ll dance the Hula, up and down the street And cry _Aloha_, to each girl I meet; And if she frowns, and calls me cad, and churl, I’ll shout, Long Live the New Hawaiian Girl— Rah, rah, rah, Yale, Yale, Yale! [_A Hawaiian Band is heard approaching_.] GIRL (_laughingly_, _as she hangs lais about his neck_) Well, there’s your band; and since you are so kind, To purchase all my flowers, I’ve half a mind To favour you with, not the Hula, sir, But something more refined, and prettier. I’ll teach it to you; ask the band out there To play the Hula Kui dancing air; Then follow all I do, and copy me. This is the way it starts, now one, two, three. [_After the dance ends_, RALPH _approaches the_ GIRL _with tense face and speaks with great seriousness_.]