Time's Laughingstocks, and Other Verses Part 22

"We moved with pensive paces, I and he, And bent our faded faces Wistfully, For something troubled him, and troubled me.

"The lanthorn feebly lightened Our grey hall, Where ancient brands had brightened Hearth and wall, And shapes long vanished whither vanish all.

"'O why, Love, nightly, daily,'

I had said, 'Dost sigh, and smile so palely, As if shed Were all Life's blossoms, all its dear things dead?'

"'Since silence sets thee grieving,'

He replied, 'And I abhor deceiving One so tried, Why, Love, I'll speak, ere time us twain divide.'

"He held me, I remember, Just as when Our life was June--(September It was then); And we walked on, until he spoke again.

"'Susie, an Irish mummer, Loud-acclaimed Through the gay London summer, Was I; named A master in my art, who would be famed.

"'But lo, there beamed before me Lady Su; G.o.d's altar-vow she swore me When none knew, And for her sake I bade the sock adieu.

"'My Lord your father's pardon Thus I won: He let his heart unharden Towards his son, And honourably condoned what we had done;

"'But said--recall you, dearest? - As for Su, I'd see her--ay, though nearest Me unto - Sooner entombed than in a stage purlieu!

"'Just so.--And here he housed us, In this nook, Where Love like balm has drowsed us: Robin, rook, Our chief familiars, next to string and book.

"'Our days here, peace-enshrouded, Followed strange The old stage-joyance, crowded, Rich in range; But never did my soul desire a change,

"'Till now, when far uncertain Lips of yore Call, call me to the curtain, There once more, But ONCE, to tread the boards I trod before.

"'A night--the last and single Ere I die - To face the lights, to mingle As did I Once in the game, and rivet every eye!'

"'To something drear, distressing As the knell Of all hopes worth possessing!' . . .

--What befell Seemed linked with me, but how I could not tell.

"Hours pa.s.sed; till I implored him, As he knew How faith and frankness toward him Ruled me through, To say what ill I had done, and could undo.

"'FAITH--FRANKNESS. Ah! Heaven save such!'

Murmured he, 'They are wedded wealth! _I_ gave such Liberally, But you, Dear, not. For you suspected me.'

"I was about beseeching In hurt haste More meaning, when he, reaching To my waist, Led me to pace the hall as once we paced.

"'I never meant to draw you To own all,'

Declared he. 'But--I SAW you - By the wall, Half-hid. And that was why I failed withal!'

"'Where? when?' said I--'Why, nigh me, At the play That night. That you should spy me, Doubt my fay, And follow, furtive, took my heart away!'

"That I had never been there, But had gone To my locked room--unseen there, Curtains drawn, Long days abiding--told I, wonder-wan.

"'Nay, 'twas your form and vesture, Cloak and gown, Your hooded features--gesture Half in frown, That faced me, pale,' he urged, 'that night in town.

"'And when, outside, I handed To her chair (As courtesy demanded Of me there) The leading lady, you peeped from the stair.

"Straight pleaded I: 'Forsooth, Love, Had I gone, I must have been in truth, Love, Mad to don Such well-known raiment.' But he still went on

"That he was not mistaken Nor misled. - I felt like one forsaken, Wished me dead, That he could think thus of the wife he had wed!

"His going seemed to waste him Like a curse, To wreck what once had graced him; And, averse To my approach, he mused, and moped, and worse.

"Till, what no words effected Thought achieved: IT WAS MY WRAITH--projected, He conceived, Thither, by my tense brain at home aggrieved.

"Thereon his credence centred Till he died; And, no more tempted, entered Sanctified, The little vault with room for one beside."

III

Thus far the lady's story. - Now she, too, Reclines within that h.o.a.ry Last dark mew In Mellstock Quire with him she loved so true.

A yellowing marble, placed there Tablet-wise, And two joined hearts enchased there Meet the eyes; And reading their twin names we moralize:

Did she, we wonder, follow Jealously?

And were those protests hollow? - Or saw he Some semblant dame? Or can wraiths really be?

Were it she went, her honour, All may hold, Pressed truth at last upon her Till she told - (Him only--others as these lines unfold.)

Riddle death-sealed for ever, Let it rest! . . .

One's heart could blame her never If one guessed That go she did. She knew her actor best.

UNREALIZED

Down comes the winter rain - Spoils my hat and bow - Runs into the poll of me; But mother won't know.

We've been out and caught a cold, Knee-deep in snow; Such a lucky thing it is That mother won't know!

Rosy lost herself last night - Couldn't tell where to go.

Yes--it rather frightened her, But mother didn't know.

Somebody made w.i.l.l.y drunk At the Christmas show: O 'twas fun! It's well for him That mother won't know!

Howsoever wild we are, Late at school or slow, Mother won't be cross with us, Mother won't know.

How we cried the day she died!

Neighbours whispering low . . .

But we now do what we will - Mother won't know.

WAGTAIL AND BABY