Denzil place a story in verse. By Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] |
 |
|
| I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| III. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| II. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | Denzil place |  |
She opened first the letter from Sir John
With hands that trembled, and as in a dream
She read these words—
With hands that trembled, and as in a dream
She read these words—
117
“Constance, I am too shock'd
“Even to contemplate or to bewail
“The fate I suffer—it has come to me
“So suddenly: enough that I know all—
“I will not torture you by saying more
“On what I feel you will repent in time—
“The many troubles that have come at once—
“The fire, and then this unexpected blow—
“Have shatter'd me in mind;—this is my wish
“To spare you all I can of that disgrace
“Which needs must fall most heavily on you
“Who, I believe have wish'd to do the right—
“(How strong the dire temptation must have been
“Which led e'en you astray I dare not think!)
“This is my wish—that you should go to Town.
“(I send you money.) Say that I am there
“Summon'd in haste by business, and once there
“Leave England for awhile—I shall return
“And say your doctor sent you to the South—
“Be happy if you can—I cannot bear
“To meet you yet awhile—some day maybe—
“I do this for the honour of our house
“And for the little boy you used to love.
“Good-bye, God bless you, I can write no more.”
“Even to contemplate or to bewail
“The fate I suffer—it has come to me
“So suddenly: enough that I know all—
“I will not torture you by saying more
“On what I feel you will repent in time—
“The many troubles that have come at once—
“The fire, and then this unexpected blow—
“Have shatter'd me in mind;—this is my wish
“To spare you all I can of that disgrace
“Which needs must fall most heavily on you
“Who, I believe have wish'd to do the right—
“(How strong the dire temptation must have been
“Which led e'en you astray I dare not think!)
“This is my wish—that you should go to Town.
“(I send you money.) Say that I am there
“Summon'd in haste by business, and once there
“Leave England for awhile—I shall return
“And say your doctor sent you to the South—
“Be happy if you can—I cannot bear
“To meet you yet awhile—some day maybe—
“I do this for the honour of our house
“And for the little boy you used to love.
“Good-bye, God bless you, I can write no more.”
| Denzil place | |