Lucile By Owen Meredith [i.e. E. R. B. Lytton] |
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 | Lucile |  |
243
XI.
‘Leave me, leave me!’... she gasp'd, with a voice thick and low
From emotion. ‘For pity's sake, Duke, let me go!
‘I feel that to blame we should both of us be,
‘Did I linger.’
From emotion. ‘For pity's sake, Duke, let me go!
‘I feel that to blame we should both of us be,
‘Did I linger.’
‘To blame? yes, no doubt!’... answer'd he,
‘If the love of your husband, in bringing you peace,
‘Had forbidden you hope. But he signs your release
‘By the hand of another. One moment! but one!
‘Who knows when, alas! I may see you alone
‘As to-night I have seen you? or when we may meet
‘As to-night we have met? when, entranced at your feet,
‘As in this blessed hour, I may ever avow
‘The thoughts which are pining for utterance now?’
‘If the love of your husband, in bringing you peace,
‘Had forbidden you hope. But he signs your release
‘By the hand of another. One moment! but one!
‘Who knows when, alas! I may see you alone
‘As to-night I have seen you? or when we may meet
‘As to-night we have met? when, entranced at your feet,
‘As in this blessed hour, I may ever avow
‘The thoughts which are pining for utterance now?’
‘Duke! Duke!’ ... she exclaim'd ... ‘for heaven's sake let me go!
‘It is late. In the house they will miss me, I know.
‘We must not be seen here together. The night
‘Is advancing. I feel overwhelm'd with affright!
‘It is time to return to my lord.’
‘It is late. In the house they will miss me, I know.
‘We must not be seen here together. The night
‘Is advancing. I feel overwhelm'd with affright!
‘It is time to return to my lord.’
‘To your lord?’
He repeated, with lingering reproach on the word,
‘To your lord? do you think he awaits you, in truth?
‘Is he anxiously missing your presence, forsooth?
‘Return to your lord!... his restraint to renew?
‘And hinder the glances which are not for you?
‘No, no!... at this moment his looks seek the face
‘Of another! another is there in your place!
‘Another consoles him! another receives
‘The soft speech which from silence your absence relieves!’
He repeated, with lingering reproach on the word,
‘To your lord? do you think he awaits you, in truth?
‘Is he anxiously missing your presence, forsooth?
‘Return to your lord!... his restraint to renew?
‘And hinder the glances which are not for you?
244
‘Of another! another is there in your place!
‘Another consoles him! another receives
‘The soft speech which from silence your absence relieves!’
| Lucile | |