 | Studies in verse (1865) |  |
And days went on, and Agnes' walks became
A thing of custom now with Edward Mayne.
And, since the first, she had not dared to tell
Her mother: and one evening at their meal,
Had Mary with unreal carelessness,
But anxious for an answer at her heart,
Touched upon Edward, asked, had he been seen
Lately? whereon her daughter, unprepared
To break it then, and flustered, all confused,
Denied that she had seen him, hurriedly,
Of instinct more than forethought, and before
She well knew what she said, or what to say:
But in her lonely chamber afterwards
Wept somewhat at the falsehood told, but thought
The mother's asking chiefly blameable.
A thing of custom now with Edward Mayne.
And, since the first, she had not dared to tell
Her mother: and one evening at their meal,
Had Mary with unreal carelessness,
But anxious for an answer at her heart,
Touched upon Edward, asked, had he been seen
Lately? whereon her daughter, unprepared
48
Denied that she had seen him, hurriedly,
Of instinct more than forethought, and before
She well knew what she said, or what to say:
But in her lonely chamber afterwards
Wept somewhat at the falsehood told, but thought
The mother's asking chiefly blameable.
| Studies in verse (1865) | |