 | Studies in verse (1865) |  |
And now ten days were gone, and Andrew stood
Again beneath the twisted orchard boughs.
But change had fallen on the happy place,
And common light unsplendoured with decay
The precincts of its glory. But no change
Of sorrow that, which in poor Lucy's eyes
Brightened to hail him with an innocent joy
After his absence: plain at length he saw
How truly Ruth had spoken: in his soul
He pitied Lucy: saw her day by day:
But Ruth would speak alone with him no more
Thereafter: Lucy often was alone
With Andrew: till at length he came to think
Of Ruth that she must surely love elsewhere:
And then his hope fell dead, though sick before.
Again beneath the twisted orchard boughs.
But change had fallen on the happy place,
And common light unsplendoured with decay
The precincts of its glory. But no change
Of sorrow that, which in poor Lucy's eyes
Brightened to hail him with an innocent joy
After his absence: plain at length he saw
How truly Ruth had spoken: in his soul
He pitied Lucy: saw her day by day:
But Ruth would speak alone with him no more
96
With Andrew: till at length he came to think
Of Ruth that she must surely love elsewhere:
And then his hope fell dead, though sick before.
| Studies in verse (1865) | |