Anne Evans: Poems and Music With Memorial Preface by Anne Thackeray Ritchie |
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| IV. |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. | PART IV. |
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| II. |
 | Anne Evans: Poems and Music |  |
56
IV. PART IV.
Scene, the Library at the Holt. Time, a Week later. Letter-writer, the Aunt.
My dearest Augusta, my preface might be,
“Congratulate Helen: commiserate me,
Deserted so soon!” But I will not complain.
On such an occasion as this one is fain
To silence one's poor selfish feelings. If only
Her lot be so bright, then be mine dull and lonely!
Dear Helen engaged herself ten days ago
To young Maurice Clifton. You possibly know
At least who he is, for his family hold
An ancient position down here. I am told
Of certain old records from which it appears
The land has been theirs nearly five hundred years.
An uncle reigns now, who behaves like a bear;
But Maurice's own elder brother's the heir.
Not Maurice himself; which perhaps you'll regret.
For my part, however, I don't mean to fret.
We cannot have everything: nobody can!
And what are the acres, compared with the man?
My Helen considers all that such a trifle,
If Maurice had nothing on earth but his rifle
I think she would marry him first, and then say
“Suppose you shoot something for dinner to-day!”
And Maurice, indeed, is so great as a shot,
They might have a dinner where others would not.
He rides, too, superbly. And get him indoors,
Where other young riders and shots are such bores,
You find him quite charming—so bright, so well-bred,
With very fine brains in a very fine head.
And then—my dear Helen's peculiar ambition—
Besides all the rest, a delightful musician!
I fancied it merely from hearing him speak.
But stay—I've not mentioned that Maurice, last week,
Came into a fortune which, somehow or other,
Was always expected to go to his brother;
A property worth full six thousand a year,
(While this does not quite bring in five—so I hear).
And now the clock warns me this gossip must end,
Believe me your truly affectionate friend,
“Congratulate Helen: commiserate me,
Deserted so soon!” But I will not complain.
On such an occasion as this one is fain
To silence one's poor selfish feelings. If only
Her lot be so bright, then be mine dull and lonely!
Dear Helen engaged herself ten days ago
To young Maurice Clifton. You possibly know
At least who he is, for his family hold
An ancient position down here. I am told
Of certain old records from which it appears
The land has been theirs nearly five hundred years.
An uncle reigns now, who behaves like a bear;
But Maurice's own elder brother's the heir.
Not Maurice himself; which perhaps you'll regret.
For my part, however, I don't mean to fret.
We cannot have everything: nobody can!
And what are the acres, compared with the man?
My Helen considers all that such a trifle,
If Maurice had nothing on earth but his rifle
57
“Suppose you shoot something for dinner to-day!”
And Maurice, indeed, is so great as a shot,
They might have a dinner where others would not.
He rides, too, superbly. And get him indoors,
Where other young riders and shots are such bores,
You find him quite charming—so bright, so well-bred,
With very fine brains in a very fine head.
And then—my dear Helen's peculiar ambition—
Besides all the rest, a delightful musician!
I fancied it merely from hearing him speak.
But stay—I've not mentioned that Maurice, last week,
Came into a fortune which, somehow or other,
Was always expected to go to his brother;
A property worth full six thousand a year,
(While this does not quite bring in five—so I hear).
And now the clock warns me this gossip must end,
Believe me your truly affectionate friend,
Oh, Helen confesses she teased you one day
About a late servant of mine, William Gray.
She now sends her love, and says Maurice and she
Intend to engage him. They don't consult me.
About a late servant of mine, William Gray.
She now sends her love, and says Maurice and she
Intend to engage him. They don't consult me.
| Anne Evans: Poems and Music | |