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36
THE RETURN.
I took the road to Mary's house
By some strange, sad mischance,
Not the loved road whereon long syne
My heart was used to dance.
By some strange, sad mischance,
Not the loved road whereon long syne
My heart was used to dance.
What film was on my eyes, my heart?
Why was my sense a-drowse?
Suddenly round a turn o' the road
There was her very house.
Why was my sense a-drowse?
Suddenly round a turn o' the road
There was her very house.
There was the very door whereat
I used not knock nor ring,
But turn the handle and come in
Like a familiar thing.
I used not knock nor ring,
But turn the handle and come in
Like a familiar thing.
Where was her welcome, warm and kind,
That never failed me yet?
There by her door in the wet wind
Fluttered a bill “To Let.”
That never failed me yet?
There by her door in the wet wind
Fluttered a bill “To Let.”
37
The house that sheltered me of old,
The warm and kindly place,
Turned on me sightless eyes and cold,
An unremembering face.
The warm and kindly place,
Turned on me sightless eyes and cold,
An unremembering face.
I took the road to Mary's house
By sad mischance indeed.
The tattered bill shook in the wind
For all the world to read.
By sad mischance indeed.
The tattered bill shook in the wind
For all the world to read.
Then as I turned me round about
My sad road to re-tread,
For the first time and the last time
I knew that she was dead.
My sad road to re-tread,
For the first time and the last time
I knew that she was dead.
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