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presence by his side。 The lady's soft sad glance； her eyes； （Like stars that
shone in summer skies；） Her pure white face so calmly bent； With gentle
greetings round her sent Her look； that always seemed to gaze Where the
blue past had closed again Over some happy shipwrecked days； With all
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their freight of love and pain： She did not even seem to see The little lord
upon her knee。 And yet he was like angel fair； With rosy cheeks and
golden hair； That fell on shoulders white as snow： But the blue eyes that
shone below His clustering rings of auburn curls； Were not his mother's；
but the Earl's。
I feared the Earl； so cold and grim； I never dared be seen by him。
When through our gate he used to ride； My kinsman Walter bade me hide；
He said he was so stern。 So； when the hunt came past our way； I always
hastened to obey； Until I heard the bugles play The notes of their return。
But shemy very heart…strings stir Whene'er I speak or think of her … The
whole wide world could never see A noble lady such as she； So full of
angel charity。
Strange things of her our neighbours told In the long winter evenings
cold； Around the fire。 They would draw near And speak half…whispering；
as in fear； As if they thought the Earl could hear Their treason 'gainst his
name。 They thought the story that his pride Had stooped to wed a low…
born bride； A stain upon his fame。 Some said 'twas false； there could not
be Such blot on his nobility： But others vowed that they had heard The
actual story word for word； From one who well my lady knew； And had
declared the story true。
In a far village； little known； She dweltso ran the talealone。 A
widowed bride； yet； oh！ so bright； Shone through the mist of grief； her
charms； They said it was the loveliest sight … She with her baby in her
arms。 The Earl； one summer morning； rode By the sea…shore where she
abode； Again he camethat vision sweet Drew him reluctant to her feet。
Fierce must the struggle in his heart Have been； between his love and
pride； Until he chose that wondrous part； To ask her to become his bride。
Yet； ere his noble name she bore； He made her vow that nevermore She
would behold her child again； But hide his name and hers from men。 The
trembling promise duly spoken； All links of the low past were broken； And
she arose to take her stand Amid the nobles of the land。 Then all would
wondercould it be That one so lowly born as she； Raised to such height
of bliss； should seem Still living in some weary dream？ 'Tis true she bore
with calmest grace The honours of her lofty place； Yet never smiled； in
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peace or joy； Not even to greet her princely boy。 She heard； with face of
white despair； The cannon thunder through the air； That she had given the
Earl an heir。 Nay； even more； （they whispered low； As if they scarce durst
fancy so；） That； through her lofty wedded life； No word； no tone； betrayed
the wife。 Her look seemed ever in the past； Never to him it grew more
sweet； The self…same weary glance she cast Upon the grey…hound at her
feet； As upon him； who bade her claim The crowning honour of his name。
This gossip； if old Walter heard； He checked it with a scornful word： I
never durst such tales repeat； He was too serious and discreet To speak of
what his lord might do； Besides； he loved my lady too。 And many a time； I
recollect； They were together in the wood； He； with an air of grave respect；
And earnest look； uncovered stood。 And though their speech I never heard；
（Save now and then a louder word；） I saw he spake as none but one She
loved and trusted； durst have done； For oft I watched them in the shade
That the close forest branches made； Till slanting golden sunbeams came
And smote the fir…trees into flame； A radiant glory round her lit； Then
down her white robes seemed to flit； Gilding the brown leaves on the
ground； And all the waving ferns around。 While by some gloomy pine she
leant And he in earnest talk would stand； I saw the tear…drops； as she bent；
Fall on the flowers in her hand。 … Strange as it seemed and seems to be；
That one so sad； so cold as she； Could love a little child like me … Yet so it
was。 I never heard Such tender words as she would say； And murmurs；
sweeter than a word； Would breathe upon me as I lay。 While I； in smiling
joy； would rest； For hours； my head upon her breast。 Our neighbours said
that none could see In me the common childish charms； （So grave and still
I used to be；） And yet she held me in her arms； In a fond clasp； so close； so
tight … I often dream of it at night。 She bade me tell her allno other My
childish thoughts e'er cared to know： For II never knew my mother； I
was an orphan long ago。 And I could all my fancies pour； That gentle
loving face before。 She liked to hear me tell her all； How that day I had
climbed the tree； To make the largest fir…cones fall； And how one day I
hoped to be A sailor on the deep blue sea … She loved to hear it all！
Then wondrous things she used to tell； Of the strange dreams that she
had known。 I used to love to hear them well； If only for her sweet low tone；
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Sometimes so sad； although I knew That such things never could be true。
One day she told me such a tale It made me grow all cold and pale； The
fearful thing she told！ Of a poor woman mad and wild Who coined the
life…blood of her child； And tempted by a fiend； had sold The heart out of
her breast for gold。 But； when she saw me frightened seem； She smiled；
and said it was a dream。 When I look back and think of her； My very
heart…strings seem to stir； How kind； how fair she was； how good I cannot
tell you。 If I could You； too； would love her。 The mere thought Of her
great love for me has brought Tears in my eyes： though far away； It
seems as it were yesterday。 And just as when I look on high Through the
blue silence of the sky； Fresh stars shine out； and more and more； Where I
could see so few before； So； the more steadily I gaze Upon those far…off
misty days； Fresh words； fresh tones； fresh memories start Before my eyes
and in my heart。 I can remember how one day （Talking in silly childish
way） I said how happy I should be If I were like her sonas fair； With just
such bright blue eyes as he； And such long locks of golden hair。 A strange
smile on her pale face broke； And in strange solemn words she spoke： 〃My
own； my darling oneno； no！ I love you； far； far better so。 I would not
change the look you bear； Or one wave of your dark brown hair。 The mere
glance of your sunny eyes； Deep in my deepest soul I prize Above that
baby fair！ Not one of all the Earl's proud line In beauty ever matched with
thine； And； 'tis by thy dark locks thou art Bound even faster round my
heart； And made more wholly mine！〃 And then she paused； and weeping
said； 〃You are like one who now is dead … Who sleeps in a far…distant
grave。 Oh may God grant that you may be As noble and as good as he； As
gentle and as brave！〃 Then in my childish way I cried； 〃The one you tell
me of who died； Was he as noble as the Earl？〃 I see her red lips scornful
curl； I feel her hold my hand again So tightly； that I shrink in pain … I seem
to hear her say； 〃He whom I tell you of； who died； He was so noble and so
gay； So generous and so brave； That the proud Earl by his dear side Would
look a craven slave。〃 She paused； then； with a quivering sigh； She laid her
hand upon my brow： 〃Live like him； darling； and so die。 Remember that
he tells you now； True peace； real honour； and content； In cheerful pious
toil abide； That gold and splendour are but sent To curse our vanity and
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pride。〃 One day