And in the hollows; or as once we met

Unheedful, though beneath a whispering rain Night slid down one long stream of sighing wind, And in her bosom bore the baby, Sleep.

-

But this whole hour your eyes have been intent On that veiled picture — veiled, for what it holds May not be dwelt on by the common day.

This prelude has prepared thee. Raise thy soul, Make thine heart ready with thine eyes: the time Is come to raise the veil.

Behold her there,

As I beheld her ere she knew my heart,
My first, last love; the idol of my youth,
The darling of my manhood, and, alas!
Now the most blessed memory of mine age.

DORA.

WITH farmer Allan at the farm abode

William and Dora. William was his son,

And she his niece. He often looked at them,

And often thought "I'll make them man and wife."

Now Dora felt her uncle's will in all,

And yearned towards William; but the youth, because He had been always with her in the house,

Thought not of Dora.

Then there came a day

When Allan called his son, and said, "My son:

I married late, but I would wish to see
My grandchild on my knees before I die :
And I have set my heart upon a match.
Now therefore look to Dora; she is well
To look to; thrifty too beyond her age.
She is my brother's daughter: he and I
Had once hard words, and parted, and he died
In foreign lands; but for his sake I bred

His daughter Dora: take her for your wife;

For I have wished this marriage, night and day, For many years." But William answered short; "I cannot marry Dora; by my life,

I will not marry Dora." Then the old man Was wroth, and doubled up his hands, and said: "You will not, boy! you dare to answer thus! · But in my time a father's word was law,

And so it shall be now for me.

Look to 't;

Consider, William: take a month to think,
And let me have an answer to my wish;
Or, by the Lord that made me, you shall pack,
And nevermore darken my doors again!"
But William answered madly; bit his lips,
And broke away. The more he looked at her
The less he liked her; and his ways were harsh;
But Dora bore them meekly. Then before
The month was out he left his father's house,
And hired himself to work within the fields;
And half in love, half spite, he wooed and wed
A laborer's daughter, Mary Morrison.

Then, when the bells were ringing, Allan 'called
His niece and said: "My girl, I love you well;
But if you speak with him that was my son,
Or change a word with her he calls his wife,
My home is none of yours. My will is law."

And Dora promised, being meek. She thought,

It cannot be my uncle's mind will change!"

And days went on, and there was born a boy To William; then distresses came on him ;

And day by day he passed his father's gate, Heart-broken, and his father helped him not. But Dora stored what little she could save, And sent it them by stealth, nor did they know Who sent it; till at last a fever seized

On William, and in harvest-time he died.

Then Dora went to Mary. Mary sat

And looked with tears upon her boy, and thought
Hard things of Dora. Dora came and said:
"I have obeyed my uncle until now,

And I have sinned, for it was all through me
This evil came on William at the first.
But, Mary, for the sake of him that's gone,
And for your sake, the woman that he chose,
And for this orphan, I am come to you :

You know there has not been for these five years
So full a harvest let me take the boy,

And I will set him in my uncle's eye

Among the wheat; that when his heart is glad
Of the full harvest, he may see the boy,
And bless him for the sake of him that's gone."

And Dora took the child, and went her way

Across the wheat, and sat upon a mound

That was unsown, where many poppies grew.
Far off the farmer came into the field

And spied her not; for none of all his men
Dare tell him Dora waited with the child;
And Dora would have risen and gone to him,
But her heart failed her; and the reapers reaped,
And the sun fell, and all the land was dark.

But when the morrow came, she rose and took
The child once more, and sat upon the mound;
And made a little wreath of all the flowers
That grew about, and tied it round his hat
To make him pleasing in her uncle's eye.
Then when the farmer passed into the field
He spied her, and he left his men at work,
And came and said, "Where were you yesterday?
Whose child is that? What are you doing here?"
So Dora cast her eyes upon the ground,

And answered softly, "This is William's child!" "And did I not," said Allan, "did I not

Forbid you, Dora?" Dora said again:

"Do with me as you will, but take the child

And bless him for the sake of him that 's gone!"

And Allan said, "I see it is a trick

Got

up betwixt you

and the woman there.

I must be taught my duty, and by you!