"'A night--the last and single
Ere I die -
To face the lights, to mingle
As did I
Once in the game, and rivet every eye!'
"'To something drear, distressing
As the knell
Of all hopes worth possessing!' . . .
--What befell
Seemed linked with me, but how I could not tell.
"Hours passed; till I implored him,
As he knew
How faith and frankness toward him
Ruled me through,
To say what ill I had done, and could undo.
"'FAITH--FRANKNESS. Ah! Heaven save such!'
Murmured he,
'They are wedded wealth! _I_ gave such
Liberally,
But you, Dear, not. For you suspected me.'
"I was about beseeching
In hurt haste
More meaning, when he, reaching
To my waist,
Led me to pace the hall as once we paced.
"'I never meant to draw you
To own all,'
Declared he. 'But--I SAW you -
By the wall,
Half-hid. And that was why I failed withal!'
"'Where? when?' said I--'Why, nigh me,
At the play
That night. That you should spy me,
Doubt my fay,
And follow, furtive, took my heart away!'
"That I had never been there,
But had gone
To my locked room--unseen there,
Curtains drawn,
Long days abiding--told I, wonder-wan.
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