Part 29

“‘But said—recall you, dearest?— As for Su, I’d see her—ay, though nearest Me unto— Sooner entombed than in a stage purlieu!

“‘Just so.—And here he housed us, In this nook, Where Love like balm has drowsed us: Robin, rook, Our chief familiars, next to string and book.

“‘Our days here, peace-enshrouded, Followed strange The old stage-joyance, crowded, Rich in range; But never did my soul desire a change,

“‘Till now, when far uncertain Lips of yore Call, call me to the curtain, There once more, But once, to tread the boards I trod before.

“‘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!’

“Such was his wish. He feared it, Feared it though Rare memories endeared it. I, also, Feared it still more; its outcome who could know?

“‘Alas, my Love,’ said I then, ‘Since it be A wish so mastering, why, then, E’en go ye!— Despite your pledge to father and to me . . . ’

“’Twas fixed; no more was spoken Thereupon; Our silences were broken Only on The petty items of his needs were gone.

“Farewell he bade me, pleading That it meant So little, thus conceding To his bent; And then, as one constrained to go, he went.

“Thwart thoughts I let deride me, As, ’twere vain To hope him back beside me Ever again: Could one plunge make a waxing passion wane?

“I thought, ‘Some wild stage-woman, Honour-wrecked . . . ’ But no: it was inhuman To suspect; Though little cheer could my lone heart affect!

“Yet came it, to my gladness, That, as vowed, He did return.—But sadness Swiftly cowed The job with which my greeting was endowed.

“Some woe was there. Estrangement Marked his mind. Each welcome-warm arrangement I had designed Touched him no more than deeds of careless kind.

“‘I—failed!’ escaped him glumly. ‘—I went on In my old part. But dumbly— Memory gone— Advancing, I sank sick; my vision drawn

“‘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.

“‘Nay, ’twas your form and vesture, Cloak and gown, Your hooded features—gesture Half in frown, That faced me, pale,’ he urged, ‘that night in town.

“‘And when, outside, I handed To her chair (As courtesy demanded Of me there) The leading lady, you peeped from the stair.

“Straight pleaded I: ‘Forsooth, Love, Had I gone, I must have been in truth, Love, Mad to don Such well-known raiment.’ But he still went on

“That he was not mistaken Nor misled.— I felt like one forsaken, Wished me dead, That he could think thus of the wife he had wed!

“His going seemed to waste him Like a curse, To wreck what once had graced him; And, averse To my approach, he mused, and moped, and worse.

“Till, what no words effected Thought achieved: It was my wraith—projected, He conceived, Thither, by my tense brain at home aggrieved.

“Thereon his credence centred Till he died; And, no more tempted, entered Sanctified, The little vault with room for one beside.”