By Florian; holding out her lily arms Took both his hands, and smiling faintly said: 'I knew you at the first: tho' you have grown You scarce have alter'd: I am sad and glad To see you, My brother! it was duty spoke, not I. My needful seeming harshness, pardon it. Our mother, is she well?' With that she kiss'd His forehead, then, a moment after, clung About him, and betwixt them blossom'd up From out a common vein of memory Sweet household talk, and phrases of the hearth, And far allusion, till the gracious dews Began to glisten and to fall: and while They stood, so rapt, we gazing, came a voice, 'I brought a message here from Lady Blanche.' Back started she, and turning round we saw The Lady Blanche's daughter where she stood, Melissa, with her hand upon the lock, A rosy blonde, and in a college gown So stood that same fair creature at the door. Then Lady Psyche 'Ah-Melissa-you! You heard us?' and Melissa, 'O pardon me! I heard, I could not help it, did not wish : But, dearest Lady, pray you fear me not, Nor think I bear that heart within my breast, To give three gallant gentlemen to death.' 'I trust you' said the other 'for we two Were always friends, none closer, elm and vine: But yet your mother's jealous temperament— Let not your prudence, dearest, drowse, or prove The Danaïd of a leaky vase, for fear This whole foundation ruin, and I lose My honour, these their lives.' 'Ah, fear me not ' Replied Melissa 'no-I would not tell, No, not for all Aspasia's cleverness, No, not to answer, Madam, all those hard things That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.' 'Be it so' the other that we still 6 may lead The new light up, and culminate in peace, For Solomon may come to Sheba yet.' Feasted the woman wisest then, in halls Of Lebanonian cedar: nor should you (Tho' madam you should answer, we would ask) Less welcome find among us, if you came Among us, debtors for our lives to you, Myself for something more.' He said not what, But 'Thanks,' she answer'd 'go: we have been too long Together: keep your hoods about the face; They do so that affect abstraction here. Speak little; mix not with the rest; and hold Your promise: all, I trust, may yet be well.' We turn'd to go, but Cyril took the child, And held her round the knees against his waist, While Psyche watch'd them, smiling, and the child And then we stroll'd For half the day thro' stately theatres Bench'd crescent-wise. In each we sat, we heard The grave Professor. On the lecture slate The circle rounded under female hands With flawless demonstration: follow'd then A classic lecture, rich in sentiment, And quoted odes, and jewels five-words-long The morals, something of the frame, the rock, The star, the bird, the fish, the shell, the flower, And whatsoever can be taught and known; 6 They hunt old trails' said Cyril 'very well; But when did woman ever yet invent ? ' 'Ungracious!' answer'd Florian, have you learnt No more from Psyche's lecture, you that talk'd A thousand hearts lie fallow in these halls, And round these halls a thousand baby loves |