Ere she had spoken two words, had Philip released her fingers: As she went on, he recoiled, fell back, and shook and shivered; There he stood, looking pale and ghastly; when she had ended, Answering in hollow voice, It is true; oh, quite true, Elspie; Oh, you are always right; oh, what, what have I been doing? I will depart to-morrow. But oh, forget me not wholly, Wholly, Elspie, nor hate me; no, do not hate me, my Elspie. But a revulsion passed through the brain and bosom of Elspie; And she got up from her seat on the rock, putting by her knitting; Went to him, where he stood and answered: No, Mr. Philip, No, you are good, Mr. Philip, and gentle; and I am the foolish : No, Mr. Philip, forgive me. She stepped right to him, and boldly Took up his hand, and placed it in hers; he dared no movement; Took up the cold hanging hand, up-forcing the heavy elbow. I am afraid, she said, but I will; and kissed the fingers. And he fell on his knees and kissed her own past counting. But a revulsion wrought in the brain and bosom of Elspie; And the passion she just had compared to the vehement ocean, Urging in high spring-tide its masterful way through the mountains, Forcing and flooding the silvery stream, as it runs from the inland; That great power withdrawn, receding here and passive, Felt she in myriad springs, her sources far in the mountains, Stirring, collecting, rising, upheaving, forth-outflowing, Taking and joining, right welcome, that delicate rill in the valley, Filling it, making it strong, and still descending, seeking, With a blind forefeeling descending ever, and seeking, With a delicious forefeeling, the great still sea before it; There deep into it, far, to carry, and lose in its bosom, Waters that still from their sources exhaustless are fain to be added. As he was kissing her fingers, and knelt on the ground before her, Yielding backward she sank to her seat, and of what she was doing Ignorant, bewildered, in sweet multitudinous vague emotion, Stooping, knowing not what, put her lips to the hair on his forehead: And Philip, raising himself, gently, for the first time round. her Passing his arms, close, close, enfolded her, close to his bosom. As they went home by the moon, Forgive me, Philip, she whispered; I have so many things to think of, all of a sudden; I who had never once thought a thing, in my ignorant Highlands. FROM 'SONGS IN ABSENCE.' 17 COME back, come back, behold with straining mast With one new sun to see her voyage o'er, With morning light to touch her native shore. Come back, come back, while westward laboring by, Come back, come back. Come back, come back, across the flying foam, Come back, come back; and whither back or why? Come back, come back; and whither and for what? Unskilled to sunder, and too weak to cleave, Come back, come back. Come back, come back; yea back, indeed, do go Sighs panting thick, and tears that want to flow; Fond fluttering hopes upraise their useless wings, And wishes idly struggle in the strings; Come back, come back. Come back, come back, more eager than the breeze, And lighter far than ocean's flying foam, Come back, come back! Back flies the foam; the hoisted flag streams back ; The long smoke wavers on the homeward track, SAY NOT THE STRUggle nougHT AVAILETH. SAY not, the struggle nought availeth, And as things have been they remain. If hopes were dupes, fears may be liars; For while the tired waves, vainly breaking, And not by eastern windows only, When daylight comes, comes in the light, QUA CURSUM VENTUS. As ships, becalmed at eve, that lay Are scarce long leagues apart descried; When fell the night, upsprung the breeze, E'en so - but why the tale reveal Of those whom, year by year unchanged, Brief absence joined anew to feel, Astounded, soul from soul estranged? At dead of night their sails were filled, To veer, how vain! On, onward strain, But O blithe breeze! and O great seas, One port, methought, alike they sought, QUI LABORAT, ORAT. O ONLY Source of all our light and life, Whom as our truth, our strength, we see and feel, But whom the hours of mortal moral strife Alone aright reveal! Mine inmost soul, before Thee inly brought, |