Then, when the bells were ringing, Allan call’d
     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 look’d with tears upon her boy, and thought
Hard things of Dora.  Dora came and said: 

    “I have obey’d my uncle until now,

And I have sinn’d, for it was all thro’ 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 fail’d her; and the reapers reap’d,
And the sun fell, and 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 pass’d 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 answer’d 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! 
You knew my word was law, and yet you dared
To slight it.  Well—­for I will take the boy;
But go you hence, and never see me more.”