VIII.

And each year as it found her
In the dull, feverish town,
Saw self still more forgotten,
And selfish care kept down
By the calm joy of evening
That brought him to her side,
To warn him with wise counsel,
Or praise with tender pride.

IX.

Her heart, her life, her future,
Her genius, only meant
Another thing to give him,
And be therewith content. 
To-day, what words had stirred her,
Her soul could not forget? 
What dream had filled her spirit
With strange and wild regret?

X.

To leave him for another,—­
Could it indeed be so? 
Could it have cost such anguish
To bid this vision go? 
Was this her faith?  Was Herbert
The second in her heart? 
Did it need all this struggle
To bid a dream depart?

XI.

And yet, within her spirit
A far-off land was seen,
A home, which might have held her,
A love, which might have been. 
And Life—­not the mere being
Of daily ebb and flow,
But Life itself had claimed her,
And she had let it go!

XII.

Within her heart there echoed
Again the well-known tone
That promised this bright future,
And asked her for her own: 
Then words of sorrow, broken
By half-reproachful pain;
And then a farewell spoken
In words of cold disdain.

XIII.

Where now was the stern purpose
That nerved her soul so long? 
Whence came the words she uttered,
So hard, so cold, so strong? 
What right had she to banish
A hope that God had given? 
Why must she choose earth’s portion,
And turn aside from Heaven?

XIV.

To-day!  Was it this morning? 
If this long, fearful strife
Was but the work of hours,
What would be years of life? 
Why did a cruel Heaven
For such great suffering call? 
And why—­Oh, still more cruel!—­
Must her own words do all?

XV.

Did she repent?  Oh Sorrow! 
Why do we linger still
To take thy loving message,
And do thy gentle will? 
See, her tears fall more slowly,
The passionate murmurs cease,
And back upon her spirit
Flow strength, and love, and peace.

XVI.

The fire burns more brightly,
The rain has passed away,
Herbert will see no shadow
Upon his home to-day;
Only that Alice greets him
With doubly tender care,
Kissing a fonder blessing
Down on his golden hair.

II.