There's blood upon the lady's cheek, There's brightness in her eye: Who says the sentence is gone forth That that fair thing must die?
Must die before the flowering lime, Out yonder, sheds its leaf-- Can this thing be, O human flower! Thy blossoming so brief?
Nay, nay, 'tis but a passing cloud, Thou didst but droop awhile; There's life, long years, and love and joy, Whole ages, in that smile--
In the gay call that to thy knee Brings quick that loving child, Who looks up in those laughing eyes With his large eyes so mild.
Yet, thou art doom'd--art dying; all The coming hour foresee, But, in love's cowardice, withhold The warning word from thee.
God keep thee and be merciful! His strength is with the weak; Through babes and sucklings, the Most High Hath oft vouchsafed to speak--
And speaketh now--"Oh, mother dear!" Murmurs the little child; And there is trouble in its eyes, Those large blue eyes so mild--
"Oh, mother dear! they say that soon, When here I seek for thee, I shall not find thee--nor out there, Under the old oak-tree;
"Nor up stairs in the nursery, Nor any where, they say. Where wilt thou go to, mother dear? Oh, do not go away!"
Then was long silence--a deep hush-- And then the child's low sob. _Her_ quivering eyelids close--one hand Keeps down the heart's quick throb.
And the lips move, though sound is none, That inward voice is prayer. And hark! "Thy will, O Lord, be done!" And tears are trickling there,
Down that pale cheek, on that young head-- And round her neck he clings; And child and mother murmur out Unutterable things.
_He_ half unconscious--_she_ deep-struck With sudden, solemn truth, That number'd are her days on earth, Her shroud prepared in youth--
That all in life her heart holds dear, God calls her to resign. She hears--feels--trembles--but looks up, And sighs, "Thy will be mine!"
The front door of a large house in Harley Street stood hospitably open, and leaning against the plaster pillars (which were of a very miscellaneous architecture) were two individuals, who appeared as if they had been set there expressly to invite the passengers to walk in. Beyond the red door that intersected the passage, was seen the coloured-glass entrance to a conservatory on the first landing of the drawing-room stairs; and a multitude of statues lined each side of the lobby, like soldiers at a procession, but which the inventive skill of the proprietor had converted to nearly as much use as ornament; for a plaster Apollo, in addition to watching the "arrow's deathful flight," had been appointed custodier of a Taglioni and a Mackintosh, which he wore with easy negligence over his head--a distracted Niobe, in the same manner, had undertaken the charge of a grey silk hat and a green umbrella. The Gladiator wore a lady's bonnet; the Farnese Hercules looked like an old-fashioned watchman, and sported a dreadnought coat. A glaring red paper gave a rich appearance to the hall; the stair carpet also added its contribution to the rubicundity of the scene, which was brought to a _ne plus ultra_ by the nether habiliments of the two gentlemen who, as already stated, did the honours of the door.