anslateasbefore,andmytranslationisnearlyliteralitcontinuedthus:—
Whensicknessstay’dawhilemycourse,
Heseem’dimpatientstill,
Becausehispupil’sflaggingforce
Couldnotobeyhiswill.
Onedaywhensummonedtothebed
WherepainandIdidstrive,
Iheardhim,ashebenthishead,
Say,“God,shemustrevive!”
Ifelthishand,withgentlestress,
Amomentlaidonmine,
Andwishedtomarkmyconsciousness
Bysomeresponsivesign.
Butpow’rlessthentospeakormove,
Ionlyfelt,within,
ThesenseofHope,thestrengthofLove,
Theirhealingworkbegin.
Andashefromtheroomwithdrew,
Myhearthisstepspursued
Ilong’dtoprove,byeffortsnew
Myspeechlessgratitude.
WhenonceagainItookmyplace,
Longvacant,intheclass,
Th’unfrequentsmileacrosshisface
Didforonemomentpass.
Thelessonsdonethesignalmade
Ofgladreleaseandplay,
He,ashepassed,aninstantstay’d,
Onekindlywordtosay.
“Jane,tillto-morrowyouarefree
Fromtedioustaskandrule
ThisafternoonImustnotsee
Thatyetpalefaceinschool.
“Seekinthegarden-shadesaseat,
Farfromtheplay-grounddin
Thesuniswarm,theairissweet:
StaytillIcallyouin.”
Alongandpleasantafternoon
Ipassedinthosegreenbowers
Allsilent,tranquil,andalone
Withbirds,andbees,andflowers.
Yet,whenmymaster’svoiceIheard
Call,fromthewindow,“Jane!”
Ientered,joyful,attheword,
Thebusyhouseagain.
He,inthehall,pacedupanddown
HepausedasIpassedby
Hisforeheadsternrelaxeditsfrown:
Heraisedhisdeep-seteye.
“Notquitesopale,”hemurmuredlow.
“NowJane,gorestawhile.”
AndasIsmiled,hissmoothenedbrow
Returnedasgladasmile.
Myperfecthealthrestored,hetook
Hismienaustereagain
And,asbefore,hewouldnotbrook
TheslightestfaultfromJane.
Thelongesttask,thehardesttheme
Felltomyshareaserst,
AndstillItoiledtoplacemyname
Ineverystudyfirst.
Heyetbegrudgedandstintedpraise,
ButIhadlearnttoread
Thesecretmeaningofhisface,
Andthatwasmybestmeed.
Evenwhenhishastytemperspoke
Intonesthatsorrowstirred,
Mygriefwaslulledassoonaswoke
Bysomerelentingword.
Andwhenhelentsomepreciousbook,
Orgavesomefragrantflower,
IdidnotquailtoEnvy’slook,
UpheldbyPleasure’spower.
Atlastourschoolrankstooktheirground,
Thehard-foughtfieldIwon
Theprize,alaurel-wrea