th,wasbound
Mythrobbingforeheadon.
Lowatmymaster’skneeIbent,
Theofferedcrowntomeet
Itsgreenleavesthroughmytemplessent
Athrillaswildassweet.
ThestrongpulseofAmbitionstruck
IneveryveinIowned
Atthesameinstant,bleedingbroke
Asecret,inwardwound.
Thehouroftriumphwastome
Thehourofsorrowsore
AdayhenceImustcrossthesea,
Ne’ertorecrossitmore.
Anhourhence,inmymaster’sroom
Iwithhimsatalone,
Andtoldhimwhatadrearygloom
O’erjoyhadpartingthrown.
Helittlesaidthetimewasbrief,
Theshipwassoontosail,
AndwhileIsobbedinbittergrief,
Mymasterbutlookedpale.
Theycalledinhastehebademego,
Thensnatchedmebackagain
Heheldmefastandmurmuredlow,
“Whywilltheypartus,Jane?”
“Wereyounothappyinmycare?
DidInotfaithfulprove?
Willotherstomydarlingbear
Astrue,asdeepalove?
“OGod,watcho’ermyfosterchild!
Oguardhergentlehead!
Whenmindsarehighandtempestswild
Protectionroundherspread!
“Theycallagainleavethenmybreast
Quitthytrueshelter,Jane
Butwhendeceived,repulsed,opprest,
Comehometomeagain!”
Iread—thendreamilymademarksonthemarginwithmypencilthinkingallthewhileofotherthingsthinkingthat“Jane”wasnowatmysidenochild,butagirlofnineteenandshemightbemine,somyheartaffirmedPoverty’scursewastakenoffmeEnvyandJealousywerefaraway,andunapprizedofthisourquietmeetingthefrostoftheMaster’smannermightmeltIfeltthethawcomingfast,whetherIwouldornotnofurtherneedfortheeyetopractiseahardlook,forthebrowtocompressitsexpanseintoasternfold:itwasnowpermittedtosuffertheoutwardrevelationoftheinwardglow—toseek,demand,elicitanansweringardour.Whilemusingthus,IthoughtthatthegrassonHermonneverdrankthefreshdewsofsunsetmoregratefullythanmyfeelingsdranktheblissofthishour.
Francesrose,asifrestlessshepassedbeforemetostirthefire,whichdidnotwantstirringsheliftedandputdownthelittleornamentsonthemantelpieceherdresswavedwithinayardofmeslight,straight,andelegant,shestooderectonthehearth.
Thereareimpulseswecancontrolbutthereareotherswhichcontrolus,becausetheyattainuswithatiger-leap,andareourmasterserewehaveseenthem.Perhaps,though,suchimpulsesareseldomaltogetherbadperhapsReason,byaprocessasbriefasquiet,aprocessthatisfinishederefelt,hasascertainedthesanityofthedeed.Instinctmeditates,andfeelsjustif