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Under the orchard trees daffodils danced And jostled； turning
sideways to the wind。 A dropping cherry petal softly glanced Over her
hair； and slid away behind。 At the far end through twisted cherry…trees
The old house glowed； geranium…hued； with bricks Bloomed in the
sun like roses； low and long； Gabled； and with quaint tricks Of chimneys
carved and fretted。 Out of these Grey smoke was shaken； which the faint
Spring breeze Tossed into nothing。 Then a thrush's song
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Needled its way through sound of bees and river。 The notes fell；
round and starred； between young leaves； Trilled to a spiral lilt； stopped on
a quiver。 The Lady Eunice listens and believes。 Gervase has many tales
of her dear Lord； His bravery； his knowledge； his charmed life。 She
quite forgets who's speaking in the gladness Of being this man's wife。
Gervase is wounded； grave indeed； the word Is kindly said； but to a softer
chord She strings her voice to ask with wistful sadness；
XVIII
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〃And is Sir Everard still unscathed？ I fain Would know the truth。〃
〃Quite well； dear Lady； quite。〃 She smiled in her content。 〃So many slain；
You must forgive me for a little fright。〃 And he forgave her； not alone for
that； But because she was fingering his heart； Pressing and
squeezing it； and thinking so Only to ease her smart Of painful；
apprehensive longing。 At Their feet the river swirled and chucked。
They sat An hour there。 The thrush flew to and fro。
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The Lady Eunice supped alone that day； As always since Sir Everard
had gone； In the oak…panelled parlour； whose array Of faded portraits in
carved mouldings shone。 Warriors and ladies； armoured； ruffed； peruked。
Van Dykes with long； slim fingers； Holbeins； stout And heavy…
featured； and one Rubens dame； A peony just burst out； With flaunting；
crimson flesh。 Eunice rebuked Her thoughts of gentler blood； when these
had duked It with the best； and scorned to change their name。
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A sturdy family； and old besides； Much older than her own； the Earls
of Crowe。 Since Saxon days； these men had sought their brides Among
the highest born； but always so； Taking them to themselves； their wealth；
their lands； But never their titles。 Stern perhaps； but strong； The
Framptons fed their blood from richest streams； Scorning the common
throng。 Gazing upon these men； she understands The toughness of the web
wrought from such strands And pride of Everard colours all her
dreams。
XXI
Eunice forgets to eat； watching their faces Flickering in the wind…
blown candle's shine。 Blue…coated lackeys tiptoe to their places； And set
out plates of fruit and jugs of wine。 The table glitters black like Winter ice。
The Dartle's rushing； and the gentle clash Of blossomed branches；
drifts into her ears。 And through the casement sash She sees each cherry
stem a pointed slice Of splintered moonlight； topped with all the spice
And shimmer of the blossoms it uprears。
XXII
〃In such a night 〃 she laid the book aside； She could outnight the
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poet by thinking back。 In such a night she came here as a bride。 The date
was graven in the almanack Of her clasped memory。 In this very room
Had Everard uncloaked her。 On this seat Had drawn her to him；
bade her note the trees； How white they were and sweet And later；
coming to her； her dear groom； Her Lord； had lain beside her in the gloom
Of moon and shade； and whispered her to ease。
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Her little taper made the room seem vast； Caverned and empty。
And her beating heart Rapped through the silence all about her cast Like
some loud； dreadful death…watch taking part In this sad vigil。 Slowly she
undrest； Put out the light and crept into her bed。 The linen sheets
were fragrant； but so cold。 And brimming tears she shed； Sobbing and
quivering in her barren nest； Her weeping lips into the pillow prest；
Her eyes sealed fast within its smothering fold。
XXIV
The morning brought her a more stoic mind； And sunshine struck
across the polished floor。 She wondered whether this day she should find
Gervase a…fishing； and so listen more； Much more again； to all he had to
tell。 And he was there； but waiting to begin Until she came。 They
fished awhile； then went To the old seat within The cherry's shade。 He
pleased her very well By his discourse。 But ever he must dwell
Upon Sir Everard。 Each incident
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Must be related and each term explained。 How troops were set in
battle； how a siege Was ordered and conducted。 She complained
Because he bungled at the fall of Liege。 The curious names of parts of
forts she knew； And aired with conscious pride her ravelins； And
counterscarps； and lunes。 The day drew on； And his dead fish's fins In
the hot sunshine turned a mauve…green hue。 At last Gervase； guessing the
hour； withdrew。 But she sat long in still oblivion。
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Then he would bring her books； and read to her The poems of Dr。
Donne； and the blue river Would murmur through the reading； and a stir
Of birds and bees make the white petals shiver； And one or two would
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flutter prone and lie Spotting the smooth…clipped grass。 The days went
by Threaded with talk and verses。 Green leaves pushed Through