LADY GERALDINE'S COURTSHIP.
215
"Ne'ertheless, you see, I seek it—not because I am a woman,"—
(Here her smile sprang like a fountain, and, so, overflowed her mouth)
"But because my woods in Sussex have some purple shades at gloaming,
Which are worthy of a king in state, or poet in his youth.
"I invite you, Mr. Bertram, to no hive for worldly speeches—
Sir, I scarce should dare—but only where God asked the thrushes first—
And if you will sing beside them, in the covert of my beeches,
I will thank you for the woodlands, . . . for the human world at worst."
Then, she smiled around right childly, then, she gazed around right queenly;
And I bowed—I could not answer! Alternated light and gloom—
