Page:Poems Douglas.djvu/20

Like Cookie, far ben in the shelter he stood,
But speered what they wanted in accent no rude.
"Please to see the young leddy a journey we've ta'en."
"Well, I'm sorry," said he, "that your journey is vain,"
"Sir," said Jess, growing faint, "she's frae hame, then, I ween?"
"No, she's here, but our leddies are not to be seen."
"But she saw me ae day, when I brocht hame her dress:"
"She'll no be seen noo, lassie, nevertheless."
"No be seen!" she exclaimed, wi' a look o' despair,
Then aiblins ye'll tak' the bit message up stair."
The valet seem touched, for he said with a sigh,
"Ah! that's no allowed, yet come ben an' I'll try."
Fu' gratefu' the pair to the mat stepped ben,
An' the cause o' their journey few words let him ken;
In hope an' suspense there we lea' them to stan',
And up to his leddy we follow the man.
On a carpeted landin', wi' doors on ilk side,
He paused, chappit saftly, then opened ane wide;
The splendour within would maist dazzle your een,
Sic ease and sic comfort on a' sides were seen.
Nae winter was there, nae cheeks blenched wi' the cauld;
Nae wame gnawed by hunger neath garbs thin and auld;
Ilk group looked as warm as 'twas summers saft prime,
A' thrang at amusements to try an' kill time;