X.

Wildly, with long disorder'd strides, he paced The floor to feel the world indeed a waste; For as the earth if God were not above, Man's hearth without the Lares--Faith and Love! But what his woe to hers?--for him at least Conscience was calm, though ev'ry hope had ceased. But she!--all sorrow for herself had paused, To live in that worse anguish she had caused: "No, Ruthven, no! Thy pardon not for me; But oh that Heaven may shed its peace on thee So worthless I, so worthless thy regret; Oh that repentance could requite thee yet! Oh that a life that henceforth ne'er shall own, One thought, one wish, one hope, but to atone,-- Obedience, honour----"

"These may make the wife A faultless statue:--love but breathes the life! Poor child! Nay, weep not; bitterer far, in truth, Than mine, the fate to which thou doom'st thy youth: For manhood's pride the love at last may quell, But when could Woman with Indifference dwell? No sorrow soothed, no joy enhanced since shared. O Heaven--the solitude thy soul has dared! But thou hast chosen! Vain for each regret; All that is left--to seem that we forget. No word of mine my wrongs shall e'er recall; Thine, wealth and pomp, and reverence--take them all! May they console thee, Constance, for a heart That--but enough! So let the loathed depart; These chambers thine, my step invades them not; Sleep, if thou canst, as in thy virgin cot. Henceforth all love has lost its hated claim; If wed, be cheer'd; our wedlock but a name. Much as thou scorn'st me, know this heart above The power of beauty, when disarm'd of love. And so, may Heaven forgive thee!"

"Ruthven, stay! Generous--too noble: can no distant day Win thy forgiveness also, and restore Thy trust, thy friendship, even though love be o'er?" He paused a moment with a soften'd eye;-- "Alas! thou dreadest, while thou ask'st, reply: If ever, Constance, that blest day should come, When crowds can teach thee what the loss of Home; If ever, when with those who court thee there, The love that chills thee now, thou canst compare, And feel that if thy choice thou couldst recall, Him now unloved, thy love would choose from all Why then, one word, one whisper!--oh, no more--" And fearful of himself, he closed the door!

PART THE FOURTH.