V.

Sickening and faint, he gain'd the outer air, Reach'd the still lake, and saw the master there; Listless lay Ruthven, droopingly the boughs Veil'd from the daylight melancholy brows; Listless he lay, and with indifferent eye Watch'd the wave darken as the cloud swept by. The father bounded to the idler's side-- } "Awake, cold guardian of a soul!" he cried; } "Why, sworn to cherish, fail'st thou ev'n to guide?" } "Why?" echoed Ruthven's heart--his eye shot flame-- "Dare she complain, or he presume to blame?" Thus ran the thought, he spoke not;--silent long As Pride kept back the angry burst of wrong. At length he rose, shook off the hand that prest, And calmly said, "I listen for the rest-- Whatever charge be in thy words convey'd, Speak;--I will answer when the charge is made!"