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Men； Women and Ghosts
for pity； and her strange words smote A coldness through him； for she
begged Gervase To leave her； 'twas too much a second time。
Gervase must go； always Gervase； her mind Repeated like a rhyme This
name he did not know。 In sad amaze He watched her； and that hunted；
fearful gaze； So unremembering and so unkind。
XLVIII
Softly he spoke to her； patiently dealt With what he feared her
madness。 By and by He pierced her understanding。 Then he knelt
Upon the seat； and took her hands： 〃Now try To think a minute I am
come； my Dear； Unharmed and back on furlough。 Are you glad
To have your lover home again？ To me； Pickthorn has never had A
greater pleasantness。 Could you not bear To come and sit awhile beside
me here？ A stone between us surely should not be。〃
XLIX
She smiled a little wan and ravelled smile； Then came to him and on
his shoulder laid Her head； and they two rested there awhile； Each taking
comfort。 Not a word was said。 But when he put his hand upon her breast
And felt her beating heart； and with his lips Sought solace for her
and himself。 She started As one sharp lashed with whips； And pushed
him from her； moaning； his dumb quest Denied and shuddered from。
And he； distrest； Loosened his wife； and long they sat there； parted。
L
Eunice was very quiet all that day； A little dazed； and yet she seemed
content。 At candle…time； he asked if she would play Upon her
harpsichord； at once she went And tinkled airs from Lully's ‘Carnival'
And ‘Bacchus'； newly brought away from France。 Then jaunted
through a lively rigadoon To please him with a dance By Purcell； for he
said that surely all Good Englishmen had pride in national
Accomplishment。 But tiring of it soon
LI
He whispered her that if she had forgiven His startling her that
afternoon； the clock Marked early bed…time。 Surely it was Heaven He
entered when she opened to his knock。 The hours rustled in the trailing
wind Over the chimney。 Close they lay and knew Only that they
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Men； Women and Ghosts
were wedded。 At his touch Anxiety she threw Away like a shed
garment； and inclined Herself to cherish him； her happy mind
Quivering； unthinking； loving overmuch。
LII
Eunice lay long awake in the cool night After her husband slept。
She gazed with joy Into the shadows； painting them with bright Pictures
of all her future life's employ。 Twin gems they were； set to a single jewel；
Each shining with the other。 Soft she turned And felt his breath
upon her hair； and prayed Her happiness was earned。 Past Earls of
Crowe should give their blood for fuel To light this Frampton's hearth…fire。
By no cruel Affrightings would she ever be dismayed。
LIII
When Everard； next day； asked her in joke What name it was that she
had called him by； She told him of Gervase； and as she spoke She hardly
realized it was a lie。 Her vision she related； but she hid The fondness
into which she had been led。 Sir Everard just laughed and pinched
her ear； And quite out of her head The matter drifted。 Then Sir Everard
chid Himself for laziness； and off he rid To see his men and count his
farming…gear。
LIV
At supper he seemed overspread with gloom； But gave no reason
why； he only asked More questions of Gervase； and round the room He
walked with restless strides。 At last he tasked Her with a greater feeling
for this man Than she had given。 Eunice quick denied The
slightest interest other than a friend Might claim。 But he replied He
thought she underrated。 Then a ban He put on talk and music。 He'd a
plan To work at； draining swamps at Pickthorn End。
LV
Next morning Eunice found her Lord still changed； Hard and unkind；
with bursts of anger。 Pride Kept him from speaking out。 His probings
ranged All round his torment。 Lady Eunice tried To sooth him。 So a
week went by； and then His anguish flooded over； with clenched hands
Striving to stem his words； he told her plain Tony had seen them；
〃brands Burning in Hell；〃 the man had said。 Again Eunice described her
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Men； Women and Ghosts
vision； and how when Awoke at last she had known dreadful pain。
LVI
He could not credit it； and misery fed Upon his spirit； day by day it
grew。 To Gervase he forbade the house； and led The Lady Eunice such a
life she flew At his approaching footsteps。 Winter came Snowing and
blustering through the Manor trees。 All the roof…edges spiked with
icicles In fluted companies。 The Lady Eunice with her tambour…frame
Kept herself sighing company。 The flame Of the birch fire glittered
on the walls。
LVII
A letter was brought to her as she sat； Unsealed； unsigned。 It told
her that his wound； The writer's； had so well recovered that To join his
regiment he felt him bound。 But would she not wish him one short
〃Godspeed〃； He asked no more。 Her greeting would suffice。 He
had resolved he never should return。 Would she this sacrifice Make for a
dying man？ How could she read The rest！ But fo