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A friendship yet hallow'd between you and me？ May we not be yet friendsfriends the dearest？〃 〃Alas！〃 She replied； 〃for one moment； perchance； did it pass Through my own heart； that dream which forever hath brought To those who indulge it in innocent thought So fatal an evil awaking！ But no。 For in lives such as ours are； the Dream…tree would grow On the borders of Hades： beyond it； what lies？ The wheel of Ixion； alas！ and the cries Of the lost and tormented。 Departed； for us； Are the days when with innocence we could discuss Dreams like these。 Fled； indeed； are the dreams of my life！ Oh trust me； the best friend you have is your wife。 And Iin that pure child's pure virtue； I bow To the beauty of virtue。 I felt on my brow Not one blush when I first took her hand。 With no blush Shall I clasp it to…night； when I leave you。 〃Hush！ hush！ I would say what I wish'd to have said when you came。 Do not think that years leave us and find us the same！ The woman you knew long ago； long ago； Is no more。 You yourself have within you； I know； The germ of a joy in the years yet to be； Whereby the past years will bear fruit。 As for me； I go my own way；onward； upward！ 〃O yet； Let me thank you for that which ennobled regret When it came； as it beautified hope ere it fled； The love I once felt for you。 True； it is dead； But it is not corrupted。 I too have at last Lived to learn that love is notsuch love as is past； Such love as youth dreams of at leastthe sole part Of life； which is able to fill up the heart； Even that of a woman。 〃Between you and me Heaven fixes a gulf； over which you must see That our guardian angels can bear us no more。 We each of us stand on an opposite shore。 Trust a woman's opinion for once。 Women learn； By an instinct men never attain； to discern Each other's true natures。 Matilda is fair； Matilda is youngsee her now； sitting there！ How tenderly fashion'd（oh； is she not？ say；） To love and be loved！〃
IV。
He turn'd sharply away 〃Matilda is young； and Matilda is fair； Of all that you tell me pray deem me aware； But Matilda's a statue； Matilda's a child； Matilda loves not〃 Lucile quietly smiled As she answer'd him〃Yesterday； all that you say Might be true； it is false； wholly false； though； today。〃 〃How？what mean you？〃 〃I mean that to…day；〃 she replied； 〃The statue with life has become vivified： I mean that the child to a woman has grown： And that woman is jealous。〃 〃What； she！〃 with a tone Of ironical wonder； he answer'dwhat； she！ She jealous！Matilda！of whom； pray？not me！〃 〃My lord； you deceive yourself； no one but you Is she jealous of。 Trust me。 And thank Heaven； too； That so lately this passion within her hath grown。 For who shall declare； if for months she had known What for days she has known all too keenly； I fear； That knowledge perchance might have cost you more dear？〃
〃Explain！ explain； madam！〃 he cried； in surprise； And terror and anger enkindled his eyes。 〃How blind are you men！〃 she replied。 〃Can you doubt That a woman； young； fair； and neglected〃 〃Speak out！〃 He gasp'd with emotion。 〃Lucile！ you meanwhat！ Do you doubt her fidelity？〃 〃Certainly not。 Listen to me； my friend。 What I wish to explain Is so hard to shape forth。 I could almost refrain From touching a subject so fragile。 However； Bear with me awhile； if I frankly endeavor To invade for one moment your innermost life。 Your honor； Lord Alfred； and that of your wife； Are dear to me；most dear！ And I am convinced That you rashly are risking that honor。〃 He winced； And turn'd pale； as she spoke。 She had aim'd at his heart； And she saw； by his sudden and terrified start； That her aim had not miss'd。 〃Stay； Lucile！〃 he exclaim'd； 〃What in truth do you mean by these words； vaguely framed To alarm me？ Matilda？my wife？do you know？〃
〃I know that your wife is as spotless as snow。 But I know not how far your continued neglect Her nature； as well as her heart； might affect。 Till at last； by degrees； that serene atmosphere Of her unconscious purity； faint and yet dear； Like the indistinct golden and vaporous fleece Which surrounded and hid the celestials in Greece From the glances of men； would disperse and depart At the sighs of a sick and delirious heart； For jealousy is to a woman； be sure； A disease heal'd too oft by a criminal cure； And the heart left too long to its ravage in time May find weakness in virtue； reprisal in crime。〃
V。
〃Such thoughts could have never；〃 he falter'd； 〃I know； Reach'd the heart of Matilda。〃 〃Matilda？ oh no！ But reflect！ when such thoughts do not come of themselves To the heart of a woman neglected； like elves That seek lonely places；there rarely is wanting Some voice at her side； with an evil enchanting To conjure them to her。〃 〃O lady； beware！ At this moment； around me I search everywhere For a clew to your words〃 〃You mistake them；〃 she said； Half fearing； indeed； the effect they had made。 〃I was putting a mere hypothetical case。〃 With a long look of trouble he gazed in her face。 〃Woe to him； 。 。 。〃 he exclaim'd 。 。 。 〃woe to him that shall feel Such a hope！ for I swear； if he did but reveal One glimpse；it should be the last hope of his life！〃 The clench'd hand and bent eyebrow betoken'd the strife She had roused in his heart。 〃You forget；〃 she began； 〃That you menace yourself。 You yourself are the man That is guilty。 Alas！ must it ever be so？ Do we stand in our own light； wherever we go； And fight our own shadows forever？ O think！ The trial from which you； the stronger ones； shrink； You ask woman； the weaker one； still to endure； You bid her be true to the laws you abjure； To abide by the ties you yourselves rend asunder； With the force that has fail'd you； and that too； when under The assumption of rights which to her you refuse； The immunity claim'd for yourselves you abuse！ Where the contract exists； it involves obligation To both husband and wife； in an equal relation。 You unloose； in asserting your own liberty； A knot； which； unloosed； leaves another as free。 Then； O Alfred！ be juster at heart： and thank Heaven That Heaven to your wife such a nature has given That you have not wherewith to reproach her； albeit You have cause to reproach your own self； could you see it！〃
VI。
In the silence that follow'd the last word she said； In the heave of his chest； and the droop of his head； Poor Lucile mark'd her words had sufficed to impart A new germ of motion and life to that heart Of which he himself had so recently spoken As dead to emotionexhausted； or broken！ New fears would awaken new hopes in his life。 In the husband indifferent no more to the wife She already； as she had foreseen； could discover That Matilda had gain'd at her hands； a new lo