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the no reproaches。 That's best Which God sends。 'Twas his will： it is mine。 And the rest Of that riddle I will not look back to。 He reads In your heartHe that judges of all thoughts and deeds。 With eyes； mine forestall not！ This only I say： You have not the right （read it； you； as you may！） To say 。 。 。 'I am the wrong'd。〃' 。 。 。 〃Have I wrong'd thee？wrong'd THEE！〃 He falter'd； 〃Lucile； ah； Lucile！〃 〃Nay； not me；〃 She murmur'd； 〃but man！ The lone nun standing here Has no claim upon earth； and is pass'd from the sphere Of earth's wrongs and earth's reparations。 But she； The dead woman； Lucile； she whose grave is in me； Demands from her grave reparation to man； Reparation to God。 Heed； O heed； while you can； This voice from the grave！〃 〃Hush！〃 he moan'd； 〃I obey The Soeur Seraphine。 There； Lucile！ let this pay Every debt that is due to that grave。 Now lead on： I follow you； Soeur Seraphine！ 。 。 。 To the son Of Lord Alfred Vargrave 。 。 。 and then；〃 。 。 。 As he spoke He lifted the tent…door； and down the dun smoke Pointed out the dark bastions； with batteries crown'd； Of the city beneath them 。 。 。 〃Then； THERE； underground； And valete et plaudite； soon as may be！ Let the old tree go down to the earththe old tree With the worm at its heart！ Lay the axe to the root！ Who will miss the old stump； so we save the young shoot？ A Vargrave！ 。 。 。 this pays all 。 。 。 Lead on！ In the seed Save the forest！ 。 。 。 I follow 。 。 。 forth； forth！ where you lead。〃
XXX。
The day was declining； a day sick and damp。 In a blank ghostly glare shone the bleak ghostly camp Of the English。 Alone in his dim； spectral tent （Himself the wan spectre of youth）； with eyes bent On the daylight departing； the sick man was sitting Upon his low pallet。 These thoughts； vaguely flitting； Cross'd the silence between him and death； which seem'd near； 〃Pain o'erreaches itself； so is balk'd！ else； how bear This intense and intolerable solitude； With its eye on my heart and its hand on my blood？ Pulse by pulse！ Day goes down： yet she comes not again。 Other suffering； doubtless； where hope is more plain； Claims her elsewhere。 I die； strange！ and scarcely feel sad。 Oh； to think of Constance THUS； and not to go mad！ But Death； it would seem； dulls the sense to his own Dull doings 。 。 。〃
XXXI。
Between those sick eyes and the sun A shadow fell thwart。
XXXII。
'Tis the pale nun once more！ But who stands at her side； mute and dark in the door？ How oft had he watch'd through the glory and gloom Of the battle； with long； longing looks； that dim plume Which now （one stray sunbeam upon it） shook； stoop'd To where the tent…curtain； dividing； was loop'd！ How that stern face had haunted and hover'd about The dreams it still scared！ through what fond fear and doubt Had the boy yearn'd in heart to the hero。 （What's like A boy's love for some famous man？） 。 。 。 Oh； to strike A wild path through the battle； down striking perchance Some rash foeman too near the great soldier of France； And so fall in his glorious regard！ 。 。 。 Oft； how oft； Had his heart flash'd this hope out； whilst watching aloft The dim battle that plume dance and dartnever seen So near till this moment！ how eager to glean Every stray word； dropp'd through the camp…babble in praise Of his heroeach tale of old venturous days In the desert！ And now 。 。 。 could he speak out his heart Face to face with that man ere he died！
XXXIII。
With a start The sick soldier sprang up： the blood sprang up in him； To his throat； and o'erthrew him： he reel'd back： a dim Sanguine haze fill'd his eyes； in his ears rose the din And rush； as of cataracts loosen'd within； Through which he saw faintly； and heard； the pale nun （Looking larger than life； where she stood in the sun） Point to him and murmur； 〃Behold！〃 Then that plume Seem'd to wave like a fire； and fade off in the gloom Which momently put out the world。
XXXIV。
To his side Moved the man the boy dreaded yet loved 。 。 。 〃Ah！〃 。 。 。 he sigh'd； 〃The smooth brow； the fair Vargrave face！ and those eyes； All the mother's！ The old things again！ 〃Do not rise。 You suffer； young man？〃
THE BOY。
Sir； I die。
THE DUKE。
Not so young！
THE BOY。
So young？ yes！ and yet I have tangled among The fray'd warp and woof of this brief life of mine Other lives than my own。 Could my death but untwine The vext skein 。 。 。 but it will not。 Yes； Duke； youngso young！ And I knew you not？ yet I have done you a wrong Irreparable！ 。 。 。 late； too late to repair。 If I knew any means 。 。 。 but I know none！ 。 。 。 I swear； If this broken fraction of time could extend Into infinite lives of atonement； no end Would seem too remote for my grief （could that be！） To include it！ Not too late； however； for me To entreat： is it too late for you to forgive？
THE DUKE。
You wrongmy forgivenessexplain。
THE BOY。
Could I live！ Such a very few hours left to life； yet I shrink； I falter 。 。 。 Yes； Duke； your forgiveness I think Should free my soul hence。 Ah！ you could not surmise That a boy's beating heart； burning thoughts； longing eyes Were following you evermore （heeded not！） While the battle was flowing between us： nor what Eager； dubious footsteps at nightfall oft went With the wind and the rain； round and round your blind tent； Persistent and wild as the wind and the rain； Unnoticed as these； weak as these； and as vain！ Oh； how obdurate then look'd your tent！ The waste air Grew stern at the gleam which said 。 。 。 〃Off！ he is there！〃 I know not what merciful mystery now Brings you here； whence the man whom you see lying low Other footsteps （not those！） must soon bear to the grave。 But death is at hand； and the few words I have Yet to speak； I must speak them at once。 Duke； I swear； As I lie here； （Death's angel too close not to hear！） That I meant not this wrong to you。 Duc de Luvois； I loved your nieceloved？ why； I LOVE her！ I saw； And； seeing； how could I but love her？ I seem'd Born to love her。 Alas； were that all！ Had I dream'd Of this love's cruel consequence as it rests now Ever fearfully present before me； I vow That the secret； unknown； had gone down to the tomb Into which I descend 。 。 。 Oh why； whilst there was room In life left for warning； had no one the heart To warn me？ Had any one whisper'd 。 。 。 〃Depart！〃 To the hope the whole world seem'd in league then to nurse！ Had any one hinted 。 。 。 〃Beware of the curse Which is coming！〃 There was not a voice raised to tell； Not a hand moved to warn from the blow ere it fell； And then 。 。 。 then the blow fell on BOTH！ This is why I implore you to pardon that great injury Wrought on her； and； through her； wrought on you； Heaven knows How unwittingly！
THE DU