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hands。 With singular good sense； with which she was always surprising
me； Alice now introduced the subject of the Young People's Club； and
mentioned incidentally that Gwen was to have charge of the next meeting。
Before Gwen had time to inform Maitland that she intended to decline this
honour； he congratulated her upon it； and rendered her withdrawal difficult
by saying： 〃I feel that I should thank you； Miss Darrow； for the faithful
way in which you fulfil the spirit of your agreement to permit me to order
your actions。 I know； if you consulted your own desires； you would
probably decline the honour conferred upon you； and that in accepting it；
you are influenced by the knowledge that you are pursuing just the course
I most wish you to follow。 Verily； you make my office of tyrant over you
a perfect sinecure。 I had expected you to chafe a little under restraint； but；
instead； I find you voluntarily yielding to my unexpressed desires。〃
Gwen made no reply； but we heard no more of her resignation。 She
applied herself at once to the preparation of her paper upon 〃Antony and
Cleopatra。〃 Maitland； who； like all vigorous； healthy； and informed
intellects； was an ardent admirer of Shakespeare； found time to call on
Gwen and to discuss the play with her。 This seemed to please her very
much； and I am sure his interest in the play was abnormal。 He confessed
to me that every morning； as he awoke； the first thing which flashed into
his mind； even before he had full possession of his senses； was these
words of Antony：
〃I am dying； Egypt； dying。〃
He professed himself utterly unable to account for this； and asked me
what I thought was the cause of it。 He furthermore suddenly decided that
he would ask Gwen to propose his name for membership at the next
meeting of the Young People's Club。 I hastily indorsed this resolution；
for I had a vague sort of feeling that it would please Gwen。
The 〃Antony and Cleopatra〃 night at length arrived。 We all attended
the meeting and listened to a very able paper upon the play。 One of the
most marked traits of Gwen's character is that whatever she does she does
thoroughly； and this was fully exemplified on the night in question。
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Maitland was very much impressed by some verse Gwen had written for
the occasion； and a copy of which he succeeded in procuring from her。 I
think； from certain remarks he made； that it was the broad and somewhat
unfeminine charity expressed in the verse which most astonished and
attracted him； but of this； after what I have said； you will； when you have
perused it； be as good a judge as I：
CLEOPATRA
In Egypt； where the lotus sips the watersOf ever…fruitful Nile；
and the huge SphinxIn awful silence； … mystic converse withThe stars； …
doth see the pale moon hang her crescent onThe pyramid's sharp peak； …
e'en there； well inThe straits of Time's perspective；Went out； by Caesarean
gusts from Rome；The low…burned candle of the Ptolemies：Went out
without a flicker in full glareOf noon…day glory。 When her flame lacked
oilToo proud was Egypt's queen to beThe snuff of Roman spirits； so she
said；〃Good…night；〃 and closed the book of life half readAnd little
understood； perchance misreadThe greater part； … yet； who shall say？ Are
weAn ermined bench to call her culprit failings upAnd make them plead
for mercy？ Or can we；Upon whom soon shall fall the awful shadow
ofThe Judgment Seat； stand in her light and throwOurselves that shadow？
Rather let fall uponHer memory the softening gauze of Time；As mantle of
a charity which elseWe might not serve。 She was a woman；And as a
woman loved！ What though the fierceSimoom blew ever hot within the
sailOf her desire？ What if it shifted withDirection of her breath？ Or if
the rudder ofHer will did lean as many ways as trampled straws；And own
as little worth？ She was a woman still；And queen。 They do best
understand themselvesWho trust themselves the least； as they are
wisestWho； for their safety； thank more the open seaThan pilot will。 Oh；
Egypt's self…born Isis！Ought we to fasten in thy memory the fangsOf
unalloyed distrust？ We know how littleBetter is History's page than leaf
whereat the inkIs thrown。 Nor yet should we forget how muchThe nearer
thou than we didst come toThe rough…hewn corner…stone of Time。 We
knowThy practised love enfolded Antony；And that around the heart of
Hercules'Descendant； threading through and through；Like the red rivers of
its life； in tangled meshNo circumstance could e'er unravel； thouDidst coil；
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… the dreamy； dazzling 〃Serpent ofThe Nile！〃 Thy sins stick jagged
outFrom history's page； and bleeding tearFair Judgment from thy merits。
We perchanceDo wrong thee； Isis； for that coward； History；Who binds in
death his object's jaw and thenBesmuts her name； hath crossed his focus
inAnother age； and paled his spreading figment fromOur sight。 Thou art
so far back towardThe primal autocrat whose wish； hyena…like；Was his
religion； that； appearing as thou dostOn an horizon new flushed in the
firstUncertain ray of Altruism； thou seem'stMore ghost than human。 Yet
thou lovest； loving ghost；And thy fierce parent flame thyself snuffed
outScarce later than the dark'ning of the fireThou gav'st to be eternal
vestal ofThine Antony's spirit。 Thou didst love and dieOf love； let；
therefore； no light tongue； brazenIn censure； say that nothing in thy
lifeBecame thee like the leaving it。 The clothFrom which humanity is
cut is woven ofThe warp and woof of circumstance； and allAre much alike。
We spring from out the mantle； Earth；And hide at last beneath it； in the
interimOur acts are less of us than it。 We areNo judge； then； of thy sins；
thou ending linkOf Ptolemy's chain。 Forsooth； we