And so it shall be now for me.

Look to it;

Consider, William : take a month to think,

a

And let me have an answer to my wish;

Or, by the Lord that made me, you shall pack,
And never more darken my doors again.”
But William answer'd madly ; bit his lips,
And broke away. The more he look'd at her
The less he liked her; and his ways were harsh;
But Dora bore them meekly. Then before

Che month was out he left his father's house,

And hired himself to work within the fields ;

And half in love, half spite, he woo'd and wed
A labourer's daughter, Mary Morrison.

Then, when the bells were ringing, Allan callid

His niece and said : “My girl, I love you well ; But if you speak with him that was my son,

Or change a word with her he calls his wife,

My home is none of yours. My will is law.”

And Dora promised, being meek. She thought, “ It cannot be: my uncle's mind will change !

And days went on, and there was born a boy

To William ; then distresses came on him ;

And day by day he pass'd his father's gate,
Heart-broken, and his father help'd him not.

But Dora stored what little she could save,

And sent it them by stealth, nor did they know

Who sent it; till at last a fever seized

a

On William, and in harvest time he died.

Then Dora went to Mary. Mary sat And look'd with tears upon her boy, and thought

Hard things of Dora. Dora came and said :

“I have obey'd my uncle until now,

And I have sinn'd, for it was all thro’ me

This evil came on William at the first.

But, Mary, for the sake of him that's gone,

Aud for your sake, the woman that he chose,

And for this orphan, I am come to you:
You know there has not been for these five years

So full a harvest : let me take the boy,

a

And I will set him in

my
uncle's

eye

Among the wheat; that when his heart is glad
Of the full harvest, he may see the boy,
And bless him for the sake of him that's gone."

And Dora took the child, and went her way

Across the wheat, and sat upon a mound
That was unsown, where many poppies grew

Far off the farmer came into the field

And spied her not ; for none of all his men

Dare tell him Dora waited with the child;

And Dora would have risen and gone to him,

But her heart fail'd her; and the reapers reap',

And the sun fell, and all the land was dark.

But when the morrow came, she rose and took

The child once more, and sat upon the mound;

And made a little wreath of all the flowers

That grew about, and tied it round his hat

To make him pleasing in her uncle's eye.
Then when the farmer pass'd into the field

He spied her, and he left his men at work,
And came and said; “Where were you yesterday?

Whose child is that? What are you doing here?”
So Dora cast her eyes upon the ground,
And answer'd softly, “ This is William's child !”

“ And did I not,” said Allan, “ did I not

Forbid you, Dora ?” Dora said again ;
“ Do with me as you will, but take the child
And bless him for the sake of him that's gone!”
And Allan said, “I see it is a trick

Got up betwixt you and the woman there.

I must be taught my duty, and by you !

You knew my word was law, and yet you dared To slight it: Well—for I will take the boy;

But go you hence, and never see me more.”

So saying, he took the boy, that cried aloud

And struggled hard. The wreath of flowers fell At Dora's feet. She bow'd upon her hands,

And the boy's cry came to her from the field,
More and more distant. She bow'd down her head,

Remembering the day when first she came,
And all the things that had been. She bow'd down

And wept in secret; and the reapers reap'd,

And the sun fell, and all the land was dark.

Then Dora went to Mary's house, and stood

Upon the threshold. Mary saw the boy
Was not with Dora. She broke out in praise

To God, that help'd her in her widowhood.
And Dora said, “My uncle took the boy;
But, Mary, let me live and work with you:
He says that he will never see me more."
Then answer'd Mary, “ This shall never be,