“O! he is mad, and miserable I!” } Exclaim’d the youth; “But let me now collect My scatter’d thoughts; I something must effect.” Hurrying she came—“Now, what has he confess’d, 570 Ere I could come to set your heart at rest? What! he has grieved you! Yet he, too, approves The thing! but man will tease you, if he loves. “But now for business: tell me, did you think That we should always at your meetings wink? Think you, you walk’d unseen? There are who bring To me all secrets—O, you wicked thing! Poor Fanny! now I think I see her blush All red and rosy, when I beat the bush; And ‘hide your secret,’ said I, ‘if you dare!’ 580 So out it came, like an affrighten’d hare. “‘Miss!’ said I, gravely; and the trembling maid Pleased me at heart to see her so afraid; And then she wept;—now, do remember this, Never to chide her when she does amiss; For she is tender as the callow bird, And cannot bear to have her temper stirr’d;— ‘Fanny,’ I said, then whisper’d her the name, And caused such looks—Yes, yours are just the same; But hear my story—When your love was known 590 For this our child—she is, in fact, our own— Then, first debating, we agreed at last To seek my lord, and tell him what had past.” “To tell the earl?” “Yes, truly, and why not? And then together we contrived our plot.” “Eternal God!” “Nay, be not so surprised,— In all the matter we were well advised; We saw my lord, and Lady Jane was there, And said to Johnson, ‘Johnson, take a chair.’ True, we are servants in a certain way, 600} But in the higher places so are they; } We are obey’d in ours, and they in theirs obey.— } So Johnson bow’d, for that was right and fit, And had no scruple with the earl to sit— Why look you so impatient while I tell What they debated?—you must like it well. “‘Let them go on,’ our gracious earl began; ‘They will go off,’ said, joking, my good man: ‘Well!’ said the countess—she’s a lover’s friend— ‘What if they do? they make the speedier end.’—— 610 But be you more composed, for that dear child Is with her joy and apprehension wild: O! we have watch’d you on from day to day, ‘There go the lovers!’ we were wont to say— But why that look?”— “Dear madam, I implore A single moment!” “I can give no more: Here are your letters—‘that’s a female pen,’ Said I to Fanny—‘’tis his sister’s, then,’ Replied the maid.—No! never must you stray; Or hide your wanderings, if you should, I pray; 620 I know, at least I fear, the best may err, But keep the by-walks of your life from her: That youth should stray is nothing to be told, When they have sanction in the grave and old, Who have no call to wander and transgress, But very love of change and wantonness. “I prattle idly, while your letters wait,