We reached too soon The open doorway of the humble hut Which, far long years, had held the village school, And, at a little distance, paused. The room, Battered and black by wantonest abuse Of the rude youth, was lit by feeble lamps, Brought by the villagers; and scattered round Upon the high, hacked benches, hardly less Rude and rough-worn than they, the worshippers In silence sat. It was no place for words. I took the lady's hand, and said "good-night!" In whisper. Then she turned, and disappeared Within the sheltered gloom; but I could see The care-worn cheeks light up with pleasant fire As she passed in; and e'en the fainting lamps Flared with new life, the while they caught the breath Of her sweet robe. Then with an angry heart I turned away, and, wrapped in selfish thought, Took up the walk toward home. This homely group Of Yankee lollards she preferred to me! These poor, pinched boobies, with their silly wives-- Ah! these were they who gave her overmuch In the bestowal of their fellowship! These crowned her with a peerless privilege, Permitting her to sit with them an hour As a dear sister! How my sore self-love Burned with the hot affront! With lips compressed, Or blurting forth their anger and disgust, I strode the meadows, stalked the silent town, And growled and groaned in sullen helplessness About the streets, until the midnight bell Tolled from the old church tower;--in helplessness, For, mattered nothing what or who she was (I had not dared or cared to question that), Or how offensive in her piety And her devotion to the tasteless cult Of the weak throng, I was her slave; and she-- Her own and God's. The miserable strife Between my love of self and love of her I knew was bootless; and the trenchant truth Cut to the quick. She held within her hand My heart, my life, my doom, yet knew it not; And had she known, her soul was under vows Which would forever make subordinate Their recognized possession. But the morn Brought with it better mood and calmer thought: I had the grace to gauge the heartlessness Of my exactions, and the power to crush The tyrant wish to tear her from the throne To which she clung. I said: "So she love me As a true woman loves, and give herself-- Her sweet, pure self--to me, and fill my home With her dear presence, loyal still to me In wifely love and wifely offices, Though she abide in Christian loyalty By Christian vows, she shall have liberty, And hold it as her right."