That’s praise from him—and I’m so glad Because you know no one can be I’d rather have to write to me. ‘Our governess is going away, We’re so distressed she cannot stay: Mama had made it quite a rule We none of us should go to school. But what to do they do not know, Papa protests it must be so. Lydia and I may have to go; Patty will try to teach the rest, Mama agrees it will be best. Dear boy, good-bye, I am, you see, Ever your dearest Emily. We want to know, so write and tell, If you’d a valentine as well.’ II Five tardy years were fully spent Ere next my cousins’ way I went; With Christmas then I came to see My uncle in his rectory: But they the town had left; no more Were in the vicarage of yore. When time his sixtieth year had brought, An easier cure the vicar sought: A country parsonage was made Sufficient, amply, with the aid Of mortar here and there, and bricks, For him and wife and children six. Though neighbours now, there scarce was light To see them and return ere night. Emily wrote: how glad they were To hear of my arrival there; Mama had bid her say that all The house was crowded for the ball Till Tuesday, but if I would come, She thought that they could find me room; The week with them I then should spend, But really must the ball attend; ‘Dear cousin, you have been away For such an age, pray don’t delay, But come and do not lose a day.’ A schoolboy still, but now, indeed, About to college to proceed, Dancing was, let it be confess’d, To me no pleasure at the best: Of girls and of their lovely looks I thought not, busy with my books. Still, though a little ill-content, Upon the Monday morn I went: My cousins, each and all, I found Wondrously grown! They kissed me round, And so affectionate and good They were, it could not be withstood. Emily, I was so surprised, At first I hardly recognised; Her face so formed and rounded now, Such knowledge in her eyes and brow; For all I read and thought I knew, She could divine me through and through. Where had she been, and what had done, I asked, such victory to have won? She had not studied, had not read, Seemed to have little in her head, Yet of herself the right and true, As of her own experience knew. Straight from her eyes her judgments flew, Like absolute decrees they ran, From mine, on such a different plan. A simple county country ball It was to be, not grand at all; And cousins four with me would dance, And keep me well in countenance. And there were people there to be Who knew of old my family, Friends of my friends—I heard and knew, And tried; but no, it would not do. Somehow it seemed a sort of thing To which my strength I could not bring; The music scarcely touched my ears, The figures fluttered me with fears. I talked, but had not aught to say, Danced, my instructions to obey;