The threshold, lifted with light hand the latch; But, when I entered, Margaret looked at me[74] A little while; then turned her head away Speechless,--and, sitting down upon a chair, 650 Wept bitterly. I wist not what to do, Nor[75] how to speak to her. Poor Wretch! at last She rose from off her seat, and then,--O Sir! I cannot _tell_ how she pronounced my name:-- With fervent love, and with a face of grief 655 Unutterably helpless, and a look That seemed to cling upon me,[76] she enquired If I had seen her husband. As she spake A strange surprise and fear came to my heart, Nor had I power to answer ere she told 660 That he had disappeared--not two months gone. He left his house: two wretched days had past, And on the third, as wistfully she raised Her head from off her pillow, to look forth, Like one in trouble, for returning light, 665 Within her chamber-casement she espied A folded paper, lying as if placed To meet her waking eyes. This tremblingly She opened--found no writing, but beheld[77] Pieces of money carefully enclosed, 670 Silver and gold. 'I shuddered at the sight,' Said Margaret, 'for I knew it was his hand That must have placed it there; and ere that day Was ended, that long anxious day, I learned, From one who by my husband had been sent 675 With the sad news, that he had joined a troop[78] Of soldiers, going to a distant land. --He left me thus--he could not gather heart To take a farewell of me; for he feared That I should follow with my babes, and sink 680 Beneath the misery of that wandering life.' "This tale did Margaret tell with many tears: And, when she ended, I had little power To give her comfort, and was glad to take 684 Such words of hope from her own mouth as served To cheer us both. But long we had not talked Ere we built up a pile of better thoughts, And with a brighter eye she looked around As if she had been shedding tears of joy. We parted.--'Twas the time of early spring; 690 I left her busy with her garden tools; And well remember, o'er that fence she looked, And, while I paced along the foot-way path, Called out, and sent a blessing after me, With tender cheerfulness, and with a voice 695 That seemed the very sound of happy thoughts.