Page:Forget Me Not (1826).djvu/37
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ALICE.
17
Alice.Why should I not?—and yet sometimes
I have a fluttering at my heart—an awe—
A sinking. Is it fear?—'Twere wrong to fear
Such goodness: yet, in sooth, I tremble, mother;
I know not why. If he were gentle—like—
If he would take my hand, and only say,
Alice!
I have a fluttering at my heart—an awe—
A sinking. Is it fear?—'Twere wrong to fear
Such goodness: yet, in sooth, I tremble, mother;
I know not why. If he were gentle—like—
If he would take my hand, and only say,
Alice!
Henry (taking her hand).My cousin Alice! fly me not,
Alice!
Alice!
Alice.Lord Claremont!
Henry.Nay, thy Henry, sweet one.
It was the first word that thou spakest, Alice;
Do not forget it now.—Forgive me, madam,
That I thus stole upon you! Oh, forgive
My deeper, but unwilling guilt! At length
I can be just. The old ancestral hall,
The wide demesne, are thine. Within an hour
Thy gentle William will be there, to fill
His father's seat—the heir. Oh, thank me not:
I am still rich in my paternal wealth—
A beggar still in love. I have no mother—
Be thou one to me: let thy William call
Me brother.
It was the first word that thou spakest, Alice;
Do not forget it now.—Forgive me, madam,
That I thus stole upon you! Oh, forgive
My deeper, but unwilling guilt! At length
I can be just. The old ancestral hall,
The wide demesne, are thine. Within an hour
Thy gentle William will be there, to fill
His father's seat—the heir. Oh, thank me not:
I am still rich in my paternal wealth—
A beggar still in love. I have no mother—
Be thou one to me: let thy William call
Me brother.
Mrs. Neville.My dear son!
Alice.And am not I
Thy sister?
Thy sister?
Henry.No, mine own sweet Alice, no!