Heart-broken, and his father help'd him

not.

But Dora stored what little she could save, And sent it them by stealth, nor did they know

Who sent it; till at last a fever seized
On William, and in harvest time he died.
Then Dora went to Mary. Mary sat
And look'd with tears upon her boy, and
thought

Hard things of Dora. Dora came and said:

'I have obey'd my uncle until now, And I have sinn'd, for it was all thro' me This evil came on William at the first. But, Mary, for the sake of him that's gone, And for your sake, the woman that he chose,

And for this orphan, I am come to you : You know there has not been for these

five years

So full a harvest: let me take the boy, And I will set him in my uncle's eye Among the wheat; that when his heart

is glad

Of the full harvest, he may see the boy, And bless him for the sake of him that's gone.'

And Dora took the child, and went her

way

Across the wheat, and sat upon a mound That was unsown, where many poppies

grew.

Far off the farmer came into the field
And spied her not; for none of all his

men

Dare tell him Dora waited with the child; And Dora would have risen and gone to him,

But her heart fail'd her; and the reapers

reap'd,

And the sun fell, and all the land was

dark.

But when the morrow came, she rose

and took

The child once more, and sat upon the mound;

And made a little wreath of all the flowers That grew about, and tied it round his hat To make him pleasing in her uncle's eye. Then when the farmer pass'd into the field He spied her, and he left his men at work, And came and said: 'Where were you yesterday?

Whose child is that? What are you doing

here?'

So Dora cast her eyes upon the ground, And answer'd softly, 'This is William's

child!'

'And did I not,' said Allan, 'did I not Forbid you, Dora?' Dora said again : 'Do with me as you will, but take the child,

And bless him for the sake of him that's

gone!'

And Allan said, 'I see it is a trick

Got up betwixt you and the woman there. I must be taught my duty, and by you! You knew my word was law, and yet you

dared

To slight it. Well-for I will take the boy;

But go you hence, and never see me more.' So saying, he took the boy, that cried

aloud

And struggled hard. The wreath of flowers fell

At Dora's feet. She bow'd upon her

hands,

And the boy's cry came to her from the field.

More and more distant. She bow'd down

her head,

Remembering the day when first she came, And all the things that had been. She

bow'd down