Dora

BY
ALFRED TENNYSON
ILLUSTRATED
BOSTON LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM 1887
Copyright, 1886, BY LEE AND SHEPARD.
All rights reserved.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY W.L. TAYLOR.
DRAWN AND ENGRAVED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF GEORGE T. ANDREW.
WITH farmer Allan at the farm abode William and Dora. William was his son, And she his niece. He often look'd at them, And often thought, 'I'll make them man and wife.' Now Dora felt her uncle's will in all, And yearn'd towards William; but the youth, because He had been always with her in the house, Thought not of Dora.
Then there came a day When Allan call'd his son, and said, 'My son: I married late, but I would wish to see My grandchild on my knees before I die: And I have set my heart upon a match. Now therefore look to Dora; she is well To look to; thrifty too beyond her age. She is my brother's daughter; he and I Had once hard words, and parted, and he died In foreign lands; but for his sake I bred His daughter Dora: take her for your wife; For I have wish'd this marriage, night and day, For many years.' But William answer'd short; 'I cannot marry Dora; by my life, I will not marry Dora.' Then the old man Was wroth, and doubled up his hands, and said: 'You will not, boy! you dare to answer thus! But in my time a father's word was law, And so it shall be now for me. Look to it; Consider, William: take a month to think, And let me have an answer to my wish; Or, by the Lord that made me, you shall pack, And never more darken my doors again.'
But William answer'd madly; bit his lips, And broke away. The more he look'd at her The less he liked her; and his ways were harsh; But Dora bore them meekly. Then before The month was out he left his father's house, And hired himself to work within the fields; And half in love, half spite, he woo'd and wed A laborer's daughter, Mary Morrison.
Then, when the bells were ringing, Allan call'd His niece and said: 'My girl, I love you well; But if you speak with him that was my son, Or change a word with her he calls his wife, My home is none of yours. My will is law,' And Dora promised, being meek. She thought, 'It cannot be: my uncle's mind will change!'