Cannot you always keep him at your side,

And be his honour’d guardian and his guide? 160

And cannot I my pretty Clara rule?

Is not this better than a noisy school?”

The Doctor thought and mused; he felt and fear’d;

Wish’d it to be—then wish’d he had not heard;

But he was angry—that at least was right,

And gave him credit in his lady’s sight;—

Then, milder grown, yet something still severe,

He said, “Consider, Madam, think and fear;”