On the loud door, the dream of fancy broke;
Oft as a servant chanced the way to come,
“Brings he a message?” no! he passed the room.’
At length ’tis certain; “Sir, you will attend
At twelve on Thursday!” Thus the day had end.
Vex’d by these tedious hours of needless pain,
John left the noble mansion with disdain;
For there was something in that still, cold place,
That seemed to threaten and portend disgrace.
Punctual again the modest rap declared