“Clear’d verily!” her sister cried, “Long live

These household pet-gods of our modern homes,

Like sprites to fright the stranger off! Now own

The fear you felt. It would appease her so!”

XVIII.

To this rose no reply to Edith’s lips.

I mark’d, instead, a gentle trembling there,

Like ripples roused upon a tranquil sea

That rise from deep, unseen disturbances.

“They fail to read her rightly,” thought I, then—