What you would say. There’s no offence;

Naught to forgive. There take[5] my hand.

We now are friends. In confidence

The story of a broken life,

Before the doctor comes, I’ll tell:

Of how I shunned[6] the cold world’s strife

And sought a quiet convent cell.

Far back[7] in life I loved a man,

A gen’rous, noble heart and true:

And he loved me as only can,