Stories of her whom I loved so well
When a child, to send them off to sleep.
But Sir Arthur—O, this was too hard!—
He who had been always stern and sad
In my lady’s time, seem’d to rejoice
Each day more; and I could hear his voice
Even, sounding younger and more glad.
He might perhaps have blamed them; but his wife
Never failed to take the children’s part.
She would stay him with her pleading tone,