Alone Rusilla stood. He met her eye,

For it was singling him amid the crowd;

Obeying then the hand which beckon’d him,

He went with heart prepared, nor shrinking now,

But arm’d with self-approving thoughts that hour.

Entering in tremulous haste, he closed the door,

And turn’d to clasp her knees; but lo, she spread

Her arms, and catching him in close embrace,

Fell on his neck, and cried, My Son, my Son!...

Ere long, controlling that first agony