His sorest parting, Gertrude, was from thee;

Nor half its grief his little heart could hold:

By kindred he was sent for o’er the sea,

They tore him from us when but twelve years old,

And scarcely for his loss have I been yet consoled!”

XIX.

His face the wanderer hid—but could not hide

A tear, a smile, upon his cheek that dwell;—

“And speak! mysterious stranger!” Gertrude cried,

“It is!—it is!—I knew—I knew him well!