And when he died would know me safe—

Oh that I had a brother!”

“A brother! Lily,” soft I said—

As springing to her side

I caught her, like a startled fawn

Just bounding o’er the tide—

“A brother! Lily, sit thee down

And I will be thy brother;

Dost thou not know, since thine is dead,

That thou may’st choose another?”