Who smiled, nor stirred.

Her ghost gazed darkly from her pondering eyes

Charged with surmise;

Challenging mine, between mockery and fear,

She breathed her greeting, 'Thou, my only dear!

Wherefore such heavy sighs?'

'But this?' One instant lids her scrutiny veiled;

Her wan cheek paled.

'This child?' I asked. 'Its picture brings to mind

Remembrance faint and far, past thought to find,