Can see aught fairer than you together?
Sisters twain—one slender and dark,
Her cheek faint-tanned by the tropic south;
One northern bred, her voice like a lark,
The joy of the hills in her gladsome youth.
Ben Clebrig shall judge—nay, shall keep the two,
And bind them in chains of love for ever;
Look to it, Clebrig; guard them true:
Sisters twain—and why should they sever?
But even here there was a false note; and he knew it. Perhaps he was vaguely jealous of any alien interference: was not Meenie the sole and only care of the giant mountain? Anyhow, the verses were of no avail for Meenie's book; and otherwise he did not care for them; so the envelope was crumpled up and thrown away.