Transcendent morn ’rose o’er yon barley-field;
But dusky clouds fly’ng ’cross the golden shield
Dispersed his beams; yet, he controll’d the main,
And usher’d in a brighter day for Jane.
She ’wakes (her wonted hour), looks ’round and finds
Rich damask drapery for her window-blinds!
Chairs, almost fairy-like with ’lastic touch,
Resemble the impurpled-cover’d couch.
Then half-recumbent lo: the gentle girl
Beholds the furniture inlaid with pearl!
Herself she now reflectedly espies,
But scarce believing her yet slumb’rous eyes—
’Til, opportune, the wardrobe glass disclosed
The doubtful myst’ry; then she grew composed,
Alighted venturously on the soft floor,
And scann’d the toilet o’er and o’er and o’er:
She timorously removes[202] the window-blind;
Observes, with pleasure, the fantastic hind,
The antler’d buck, the mother and her fawn;
And all the beauties of the verdured lawn.
The ivy tendrils kiss’d her window-pane,
And further rearward wound the jessamine
With other fragrant vines. Now, Jane, she makes
Another survey t’wards the glist’ning lakes:
There she beholds, most gracefully afloat—
The silvery swans; and there the anchor’d boat
Hugg’d the green bank. All nature smiles, as ’twere;
And passing showers cool’d the atmosphere;
While birds among[203] made music sweet and clear.
On bended knee, Jane’s orisons had flown
With the appearance of the saffron dawn:
So now (rememb’ring Arnold’s fond desire
To breakfast with her), in her best attire,
She decks herself—expectant of a knock:
Mid joy and grief she hears the tuneful[204] clock,
Which crown’d the summit of the mansion mews,—
The time arrived: now Jane once more re-views
Her humble self, and modestly prepares * * *
When lo!—she hears a patting on the stairs,
And hies obediently across the floor—
To welcome Toogood at the appointed hour:
With all the sweetness of her youth, she said—
“Oh dear! dear ma’am (and sigh’d) I really dread
To leave the room;” but when Aunt Toogood smil’d
And bade Jane cheer, thus say’ng: “Come, come, my child
(In such a winsome mood) and follow me,
For Arnold now is anxious, ’waiting thee,”
She doff’d her trepidness, and went the way.
And so began the duties[205] of the day.
[202] Drawing aside.
[203] The branches.
[204] The chimes.
[205] Family prayers.