Page:Poems by William Wordsworth (1815) Volume 1.djvu/248

188 And Susan's growing worse and worse,

And Betty's in a sad quandary;

And then there's nobody to say

If she must go or she must stay!

—She's in a sad quandary.

The clock is on the stroke of one;

But neither Doctor nor his Guide

Appear along the moonlight road;

There's neither horse nor man abroad,

And Betty's still at Susan's side.

And Susan she begins to fear

Of sad mischances not a few,

That Johnny may perhaps be drowned,

Or lost, perhaps, and never found;

Which they must both for ever rue.

She prefaced half a hint of this

With, "God forbid it should be true!"

At the first word that Susan said

Cried Betty, rising from the bed,

"Susan, I'd gladly stay with you.