Page:Victor Hugo's Works (Guernsey Edition) v14.djvu/58

40

Why not! Why not! Oh, if I could! To live

Where there's no mocking, and no being mocked;

No laughter but what's innocent; no mirth

That leaves an after bitterness like gall.

Now, you are sad! There 's that black ugly cloud

Upon your brow; you promised, the last time,

It never should come when we were together.

You know when you're sad I'm sad too.

My bird!

I'm selfish even with thee; let dark thoughts come,

That thy sweet voice may chase them, as they say

The blessed church bells drive the demons off.

If I but knew the reason of your sadness,

Then I might comfort you; but I know nothing,

Not even your name.

I'd have no name for thee

But "father."

In the convent at Cesena,

Where I was reared, they used to call me orphan.

I thought I had no father, till you came,

And then they needed not to say I had one;

My own heart told me that.

I often think

I had done well to have left thee there, in the peace