Page:Victor Hugo's Works (Guernsey Edition) v14.djvu/69

Rh And tongues of lawless men,—for in these days

All men are lawless,—'t is because I fear

To lose thee, as I lost thy mother.

Father,

I'll pray for her.

Do, and for me; good-night!

Oh, not so soon, with all these sad dark thoughts,

These bitter memories. You need my love;

I'll touch my lute for you, and sing to it.

Music, you know, chases all evil angels.

I must go: 't is grave business calls me hence.

[Aside.] 'T is time that I was at my post. My own,

Sleep in thine innocence. Good! good-night!

But let me see you to the outer door.

Not a step further, then. God guard this place,

That here my flower may grow, safe from the blight

Of look, or word impure,—a holy thing

Consecrate to my service, and my love! [Exit and, R. Enter from behind the arras, and.

His daughter! That so fair a branch should spring

From such a gnarled and misshapen stock!