One girl within looking out at the men;

Silence at first—you might have heard a pin

Drop on the doorsteps—silence—and then,

'What do you want?' cried the girl. She spoke loud,

In a voice that sounded unlike her own.

'We want Mr. Vane,' said a man, who bowed,

And uttered the words in a gentle tone.

They were very well dressed—they were not poor—

They had shining hats and cloaks wrapp'd about,

These men who stood at the happy hall-door,

Where Harry and I run in and run out.

[pg 75]

(You want him? I want him, I might have said;

But only to say so seem'd like a sin):

'He is not within'; and I shook my head,

And while I yet spoke the men were within.

They did not appear to wish to intrude;

They did not attempt to frighten me now;

They did not push by me; they were not rude;—

But somehow they enter'd—I know not how.

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