And she thy pleasure in thy looks shall seek -
How she shall dress, and whether she may speak."
A sober smile returned the Youth, and said,
"Can I cause fear, who am myself afraid?"
Sybil, meantime, sat thoughtful in her room,
And often wonder'd--"Will the creature come?
Nothing shall tempt, shall force me to bestow
My hand upon him,--yet I wish to know."
The door unclosed, and she beheld her sire
Lead in the Youth, then hasten to retire;
"Daughter, my friend--my daughter, friend," he cried,
And gave a meaning look, and stepp'd aside:
That look contained a mingled threat and prayer,
"Do take him, child,--offend him if you dare."
The couple gazed--were silent, and the maid
Look'd in his face, to make the man afraid;
The man, unmoved, upon the maiden cast
A steady view--so salutation pass'd:
But in this instant Sybil's eye had seen
The tall fair person, and the still staid mien;
The glow that temp'rance o'er the cheek had spread,
Where the soft down half veil'd the purest red;
And the serene deportment that proclaim'd
A heart unspotted, and a life unblamed:
But then with these she saw attire too plain,
The pale brown coat, though worn without a stain;
The formal air, and something of the pride
That indicates the wealth it seems to hide;
And looks that were not, she conceived, exempt
From a proud pity, or a sly contempt.