Chapter II: Book I: The Cause

"A lady should not scorn
One soul that loves her, howe'er lowly it be."

BARRY CORNWALL.

"'Twere idle to remember now,
Had I the heart, my thwarted schemes.
I bear beneath this alter'd brow
The ashes of a thousand dreams--
Some wrought of wild Ambition's fingers,
Some colour'd of Love's pencil well--

* * * * *

Ambition has but foil'd my grasp,
And Love has perish'd in my clasp."

_Melanie._