XIX. FROM JANE.
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ear Mrs. Graham, the fever's past,And Fred is well. I, in my last,Forgot to say that, while 'twas on,A lady, call'd Honoria Vaughan,One of his Salisbury Cousins, came.Had I, she ask'd me, heard her name?'Twas that Honoria, no doubt,Whom he would sometimes talk aboutAnd speak to, when his nights were bad,And so I told her that I had.She look'd so beautiful and kind!And just the sort of wife my mindPictured for Fred, with many tears,In those sad early married years.Visiting, yesterday, she said,The Admiral's Wife, she learn'd that FredWas very ill; she begg'd to be,If possible, of use to me.What could she do? Last year, his AuntDied, leaving her, who had no want,Her fortune. Half was his, she thought;But he, she knew, would not be broughtTo take his rights at second hand.Yet something might, she hoped, be plann'd.What did I think of putting JohnTo school and college? Mr. Vaughan,When John was old enough, could givePreferment to her relative;And she should be _so_ pleased.--I saidI felt quite sure that dearest FredWould be most thankful. Would we come,And make ourselves, she ask'd, at home,Next month, at High-Hurst? Change of airBoth he and I should need, and thereAt leisure we could talk, and thenFix plans, as John was nearly ten.It seemed so rude to think and doubt,So I said, Yes. In going out,She said, 'How strange of Frederick, Dear,'(I wish he had been there to hear,)'To send no cards, or tell me whatA nice new Cousin I had got!'Was not that kind?When Fred grew strong,I had, I found, done very wrong.Anger was in his voice and eye.With people born and bred so highAs Fred and Mrs. Vaughan and you,It's hard to guess what's right to do;And he won't teach me!Dear Fred wrote,Directly, such a lovely note,Which, though it undid all I had done,Was, both to me and Mrs. Vaughan,So kind! His words. I can't say why,Like soldiers' music, made me cry.
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