And her face brightened. The old Man was glad,
And thus resumed:?'Well, Isabel! this scheme
275 These two days, has been meat and drink to me.
Far more than we have lost is left us yet.
?We have enough?I wish indeed that I
Were younger;?but this hope is a good hope.
Make ready Luke's best garments, of the best
280 Buy for him more, and let us send him forth
To-morrow, or the next day, or to-night:
?If he could go, the Boy should go to-night.'
5. The story alluded to here is well known in the 6. A poor boy supported financially by the poor country. The chapel is called Ings Chapel and is rates (taxes) paid out by the wealthier members of
on the road leading from Kendal to Ambleside his parish.
[Wordsworth's note, 1802-05].
.
298 / WILLIAM WORDSWORTH
Here Michael ceased, and to the fields went forth
With a light heart. The Housewife for five days
285 Was restless morn and night, and all day long
Wrought on with her best fingers to prepare
Things needful for the journey of her son.
But Isabel was glad when Sunday came
To stop her in her work: for, when she lay
290 By Michael's side, she through the last two nights
Heard him, how he was troubled in his sleep:
And when they rose at morning she could see
That all his hopes were gone. That day at noon
She said to Luke, while they two by themselves
295 Were sitting at the door, 'Thou must not go:
We have no other Child but thee to lose,
None to remember?do not go away,
For if thou leave thy Father he will die.'
The Youth made answer with a jocund voice;
300 And Isabel, when she had told her fears, Recovered heart. That evening her best fare
Did she bring forth, and all together sat
Like happy people round a Christmas fire. With daylight Isabel resumed her work;
And all the ensuing week the house appeared
As cheerful as a grove in Spring: at length
The expected letter from their kinsman came,
With kind assurances that he would do
His utmost for the welfare of the Boy;
310 To which, requests were added, that forthwith
He might be sent to him. Ten times or more
The letter was read over; Isabel
Went forth to show it to the neighbours round;
Nor was there at that time on English land
315 A prouder heart than Luke's. When Isabel
Had to her house returned, the old Man said,
'He shall depart to-morrow.' To this word
The Housewife answered, talking much of things
