18
TWO VEILS.
"Sister," laughed the girl with girlish laughter,
"Sister, do you envy me my veil?"
'You may come to ask for mine hereafter,"
Answered very piteous lips and pale.
"Sister, do you envy me my veil?"
'You may come to ask for mine hereafter,"
Answered very piteous lips and pale.
"No, for your black cross is heavy bearing;
Tiresome counting these stone beads must be.
Oh, but there are jewels worth the wearing
Waiting in the sunny world for me!
Tiresome counting these stone beads must be.
Oh, but there are jewels worth the wearing
Waiting in the sunny world for me!
. . . "Sister, have a care—you are forgetting.
Do not broider thorns among my flowers—
Only buds and leaves: your tears are wetting
All my bridal lace." They fell in showers.
Do not broider thorns among my flowers—
Only buds and leaves: your tears are wetting
All my bridal lace." They fell in showers.
After years and years, beside the grating,
(Oh, that saddest sight, young hair grown grey!)
With dry boughs and empty winds awaiting
At the cloister door, came one to pray.
(Oh, that saddest sight, young hair grown grey!)
With dry boughs and empty winds awaiting
At the cloister door, came one to pray.
"Sister, see my bride-veil? there was never
Thorn so sharp as those within its lace.
Sister, give me yours to wear for ever;
Give me yours, and let me hide my face."
Thorn so sharp as those within its lace.
Sister, give me yours to wear for ever;
Give me yours, and let me hide my face."
