Chapter 10 No.10

JEAN by herself, undressing.

Yes, he's the man. Jean, my girl, you're done for,

At last you're done for, the good God be thankt.-

That was a wonderful look he had in his eyes:

'Tis a heart, I believe, that will burn marvellously!

Now what a thing it is to be a girl!

Who'ld be a man? Who'ld be fuel for fire

And not the quickening touch that sets it flaming?-

'Tis true that when we've set him well alight

(As I, please God, have set this Morris burning)

We must be serving him like something worshipt;

But is it to a man we kneel? No, no;

But to our own work, to the blaze we kindled!

O, he caught bravely. Now there's nothing at all

So rare, such a wild adventure of glee,

As watching love for you in a man beginning;-

To see the sight of you pour into his senses

Like brandy gulpt down by a frozen man,

A thing that runs scalding about his blood;

To see him holding himself firm against

The sudden strength of wildness beating in him!

O what my life is waiting for, at last

Is started, I believe: I've turned a man

To a power not to be reckoned; I shall be

Held by his love like a light thing in a river!