e the deepening amethyst
Of dusk above is falling--
'Tis time to tryst! 'tis time to tryst!"
The whippoorwills are calling.

They call you to these twilight ways
With dewy odor dripping--
Ah, girlhood, through the rosy haze
Come like a moonbeam slipping.

3

_He enters her garden, speaking dreamily:_

There is a fading inward of the day,
And all the pansy heaven clasps one star;
The dwindling acres eastward glimmer gray,
While all the world to westward smoulders far.

Now to your glass will you pass for the last time?
Pass! humming some ballad, I know,--
Here where I wait it is late and is past time--
Late! and the moments are slow, are slow.

There is a drawing downward of the night;
The bridegroom Heaven bends down to kiss the moon;
Above, the heights hang silver in her light;
Below, the woods stretch purple, deep in June.

There in the dew is it you hiding lawny?
You, or a moth in the vines?--
You!--by your hand, where the band twinkles tawny!
You!--by your ring, like a glowworm, that shines!

4

_She approaches, laughing. She speaks,--_

You'd given up hope?

HE

Believe me.

SHE

Why, is your love so poor?

HE

I knew you'd not deceive me.

SHE

As many a girl before,--
Ah, dear, you will forgive me?

HE

Say no more, sweet, say no more!

SHE

Love trusts, and that's enough, my dear.
Trust wins to trust; whereof, my dear,
Love holds to love; and love, my dear,
Is--well, that's all my lore.

HE

Come, pay me or I'll scold you.--
Give me the kiss you owe.--
You fly when I'd enfold you?

SHE

No! no! I say! now, no!
How often have I told you,
You must not treat me so?

HE

More sweet the dusk for this is,
For lips that meet in kisses.--
Come! come! why run from blisses
As from a mortal foe?

5

_She stands smiling at him. She speaks:_

How many words in the asking!
How easily I can grieve you!--
My "no" in a "yes" was a-masking,
Nor thought, dear, to deceive you.--
A kiss?--the humming-bird happiness here
In my heart consents.... But what are words,
When the thought of two souls in speech accords?
Affirmative, negative--what are they, dear?
I wished to say "yes," but somehow said "no."
The woman within me thought you would know
Thought that your heart would hear.

_He spea