er'd 'twas he kill'd the ghost,
And I hung down my head and blush'd for shame.

Suddenly turning, my Harry it saw;
Suddenly sprang t'wards the couch where he lay;--
A deadlier terror conquering awe,
Brave as a lion, I stood in its way.

I wav'd both my hands to signal it back:
'You shall not come near him!' I wildly said;
'He never intended to kill you, Jack--
O Jack, I _hope_ you don't mind being dead!'

Strive as we will, fate can calmly defeat--
What _is_ to be, happens--and always will;
Harry awoke, and stood up on his feet,
And my heart leapt madly and then stood still.

I trembled for Harry, all unprepar'd!
I stood between the Alive and the Dead!
The man and the ghost at each other star'd--
And the man got white, and the ghost got red.

The man kept on staring with hungry eyes,
Pointing at it, till I trembled to see;
Then said in a whisper, 'It's Jack Devize!'--
Shook himself wildly and turn'd upon _me_.

His hand sought his brow in a weak sad way,
A pitiful look came into his face:
'It is a brain-phantom,' I heard him say,
'Which my weary brain engenders in space!'

'No, Harry,' I whisper'd, 'it is not so;
I wish that it was--from my heart I do'--
I held him tight, whispering very low,
'Tis a real ghost, for--I see it too!'

I felt his arm quiver under my clasp;
He started backwards with such a great start;
He flung up his arms, and cried with a gasp,
'Oh speak to me, Jack, whatever thou art!'

The ghost caught his hands with a cheer almost,
And shook them right manfully where it stood,
Shouting 'I'm neither a phantom nor ghost;
I am Jack Devize, and am flesh and blood!'

And so the sorrow was only a dream
(As the sun uprises the dream departs);
And the false false sorrow did only seem,
And the true true joy came into our hearts.

I had so determin'd to be resign'd,
And to school myself to a patient mood,
That I felt a little ill-used to find
There was no occasion for being good.

But oh the joy, like the sweetest surprise,
With a light light heart and nothing to bear!
And oh to be looking in Harry's eyes
And never a fear of what I see there!

And when earth is deck'd in eternal spring,
Singing we go on a flowery way;
And happiness _is_ such a happy thing,
And it seems so natural to be gay.

I think that the dullest will understand
Jack was not drown'd when he f