d that Richard wrote poetry. He read
one of his old forgotten compositions penned when he had that ambition.

"Thy truth to me is truer
Than horse, or dog, or blade;
Thy vows to me are fewer
Than ever maiden made.

Thou steppest from thy splendour
To make my life a song:
My bosom shall be tender
As thine has risen strong."

All the verses were transcribed. "It is he who is the humble knight,"
Clare explained at the close, "and his lady, is a Queen. Any Queen would
throw her crown away for him."

It came to that period when Clare left Raynham with her mother.

"Richard was not sorry to lose me. He only loves boys and men. Something
tells me I shall never see Raynham again. He was dressed in blue. He
said Good-bye, Clare, and kissed me on the cheek. Richard never kisses
me on the mouth. He did not know I went to his bed and kissed him while
he was asleep. He sleeps with one arm under his head, and the other out
on the bed. I moved away a bit of his hair that was over his eyes.
I wanted to cut it. I have one piece. I do not let anybody see I am
unhappy, not even mama. She says I want iron. I am sure I do not. I
like to write my name. Clare Doria Forey. Richard's is Richard Doria
Feverel."

His breast rose convulsively. Clare Doria Forey! He knew the music of
that name. He had heard it somewhere. It sounded faint and mellow now
behind the hills of death.

He could not read for tears. It was midnight. The hour seemed to belong
to her. The awful stillness and the darkness were Clare's. Clare's voice
clear and cold from the grave possessed it.

Painfully, with blinded eyes, he looked over the breathless pages. She
spoke of his marriage, and her finding the ring.

"I knew it was his. I knew he was going to be married that morning. I
saw him stand by the altar when they laughed at breakfast. His wife must
be so beautiful! Richard's wife! Perhaps he will love me better now he
is married. Mama says they must be separated. That is shameful. If I can
help him I will. I pray so that he may be happy. I hope God hears poor
sinners' prayers. I am very sinful. Nobody knows it as I do. They say
I am good, but I know. When I look on the ground I am not looking after
earthworms, as he said. Oh, do forgive me, God!"

Then she spoke of her own marriage, and that it was her duty to obey her
mother. A blank in the Diary ensued.

"I have seen Richard. Richard despises