The Inn Album by Robert Browning — Read

Now, as the elder lights the fresh cigar / Conducive to resource, and saunteringly / Betakes him to the left-hand backward path, -- / While, much sedate, the younger strides away / To right and makes for -- islanded in lawn / And edged with shrubbery -- the brilliant bit / Of Barry's building that's the Place, -- a pair / Of women, at this nick of time, one young, / One very young, are ushered with due pomp / Into the same Inn-parlor -- "_disengaged_ / _Entirely now! _" the obsequious landlord smiles, / "_Since the late occupants -- whereof but one_ / _Was quite a stranger_" -- (smile enforced by bow) / "_Left, a full two hours since, to catch the train,_ / _Probably for the stranger's sake! _" (Bow, smile, / And backing out from door soft-closed behind.)

Woman and girl, the two, alone inside, / Begin their talk: the girl, with sparkling eyes -- / "Oh, I forewent him purposely! but you, / Who joined at -- journeyed from the Junction here -- / I wonder how he failed your notice. Few / Stop at our station: fellow-passengers / Assuredly you were -- I saw indeed / His servant, therefore he arrived all right. / I wanted, you know why, to have you safe / Inside here first of all, so dodged about / The dark end of the platform; that's his way -- / To swing from station straight to avenue / And stride the half a mile for exercise. / I fancied you might notice the huge boy. / He soon gets o'er the distance; at the house / He'll hear I went to meet him and have missed; / He'll wait. No minute of the hour's too much / Meantime for our preliminary talk: / First word of which must be -- oh, good beyond / Expression of all goodness -- you to come!"