Explore "A Test" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
'Twas a test I designed, in a quiet conceit / Of myself, and the thoroughly fixed and complete / Satisfaction I felt in the utter control / Of the guileless young heart of the girl of my soul.
So -- we parted. I said it were better we should -- / That she could forget me -- I knew that she could; / For I never was worthy so tender a heart, / And so for her sake it were better to part.
She averted her gaze, and she sighed and looked sad / As I held out my hand -- for the ring that she had -- / With the bitterer speech that I hoped she might be / Resigned to look up and be happy with me.
'Twas a test, as I said -- but God pity your grief, / At a moment like this when a smile of relief / Shall leap to the lips of the woman you prize, / And no mist of distress in her glorious eyes.