To-night I heard some one without,
And rising from my chair
I left my own meek fire's side
And opened wide my door;
One sighing breath of air
Crept in across the floor,
Crept in as glad to be
Safe in the house with me.
'Who's there?' I cried:
No one replied; no one was there.
No one - no beast or body - stirred;
Or wakeful bird.
Each frightened tree
Was frozen stiff and still.
But there above the hill
A gibbous moon made eyes at me
And stars a million more;
And in a sudden tremor I,
Who'd flung that challenge to the sky,
Made haste to close my door.