u are a good
girl."

"No, I'm _not_," cried Branwen, with a look of firmness, yet of
transparent honesty, that amused her companion greatly; "at least," she
continued in a quieter tone, "I don't _feel_ good, and the queen often
tells me that I am _very_ naughty, though I sometimes think she doesn't
mean it. But when I think of that--that monster and his insult to my
dear Hafrydda, and his impudence in wanting me. Oh! I could tear him
limb from limb, and put the bits in the fire so that they could never
come together again!"

"My dear child," returned Beniah remonstratively, while she paused with
flashing eyes and parted lips, as though she had not yet given vent to
half her wrath, "whatever other folk may say or think of you, you are
good enough in my esteem, but it is wrong to give way thus to wrath.
Come, I will reveal my little secret, and it behoves us to be quick, for
they will soon miss you and send the hunters on your track."

As he spoke the Hebrew led the refugee through his hut and into the cave
beyond, the darkness at the further end of which was so great, that it
would have been impossible to see but for a stone lamp which stood in a
recess in the wall. This revealed the fact that the place was used as a
kitchen.

"That is my chimney," said Beniah, taking up the lamp and holding it so
that a large natural hole or crack could be seen overhead, it formed an
outlet to the forest above--though the opening was beyond the reach of
vision. The same crack extended below in the form of a yawning chasm,
five or six feet wide. There seemed to be nothing on the other side of
this chasm except the wall of the cliffs; but on closer inspection, a
narrow ledge was seen with a small recess beyond. Across the chasm lay
a plank which rested on the ledge.

"This is my secret--at least part of it," said the Hebrew, pointing to
the plank which bridged the chasm. "Give me your hand; we must cross
it."

Branwen possessed a steady as well as a pretty head. Placing her hand
unhesitatingly in that of her guide, she quickly stood on the ledge,
close to a short narrow passage, by which they reached a smaller cave or
natural chamber in the solid rock. Here, to the girl's intense
surprise, she found herself surrounded by objects, many of which she had
never seen before, while others were familiar enough. Against the wall
were piled webs of cloth of brilliant colours, and garments of various
kinds. In one corner was a h