.

"Branwen," said the princess in a remonstrative tone, "is that the way
to speak of your own father?"

"He's a dear old goose, then, if that will please you better--the very
nicest old goose that I ever had to do with. Did he mention Bladud to
you?"

"Yes, he said he had seen him, and been helped by him in a fight they
seemed to have had at the Hot Swamp, but we could not gather much from
him as to the dear boy's state of health, or where he lived, or what he
meant to do. He told us, however, of a mysterious boy who had nursed
him in sickness, and who had somehow been lost or captured, and that
poor Bladud was so fond of the boy that he had remained behind to search
for him. I now know," added the princess with a laugh, "who this dear
boy is, but I am greatly puzzled still about some of his doings and
intentions."

"Listen, then, Hafrydda, and I will tell you all." As we have already
told the reader all, we will not tell it over again, but leap at once to
that point where the princess asked, at the close of the narrative, what
her friend intended to do.

"That," said Branwen with a perplexed look and a sigh, "is really more
than I can tell you at present. You see, there are some things that I
am sure of and some things that I am not quite so sure of, but that I
must find out somehow. For instance, I am quite sure that I love your
brother more than any man in the world. I am also quite sure that he is
the bravest, handsomest, strongest, best, and most unselfish man that
ever lived--much about the same as my father, except that, being
younger, he is handsomer, though I have no doubt my father was as
good-looking as he when he was as young. Then I am also quite sure that
Bladud is very fond of the boy Cormac, but--I am not at all sure that he
will love the girl Branwen when he sees her."

"But _I_ am sure of it--quite sure," said the princess, demonstrating
orally again.

At this there was a slight sound near the door of the apartment in which
this confidential talk was held, which induced Branwen to spring up and
fling it wide open, thus disclosing the lately humiliated servitor with
the blush of guilt upon his brow.

"Enter!" cried the princess, in an imperious tone, looking up at the
man, who was unusually tall and limp.

The servitor obeyed.

"Sit down," said the princess, with a view to get the tall man's head on
a level with her blue indignant eyes. "Have you heard much?"

"Not much," answer