my lost daughter."

"Indeed I am not by any means indifferent about her; but--but, you know,
I have never seen her, and, to tell the plain truth, my anxiety about
the boy drove her out of my mind for the moment. Have you found her?"

"Ay, that I have; as well and hearty as ever she was, though somewhat
more beautiful and a trifle more mischievous. But I will introduce her
to you to-morrow. There is to be a grand feast, is there not, at the
palace?"

"Yes; something of the sort, I believe, in honour of my return,"
answered the prince, a good deal annoyed by the turn the conversation
had taken.

"Well, then, you shall see her then; for she has only just arrived, and
is too tired to see any one," continued Gadarn, with a suppressed yawn;
"and you'll be sure to fall in love with her; but you had better not,
for her affections are already engaged. I give you fair warning, so be
on your guard."

The prince laughed, and assured his friend that there was no fear, as he
had seen thousands of fair girls both in East and West, but his heart
had never yet been touched by one of them.

At this the chief laughed loudly, and assured Bladud that his case had
now reached a critical stage: for when young men made statements of that
kind, they were always on the point of being conquered.

"But leave me now, Bladud," he continued, with a yawn so vast that the
regions around the uvula were clearly visible; "I'm frightfully sleepy,
and you know you have shortened my nap this afternoon."

The prince rose at once.

"At all events," he said, "I am to understand, before I go, that Cormac
_has_ been seen?"

"O yes! Certainly; no doubt about that!"

"And is well?"

"Quite well."

Fain to be content with this in the meantime, Bladud hurried to the
apartment of his sister.

"Hafrydda!" he exclaimed, "has Gadarn gone out of his mind?"

"I believe not," she replied, sitting down beside her brother and taking
his hand. "Why do you ask?"

"Because he talks--I say it with all respect--like an idiot."

Hafrydda laughed; and her brother thereupon gave her a full account of
the recent interview.

"Now, my sister, you were always straightforward and wise. Give me a
clear answer. Has Cormac been found?"

"No, he has not been found; but--"

"Then," interrupted Bladud, in a savage tone that was very foreign to
his nature, "Gadarn is a liar!"

"Oh, brother! say not so."

"How can I help it? He gave me to understand that Cor