that _all_?" asked Bladud.

"Yes; that was all he _said_; but--but that was not the end of the
interview! It would probably have lasted till now, if you had not
interrupted us."

"I'm so very sorry, sister, but of course I did not know that--"

They were interrupted at that moment by the servitor, to whom the reader
has already been introduced. He entered with a brightly intelligent
grin on his expressive face, but, on beholding Bladud, suddenly
elongated his countenance into blank stupidity.

"The old woman waits outside, princess."

"Oh, send her here at once." (Then, when the servitor had left.) "This
is the person I mentioned who knows about Cormac."

Another moment and the little old woman in the grey shawl was ushered
in. She started visibly on beholding Bladud.

"Come in, granny. I did not expect you till to-morrow."

"I thought I was to see you alone," said the old woman, testily, in her
hard, metallic voice.

"That is true, granny, but I thought you might like to see my brother
Bladud, who has just returned home safe and well."

"No, I _don't_ want to see your brother. What do I care for people's
brothers? I want to see yourself, alone."

"Let me congratulate you, at all events," interposed the prince, kindly,
"on your having recovered your hearing, grannie. This is not the first
time we have met, Hafrydda, but I grieve to see that my old friend's
nerves are not so strong as they used to be. You tremble a good deal."

"Yes, I tremble more than I like," returned the old woman peevishly,
"and, perhaps, when you come to my age, young man, and have got the
palsy, you'll tremble more than I do."

"Nay, be not angry with me. I meant not to hurt your feelings; and
since you wish to be alone with my sister, I will leave you."

When he was gone Branwen threw back the grey shawl and stood up with
flashing, tearful eyes.

"Was it kind--was it wise, Hafrydda, to cause me to run so great a risk
of being discovered?"

"Forgive me, dear Branwen, I did not mean to do it, but you arrived
unexpectedly, and I let you come in without thinking. Besides, I knew
you could easily deceive him. Nobody could guess it was you--not even
your own mother."

"There must be some truth in that," returned the maiden, quickly
changing her mood, and laughing, "for I deceived my own father
yesterday. At the Swamp he found me out at once as Cormac, for I had to
speak in my natural voice, and my full face was expose