her by his vehemence before; "I was to
blame myself. I should not have spoken as I did.

"Father, tell them how my tongue is always running away with me. Hast
not thou told me a hundred times that it would get me into trouble one
of these days? It is right that he should love his country. Do not think
ill of him for that."

"Ay, let the lad go now, good friend," quoth Lord Montacute. "No doubt
this little witch of mine was at the bottom of the mischief. Her tongue,
as she truly says, is a restless and mischievous possession. She has
found a stanch protector at least, and will come to no harm amongst thy
stalwart lads. I could envy thee such a double brace of boys. I would it
had pleased Providence to send me a son."

"Nay, father, say not so," cried little Lady Gertrude coaxingly. "I
would not have a brother for all the world. Thou wouldst love him so
well, if thou hadst him, that thou wouldst have none to spare for thy
maid. I have seen how it ever is. I love to have all thy heart for mine
own."

The father smiled, but Res Vychan's face was still severe, and he had
not loosed his clasp upon Llewelyn's arm.

"Say that thou art sorry ere I let thee go," he said, in low but very
stern tones; and after a moment's hesitation, Llewelyn spoke in audible
tones.

"I am sorry," he said slowly; "I am sorry."

And then as his father's clasp upon his arm relaxed he darted away like
an arrow from the bow, and plunged with Howel through a dark and gloomy
doorway which led up a winding turret stair to a narrow circular
chamber, which the brothers shared together.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" he panted fiercely; "ay, that indeed I am. Sorry
that I did not wring her neck as the fowler wrings the neck of the bird
his shaft hath brought down; sorry I did not cast her headlong down the
steep precipice, that there might be one less of the hated race
contaminating the air of our pure Wales with their poisonous breath.
Sorry! ay, that I am! I would my hand had done a deed which should have
set proud Edward's forces in battle array against us. I would that this
tampering with traitors were at an end, and that we warriors of South
Wales might stand shoulder to shoulder, firmly banded against the
foreign foe. I would plunge a dagger in the false heart of yon proud
Englishman as he lies sleeping in his bed tonight, if by doing so I
could set light to the smouldering flame of national hatred.

"What sayest thou? Can we do nought to bring up