r much distress, and she
was too well used to strange places to feel lost in these new
surroundings, and she had her own nurse and attendant left with her.
Full of natural curiosity, the child was eager to see everything of
interest near her temporary home, and the brothers were her very devoted
servants, taking her everywhere she wished to go, helping her over every
difficult place, and teaching her to have such confidence in them, and
such trust in their guidance, that she soon ceased to feel fear however
wild was the ascent or descent, however lonely the region in which she
found herself.
Although Wendot continued her favourite, and Griffeth stood next, owing
to his likeness to his eldest brother, the twins soon won her favour
also. They were in some respects more interesting, as they were less
easily understood, wilder and stranger in their ways, and always full of
stories of adventure and warfare, which fascinated her imagination even
when she knew that they spoke of the strife between England and Wales.
She had a high spirit and a love of adventure, which association with
these stalwart boys rapidly developed.
One thing about Llewelyn and Howel gratified her childlike vanity, and
gave her considerable pleasure. They would praise her agility and
courage, and urge her on to make trial of her strength and nerve, when
the more careful Wendot would beg her to be careful and not risk herself
by too great recklessness. A few days spent in this pure, free air
seemed to infuse new life into her frame, and the colour in her cheeks
and the light in her eyes deepened day by day, to the motherly
satisfaction of the Lady of Dynevor and the pride of Wendot, who
regarded the child as his especial charge.
But in his father's absence many duties fell upon Wendot, and there came
a bright evening when he and Griffeth were occupied about the castle,
and only Llewelyn and Howel had leisure to wander with the little guest
to her favourite spot to see the red sun set.
Llewelyn was full of talk that evening, and spoke with a rude eloquence
and fire that always riveted the attention of the child. He told of the
wild, lonely beauty of a certain mountain peak which he pointed out up
the valley, of the weird charm of the road thither, and above all of the
eagle's nest which was to be found there, and the young eaglets being
now reared therein, which he and Howel meant to capture and keep as
their own, and which they purposed to visi
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