ss, my lord."

"I have my dirk," said he, showing the weapon in his belt.

"As well take a hazel wand as that poor thing," said she. "This man in
his late contest with your noble brother has slain a sprightlier
swordsman than yourself, Earl Kenric. Ah, had I but known of his coming,
this traitor had not served our island as he has done! 'Tis true, I
might not have done aught to save the life of Earl Hamish your father,
but had not yon churl Duncan Graham failed me yesternight Earl Alpin at
least might have been spared."

"Now, with what grim sorcery has Dame Elspeth been bewitching you?" he
exclaimed, drawing back a pace.

Aasta's fair cheeks and towering white neck blushed crimson, and she
looked down at the grass about her feet.

"Yesternight," continued Kenric, "in passing through the shadows of the
forest I suddenly encountered a wolf, and as I was about to draw my bow,
lo! the wolf disappeared, and in its place it was you, Aasta, that I
beheld."

"Ah, it was you, then, that appeared?" said Aasta. "Alas, my lord, I
mistook you for one of the Norsemen of Earl Roderic's following, and I
fled."

"Methinks it was a strange fancy that led a maid into the dark forest at
such an hour," said Kenric sternly. "What manner of witchery led you
there? But you spoke of Duncan Graham, and now I mind me that he too
would have gone forth to the Rock of Solitude had I not warned him
against so bold an adventure."

"My lord," said Aasta, growing very red, "there is no man in all your
castle more faithful than Duncan, and I trust that you will deem him no
less true when you know that twice ere yesternight he has held tryst
with me. It was his purpose, had not these misfortunes befallen your
house, to have sued with my lord your father that I might be freed from
the bondage of my thralldom, and if that boon had been denied him, he
would even have purchased my liberty, that I might thus have been more
worthy to become his wedded wife."

"Aasta," said Kenric, "I sought not to draw these secrets from your
heart. And if it be that Duncan loves you and would have you to wife,
then, believe me, it is not long that you shall remain in thralldom."

"God give you thanks, my lord the king," said Aasta softly.

And as the morning dewdrop shines upon the harebell, so shone the tears
of gratitude that filled her deep blue eyes.

At that moment as she turned away the cry of the cuckoo was heard from
the woods, and the girl kissed her h