, but further thee
rather, so that thou shalt make one day's journey of two."

And she put forth her hand to him, and caressed him smiling, and fawned
upon him, and he heeded it little, but hung not aback from them since
they were ready for the road: so they set forth all three together.

They made such diligence on the backward road that the sun was not set by
then they came to Wood-end; and there was the King sitting in the door of
his pavilion. Thither went Hallblithe straight, and thrust through the
throng, and stood before the King; who greeted him kindly, and was no
less sweet of face than on that other day.

Hallblithe hailed him not, but said: "King, look on my anguish, and if
thou art other than a king of dreams and lies, play no longer with me,
but tell me straight out if thou knowest of my troth-plight maiden,
whether she is in this land or not."

Then the King smiled on him and said: "True it is that I know of her; yet
know I not whether she is in this land or not."

"King," said Hallblithe, "wilt thou bring us together and stay my heart's
bleeding?"

Said the King: "I cannot, since I know not where she is."

"Why didst thou lie to me the other day?" said Hallblithe.

"I lied not," said the King; "I bade bring thee to the woman that loved
thee, and whom thou shouldst love; and that is my daughter. And look
thou! Even as I may not bring thee to thine earthly love, so couldst
thou not make thyself manifest before my daughter, and become her
deathless love. Is it not enough?"

He spake sternly for all that he smiled, and Hallblithe said: "O King,
have pity on me!"

"Yea," said the King; "pity thee I do: but I will live despite thy
sorrow; my pity of thee shall not slay me, or make thee happy. Even in
such wise didst thou pity my daughter."

Said Hallblithe: "Thou art mighty, O King, and maybe the mightiest. Wilt
thou not help me?"

"How can I help thee?" said the King, "thou who wilt not help thyself.
Thou hast seen what thou shouldst do: do it then and be holpen."

Then said Hallblithe: "Wilt thou not slay me, O King, since thou wilt not
do aught else?"

"Nay," said the King, "thy slaying wilt not serve me nor mine: I will
neither help nor hinder. Thou art free to seek thy love wheresoever thou
wilt in this my realm. Depart in peace!"

Hallblithe saw that the King was angry, though he smiled upon him; yet so
coldly, that the face of him froze the very marrow of Hallblithe's bones:
an