the maid will remain here beneath our mother's charge for a while,
whilst our father goes forward as far as the Abbey of Strata Florida
with yon stranger, to guide him on his way? The maid will remain here
until her father's return."

"How knowest thou that?"

"I had it from Wenwynwyn's lips. He heard the discussion in the hall,
and it seems that this Lord Montacute would be glad to be free of the
care of the child for a while. Our mother delights in the charge of a
little maid, and thus it will be as I have said."

A strange fire gleamed in Llewelyn's eyes. The brothers looked at each
other a good while in silence.

"And thou thinkest --" said Llewelyn at last.

Howel was some time in replying, and his answer was a little
indeterminate, although sufficiently significant.

"Why, the maid will be left here; but when her father returns to claim
her, perchance she will not be found. If that were so, thinkest thou not
that nought but open war would lie before us?"

Llewelyn's eyes glowed. He said not a word, and the darkness gathered
round the boys in the narrow chamber. They thought not of descending or
of asking for food, even after their day's hunting in the hills. They
were hardy, and seasoned to abstemious ways, and had no room for
thoughts of such a kind. Silence was settling down upon the castle, and
they had no intention of leaving their room again that night. Dark