cool!"

Kate turned quickly towards her. "Let me look at your face?" The
inspection was favourable, it seemed, for she whispered: "It is a comely
face, and no mischief-maker's."

"Fear me not," said Margaret, in the same tone. "I could not be happy
without your love, as well as Gerard's."

"These are comfortable words," sobbed Kate. Then, looking up, she said,
"I little thought to like you so well. My heart is willing, but my
infirmity will not let me embrace you."

At this hint, Margaret wound gently round Gerard's sister, and kissed
her lovingly.

"Often he has spoken of you to me, Kate; and often I longed for this."

"You, too, Gerard," said Kate; "kiss me ere you go; for my heart lies
heavy at parting with you this night."

Gerard kissed her, and she went on her crutches home. The last thing
they heard of her was a little patient sigh. Then the tears came and
stood thick in Margaret's eyes. But Gerard was a man, and noticed not
his sister's sigh.

As they turned to go to Sevenbergen, the dwarf nudged Gerard with his
bundle of parchments and held out a concave claw.

Margaret dissuaded Gerard. "Why take what is not ours?"