said, "Leave a little space for me, fair lady. The history
which that knight is reading to you relates to me; and I hear
it gladly."

Before the eyes of Froda, as he raised them from his book, sat
Aslauga in all the glory of her flowing golden locks beside
Hildegardis, on the seat. With tears of affright in her eyes,
the maiden sank back and fainted. Solemnly, yet graciously,
Aslauga warned her knight with a motion of her fair right
hand, and vanished.

"What have I done to you?" said Hildegardis when recovered
from her swoon by his care, "what have I done to you, evil-
minded knight, that you call up your northern spectres before
me, and well-nigh destroy me through terror of your magic
arts? "Lady," answered Froda, "may God help me, as I have not
called hither the wondrous lady who but now appeared to us.
But now her will is known to me, and I commend you to God's
keeping."

With that he walked thoughtfully out of the bower.
Hildegardis fled in terror from the gloomy shade, and, rushing
out on the opposite side, reached a fair open grass-plot,
where Edwald, in the soft glow of twilight, was gathering
flowers, and, meeting her with a courteous smile, offered her
a nosegay of narcissus and pansies.