to have been the chance of fortune, and I challenge the noble
knight to meet me again to-morrow in the lists."

At the same time he threw his iron gauntlet ringing on the
pavement.

But Edwald moved not to take it up. On the contrary, a glow
of lofty anger was on his cheeks, and his eyes sparkled with
indignation, so that his friend would hardly have recognised
him; and after a silence he spoke--

"Noble Sir Froda, if I have ever offended you, we are now
even. How durst you, a warrior gloriously wounded by two
sword-strokes, challenge a man unhurt into the lists to-
morrow, if you did not despise him?"

"Forgive me, Duke Edwald," answered Froda, somewhat abashed,
but with cheerfulness, "I have spoken too boldly. Not till
I am completely cured do I call you to the field."

Then Edwald took up the gauntlet joyfully. He knelt once more
before Hildegardis, who, turning away her face, gave him her
fair hand to kiss, and walked, with his arm in that of his
noble Danish friend, out of the hall.




CHAPTER VII.