"Yes, dear youth," answered Froda; "your marriage-dance has
been honoured by the presence of the most exalted beauty which
has been ever beheld in any land. Ah! and if I rightly
understood her meaning, you will never more see me stand
sighing and gazing upon the ground. But hardly dare I hope
it. Now good-night, dear Edchen, good-night. As soon as I
may I will tell you all."




CHAPTER IX.



The light and joyous dreams of morning still played round
Edwald's head when it seemed as though a clear light
encompassed him. He remembered Aslauga, but it was Froda,
the golden locks of whose helmet shone now with no less sunny
brightness than the flowing hair of his lady. "Ah!" thought
Edwald in his dream, "how beautiful has my brother-in-arms
become!" And Froda said to him, "I will sing something to
you, Edchen; but softly, softly, so that it may not awaken
Hildegardis. Listen to me.


"'She glided in, bright as the day,
There where her knight in slumber lay;
And in her lily hand was seen