a deep and winning spirit, whether it called forth a kindly
sigh or a peaceful smile. It seemed to the noble Froda as if
a younger brother rode beside him, or even a tender, blooming
son. They travelled thus many days together; and it appeared
as if their path were marked out for them in inseparable
union; and much as they rejoiced at this, yet they looked
sadly at each other whenever they set out afresh, or where
cross-roads met, on finding that neither took a different
direction: nay, it seemed at times as if a tear gathered in
Edwald's downcast eye.

It happened on a time, that at their hostelry they met an
arrogant, overbearing knight, of gigantic stature and powerful
frame, whose speech and carriage proved him to be not of
German but foreign birth. He appeared to come from the land
of Bohemia. He cast a contemptuous smile on Froda, who, as
usual, had opened the ancient book of Aslauga's history, and
was attentively reading in it. "You must be a ghostly
knight?" he said, inquiringly; and it appeared as if a whole
train of unseemly jests were ready to follow. But Froda
answered so firmly and seriously with a negative that the
Bohemian stopped short suddenly; as when the beasts, after
venturing to mock their king, the lion, are subdued to
quietness by one glance of his eye. But not so easily was the
Bohemian knight subdued; rather the more did he begin to mock
young Edwald for his delicate form and for his silence--all
which he bore for some time with great patience; but when at
last the stranger used an unbecoming phrase, he arose, girded
on his sword, and bowing gracefully, he said, "I thank you,
Sir Knight, that you have given me this opportunity of proving