wing of a bird. The Little Sage got off the Slight Red Steed. "Now," said he,
"you're both young, and I'm an old man and it would be fitting for you to do
my day's work before you call upon me to do anything for you. Now would you,"
said he to the King of Ireland's Son, "take this spade in your hand and go
into the garden and dig my potatoes for me? And would you," said he to
Fedelma, "sit down at the quern-stone and grind the wheat for me?"

The King of Ireland's Son went into the garden and Fedelma sat at the quern-
stone that was just outside the door; he dug and she ground while the Little
Sage sat at the fire looking into a big book. And when Fedelma and the King's
Son were tired with their labor he gave them a drink of buttermilk.

She made cakes out of the wheat she had ground and the King's Son washed the
potatoes and the Little Sage boiled them and so they made their supper. Then
the Little Sage of the Mountain melted lead and made two rings; and one ring
he gave to Fedelma to give to the King's Son and one he gave to the King's Son
to give to Fedelma. And when the rings were given he said, "You are betrothed
for your marriage now."

They stayed with the Little Sage of the Mountain that night, and when the sun
rose they left the house that was thatched with the great wing of a bird and
they turned towards the Meadow of Brightness and the Wood of Shadows that were
between them and the King of Ireland's domain. They rode on the Slight Red
Steed, and the Little Sage of the Mountain went with them a part of the way.
He seemed downcast and when they asked him the reason he said, "I see dividing
ways and far journeys for you both." "But how can that be," said the King's
Son, "when, in a little while we will win to my father's domain?" "It may be I
am wrong," said the Little Sage, "and if I am not, remember that devotion
brings together dividing ways and that high hearts win to the end of every
journey." He bade them good-by then, and turned back to his hut that was