after her, and went towards the Castle. When she came there, she
found nothing but mourning, and sorrow; and the Countess in her
chamber could not bear the sight of any one through grief. Luned
came and saluted her, but the Countess answered her not. And the
maiden bent down towards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou
answerest no one to-day?" "Luned," said the Countess, "what change
hath befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief?
It was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich; it was wrong in
thee that thou didst not come to see me in my distress. That was
wrong in thee." "Truly," said Luned, "I thought thy good sense was
greater than I find it to be. Is it well for thee to mourn after
that good man, or for anything else, that thou canst not have?" "I
declare to heaven," said the Countess, "that in the whole world there
is not a man equal to him." "Not so," said Luned, "for an ugly man
would be as good as, or better than he." "I declare to heaven," said
the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to cause to be put to
death one whom I have brought up, I would have thee executed, for
making such a comparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee." "I
am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so, than
that I would have been of service to thee where thou didst not know
what was to thine advantage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of
us shall make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other;
whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine own
accord shouldst send to invite me."

With that Luned went forth: and the Countess arose and followed her
to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And when
Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her; and she returned to
the Countess. "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is thy
disposition; but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it