the garden-slopes, and at the entry thereof was come Atra to meet
them; she was clad all in black, a tall, slim woman, with the grace
of the willow-bough in the wind, with dark plenteous hair and grey
hawk-eyes; her skin privet-white, with but little red in her cheeks.
She also greeted Birdalone kindly, but sadly withal. She gave her
strawberries to eat laid on a big kale-blade; and she said: Sisters,
here are we hidden by the trees, and cannot be seen from the house;
therefore we may sit here for a minute or two, while we talk together
as to what may perchance be done for the helping of this unhappy
maiden, who is so fair and lovely, and hath strayed into so ugly a
trap. Then she said to Birdalone: Thou must know, poor wanderer,
that this Queen, our mistress, who is sister to the Witch Under the
Wood, is big and strong, well-made, and white-skinned, so that she
deems herself a Queen of all beauty: keen-eyed is she to see a fly
where others would see nought smaller than a coney; fine-eared
withal; wise in wizardry; not altogether dull-witted, though she be
proud, and crueller than the cruellest. But herein she faileth, that
her memory is of the shortest for matters of the passing hour, albeit
she remembers her spells and witch-songs over well. But other
matters will scarce abide in her head for four and twenty hours.
Wherefore, sisters, if we may keep this maiden out of her sight
(after she hath seen her and given doom upon her) till the dead of
to-morrow night, we may perchance do some good for her; and it is in
my mind that then she may do good for us also.

Now they rejoiced in this word of Atra the wise; and Atra prayed
Birdalone to tell them somewhat more of her story; and she told them
much; but, whyso it were, she said nought concerning the wood-wife,
whose outward semblance was the same as hers. Then they pitied her,
and caressed her; but Atra said: We must tarry here no more, but go