strange beasts and great serpents and dragons all done on the coal-
blue ground.

When she was so left alone, at first she tottered, and went nigh to
falling; but then came back some little heart to her, as she said to
herself that now she should verily die once for all, and that no long
while would be the passing from life into death. She looked up and
beheld the lady-witch, that she was somewhat like to her sister,
white-skinned and of plenteous golden-hair as was she, but younger of
aspect, and nowise so ill-looked as that other had now become; for
somewhat well-shapen of body she was; but her face forbidding; her
lower lip thrust out, her cheeks flaggy and drooping, her eyes little
more than half open; to be short, a face both proud, foolish, and
cruel; terrible indeed, sitting in judgment in that place on a
shrinking naked creature.

Now she spake; and if there were no majesty or solemnity in the
voice, there was ugly glee and malice therein; but she said to those
damsels: Is this the woman that my keen eyes beheld come aland from
my sister's Sending Boat e'en now? Aurea knelt on one knee, and
said: Yea, so please you, my lady.

Then said the witch: Ho thou! Wilt thou plead some errand hither
from my sister? Dost thou deem me so witless as not to know that if
she had sent thee hither thou wouldst not have come in this plight?
Nay, I know; thou hast stolen thyself from her: thou art a thief,
and as a thief shalt thou be dealt with.

Spake Birdalone in a clear voice: No errand do I feign from thy
sister, lady: when I could bear my life there no longer, I took