Birdalone smiled again, and spake not, for she was very weary, and
Atra did the irons on her wrists and her ankles; and said thereafter:
Yet bear in mind that it is a friend that hath the key of these
things. And now I will go away for a little, but I shall be on thine
errands; for first I shall tell the mistress that thou art lying here
shackled and in all wanhope; and next, by the will and command of
her, I am to see that thou be well fed and nourished to-day that thou
mayst be the stronger for to-morrow. Now if I may give thee rede, it
is that thou forbear to open the coffer yonder; for ugly things shalt
thou find there, and that may dishearten thee again.

Therewith she kissed her kindly on the cheek and went her ways, and
the great key turned in the lock behind her.

There then was Birdalone left to herself; and she was over weary even
to weep; true it is that she made a step or two towards the coffer,
but reframed her, and took two of the pillows from the great chair
and turned aside into the other corner, her chains jingling as she
went. There she laid herself down, and nestled into the very wall-
nook, and presently fell asleep, and slumbered dreamlessly and
sweetly a long while.



CHAPTER V. THEY FEAST IN THE WITCH'S PRISON



Birdalone was awakened by the sound of the key in the lock, and the