Let me, ere our noble friend comes, do you the honours of my castle." And grace being said by the vicar, they rose from table, and went first in search of that marvellous underground passage, much used in former times as a means of communication between the three strongholds of Caer Caradoc, Bryn Afon, and Craig Arthur, which latter was a noble and most beautiful castle crowning a wooded height immediately above the river some few miles from Bryn Afon: and at a little greater distance on its other side from Caer Caradoc. "But now," said Lady Rosamond, "it has remained ever unused since the day when the fair daughter of Jack the boatman met within its gloomy walls her untimely fate." "I would not greatly like to travel so many miles below the earth," said Primrose, returning with a shudder to the light of day, after penetrating with Lady Rosamond some little distance along the narrow passage by means of lighted candles. "Fie, you have no courage!" said Lady Rosamond with a laugh. "Methinks you fall short in bravery of your fair relative, who, it would seem, went to her tragic death out of mere curiosity, though, in truth, it seemeth to me also, I must confess, that the curiosity of the bravest of my sex would scarce be enough to lead her into such a place of darkness and horror alone. Faugh! a few yards are quite enough for me! For what would you venture through the tunnel then, Primrose, since the sin of our mother Eve were not a motive strong enough?" "If one I loved were at the other end, methinks I could go through bravely," said Primrose, blushing softly. "A brave answer," said her friend with a laugh. "What will not a weak woman do for love? Yet if my lord were so to try mine, my heart misgives me I should fail him! May he never so cruelly make trial of my constancy! Come, look at the view from this window. See how grandly the cliff sweeps away beneath us, down great depths into the valley. Think how bravely we could level our enemies from us; an they tried to scale these crags to attack us, with what a mighty fall they would plunge headlong down yon steep, while we---- What, thou art pale, sweet Primrose! An you were a soldier's daughter and wife like me, your cheeks would glow and your heart swell within you at the picture. Hark! I hear the bell and the barking of the dogs. My Lady Bryn Afon is arriving. I pray you finish the tour of our castle in our good guide's company, while I greet her. Llewellyn, you will anon conduct our guests to the withdrawing-room, where we shall await them." CHAPTER X. THE LADY OF THE CASTLE. "O, pray you, noble lady, weep no more; But let my words, the words of one so small, Who knowing nothing knows but to obey, * * * * * * * Comfort your sorrows; for they do not flow From evil done; right sure am I of that, Who see your tender grace and stateliness." --TENNYSON.