"A charming legend truly!" exclaimed Lady Rosamond, "and right well told. Shame upon me to have presumed to live thus long without acquainting myself with so pretty a tale, save in such shreds and scattered fragments as my maids have at times let fall! Well, look you, sweet Primrose, should we both be alive at this same time next year, nothing shall content me but Sir Ivor shall perforce convey us both on Midsummer Eve to yon farmhouse of Glyn Melen, where we will obtain a night's lodging, stealing forth at midnight to prove the truth of your tale. And should it prove false, I bid you beware of my lord's vengeance, for I shall hardly persuade him to undertake such a fool's errand, such scorn thinks he of all 'old wives' fables,' as he must needs call them! And should we drag him forth at dead of night for nought, I tremble even now to think what satire we must endure at his hands, and for very shame and fear I shall lay all the blame on you, I promise you!" "I will bear willingly your share and my own likewise," answered Primrose eagerly, "an you can but prevail upon Sir Ivor to grant your request; an the fairy maiden will not rise at our bidding, we shall yet have seen enough to make his wrath well worth enduring, for the scenery by night will be grand enough to repay us, and we would have right good fun, I doubt not." "Well, it is a bargain," said Lady Rosamond. "An you can prevail upon your good foster-father to entrust you again to my keeping, with as much ease as I shall cajole my liege lord into accompanying us, 'twill be arranged without great trouble! You will not believe it, fair Shanno, of one so grave and stately, but I have but to put my arms round his neck and whisper in his ear, and I might ask for a kingdom! I wish you may have as good a husband as mine! I marvel at times to think you are not already wed. So fair as you are, you must needs ere now have made havoc of many hearts!" "I trust not," said Primrose, with a blush. "That would seem to me but a sorry ambition; and must that be the forfeit poor men must needs pay for looking on my face, I would fain dwell unseen in the valley, as now, all my days!" "Fie, thou art over serious, child," said Lady Rosamond with a laugh. "An aching heart is the forfeit men must ever pay to beauty such as yours! You will get used to the thought in time, I warrant you. Confess now; have you never yet set one aching, to the best of your knowledge?" "I know of none," answered Primrose demurely. "Truly there were some three or four stalwart youths from the farms near by, who awhile ago would pass me on the bridge, and sigh, and clasp their hand to their heart as they went by, and who moreover were bold enough to ask my hand--not of me, for that they dare not!--but of my foster-father; but methinks I need feel no sorrow on their behalf, since they have all since repented of their folly, and married sweethearts of their own way of life. And as for others,