"But what was it you did?" asked Aage. Ulrica laughed, and would have told the story, but her sister laid hold of her arm. "Silence, dear Ulrica! here we have him again," she whispered, and Ulrica was silent. Sir Palle had checked his horse, and joined them again. He seemed perfectly to have recovered his self-possession. He assured Drost Aage that he was so far from desiring such captives should be harshly treated, that he even wished it were possible entirely to free them from imprisonment. "I have seen them before," he added, "and had I known who they were, they should not now have been on their way to prison." Shortly afterwards he again rode in between the maidens. "Pitiless Gundelille," he whispered, "speak no more of that cruel story. I meant not to wrong you; had I known you were the daughter of a noble knight, I would have proffered hand and heart, in all reverence and honour, and even now were I so fortunate as to find favour in your lovely eyes----" Without looking at him, Ulrica began to sing, "List ye then, Sir Palle! No wrong do ye to me, When mass is sung and ended, In my car shall ye seated be." "Sing not that accursed song, fairest of maidens!" interrupted Sir Palle; "I will not offend you; but believe me, loveliest of the lovely----" Without heeding him, she now sang aloud, "And then she clad her driver lad In purple robe so rare; In the driver's suit was quickly clad Gundelill', that maiden fair." "Hush! I will not say a word more," interrupted Sir Palle again. "But if you knew how greatly I love and honour you----" The sportive maiden set up a loud laugh, and continued to sing, "Sir Palle then, the wealthy knight, Enters the car full bold, Salutes the driver with delight And in his arms doth fold. "It was the lady Gundelille Who drove into the yard; She laughed, I tell ye, heartily At the jest he deemed so hard." "Ha!~ that jest you shall dearly rue," whispered Palle, in a rage. "You sing sweetly," he said aloud; "remember you the whole ballad, fair lady? If you sing another verse," he whispered, "it shall cost you dear." "Hush, dearest sister!" said Margaretha, in a tone of earnest entreaty; and Ulrica was silent.