“Hibernia shall give me warriors to regain my lost possessions,” she cried. “And Cormac shall help me to my triumph! How soon I am rid of him after I care not!” She threw her arms towards the sky. “Why was I born a hanger-on of the house of Finnfuathairt? Why should he, and not I, be first of the royal line? Ye stars! Help me to power quickly for I am sick of clinging to the skirts of others! All my life long Griffith thwarted me--and yet I was forced to live on his bounty. Now must I have this cub ever at my side, fearful lest at any minute he should play me false and refuse to follow me!” It grew late, but still she remained, wandering up and down the little glade in which she walked. The moon rose; and when it was fully risen she stole away, with a soft, cat-like tread, towards a little clump of oak trees that stood on the fringe of the neighbouring forest. She had not long to wait. Soon her quick ear caught the sound of a footstep--light and cat-like as her own. A man muffled in a Druid’s cloak came quickly towards her. They met in thick shadow--one or two patches of moonlight was all that found their way to them through the leaves, but they showed that the man, beneath his cloak, was clothed in shimmering white. “It is over--you have done it! It was propitious?” It was Ethne’s voice saying these words. She was breathless--quivering with excitement. The man was breathless also, for he had been running. “No--we were disturbed--” “What! you have not divined?” “Listen--we were disturbed--” “You have not divined--you have not divined! What of your promises--did you not swear, last time we met, that you would not come again unless you had done it!” She tore at her flowing hair in her anger. “I tell you I must consult--I must know. There are a hundred things I want advice upon; you are all such dolts and thick-heads--” “But I tell you--it is difficult--we were disturbed.” “Disturbed! but you could wait and begin again!” “We were afraid of discovery--we had to bury the body!” “You had already killed him, then--it was a man!” “Yes.” “I believe now a woman is better. Disturbed! Fools and numb-skulls--then dig it up and begin once more.” “You forget--the body must still be quivering with life, if we are to read aright!” She stamped her foot in anger. “How were you disturbed?” “By the fool Kevin and his monks.” Rage kept her silent for a minute--then she burst forth.