"I know many things," answered the woman, who was really old Wyborga returning from her travels to her own house. "I know many things, and this is one of them--many wonderful things." "Tell us some more of thy wonderful things, good mother," pleaded the little Princess. "Tell us, for we are fond of wonder tales." "Not now, little Princess," answered the wise woman; "go on with your play. And you, little Prince, when you get back home, say to your father the King that Wyborga sends him greeting, and says that the time draws nigh." "What time, good mother?" asked Guthred curiously; but Wyborga shook her head. "A dark time, little Prince, for thee and for thine, of which thou mayst not know now. But remember when sorrow and tears come, as come they will, that manhood and honor are better than a throne. Remember that a prince's word, and the word of every true man, must be kept, though death be the price of the keeping. Prince Guthred, remember this." "Now truly, good mother," cried Wulnoth, "you do speak very hard things; and, truly, methinks you had little need to ask our names, seeing that without being told you have mentioned them all to us." And at that Wyborga smiled again. But then little Edgiva drew close to her, and she again asked her of her wonder stories. "Cannot you tell us even one?" she said; "not one about Odin or Thor and the heroes who dwell in Walhalla? For these are the most wonderful stories of all." "Not the most wonderful, nor the most beautiful of all, little Princess," was the answer. "I know of one far better, far more wonderful, and far more beautiful." And at this they all three asked eagerly what this wonderful story could be. "Oh, so wonderful and so beautiful," answered Wyborga. "The hearing of it turns sorrow to joy, and makes darkness become light, and weakness turn into strength. But you may not hear it yet; for, if I told it to you, you would not understand it. Yet this I promise, that one day you all three shall hear it." "And will sorrow become joy, and weakness strength, and darkness light, when we hear it?" cried Wulnoth. And Wyborga nodded and said: "It will indeed." "But when and where shall we hear it?" the children asked. "Shall we come to you again?" "Nay," answered the wise woman; "you will hear it from other lips, and in another land." "But what shall be the sign that we shall hear it?" asked the Prince, "and how shall we know that it is the story when it is told?" "Because it will turn weakness into strength," said Wulnoth. "We are sure to know then." "And sorrow into joy, and darkness into light," added Edgiva. "Oh, we shall be sure to know, brother."