Sir Isumbras at the Ford

by D. K. Broster

"'The lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,

And gurly grew the sea . . .'"

And he added, crooning the words to himself:

"'Half owre, half owre to Aberdour

'Tis fifty fathoms deep;

And there lies gude Sir Patrick Spens

Wi' the Scots lords at his feet.'"

"Whatever are you talking about, child?" asked La Vireville uneasily, coming out of his doze.

But Anne went on, apparently fascinated by the words, and not much thinking of their meaning, which had on a past occasion so much distressed him:

"'O lang, lang may the ladies sit,