And when he looked up and saw her he was no longer fierce, but spake to her gently.
"Come hither," quoth he, "my sad-faced bride. I would but ask thee one question. Come beside my chair."
But she answered him not at all, but withdrew from his presence, as though bidding him follow.
Out into the night he followed, and pursued her without rest, till she almost reached the high hill where her body lay uncoffined.
And when they came in the morning to the little grove upon the side of the mountain, she felt a hand touch the poor, unmourned-for dead, and, with a great fear upon her, vanished from his eyes; so he fell upon the moss in his disappointment and weariness.
But the spirit of the little bride flew to the side of her uncoffined body to protect it from desecration ere her lord had looked upon it. And there she saw the little brother playing by the dead.
And as she came he turned and ran down the mountain, for he had heard the voice of Black Roderick calling; so the spirit of the little bride knew her task was done. And of how the Black Earl found her, and of what he said and did, have I told thee; but of how the spirit of the young bride enwrapped herself about the dead I have not spoken, nor of how she thrilled beneath the embraces of her lord, whose love she had at the last.
When he stood beside her deep grave, that was dug in the little church-yard nigh to the castle, her spirit rose again from her body, and knew her hour of trial had come.
And when the grave was closed and the mourners gone, the spirit stayed by the grave, afraid.
When evening came, the spirits of the dead rose in a white mist, each above his grave, and all prepared for their swift and dangerous flight towards the dark heavens.