“Ethne—it was not Ethne!” exclaimed the Saxon. “And even so—because you see the body of a dead man carried on the saddle of a bard, why should you believe he has been the victim of unholy rites—are dead bodies so uncommon in these days? But it was not Ethne, I tell you!”
“It was Ethne!” returned Cormac.
“Then she has been searching for me,” cried Elgiva, in tones of conviction.
“Ah, poor fool, you will believe she loves you,” said Cormac, contemptuously. “As though Ethne loved anything in the world save her lost possessions in Damnonia.”
“You are a stone, Cormac. Ethne has told me how harsh and unforgiving you were to her at Druimceta,” said Elgiva. “Now you will not believe, though I tell you again and again, that Ethne loves me.”
“If Ethne loves you,” said Cormac, with the same contempt, “then indeed she hath changed, and my opinion may change also.”
At that moment admittance was given them to the vestibule of the mansion. Passing through the atrium they were ushered into a large court; with clustered pillars and frescoed walls—otherwise it resembled one of the ordinary halls of the Britons, for it was hung with wicker shields and rude pikes—a fire of yew-logs blazed in the centre. The big room was full of people; thronged with Bret and Pict and Scot—monks and warriors. There were minstrels, harpers, jesters, clowns with them, their accompanying creatures—beagle and hound and dancing bear; everywhere hopped tame wrens and, here and there, spreading their dark wings on the arms of soothsayers were talking ravens. The usual places of honour were being given to workers in gold and silver, to master-carpenters, and to the healers of mankind—the leeches.
The room was so full that the entrance of Cormac and Elgiva closely cloaked was unnoticed.
Upon a slightly raised platform they could see Ethne standing among her waiting women. They could see her plainly, and hear her voice distinctly. She had but just lately alighted from her horse. Her hair was dishevelled with the wind, and her purple riding cloak was still around her.