“What shall we do, dear Ainnle?” she asked.
But he had no answer for her, and it was the youngest who replied.
“Let us all run away,” Ardan cried, and his face went suddenly red and his eager eyes shone like stars.
Naoise glanced at Deirdre from under his brows.
“Where could we run to from the king?” Ainnle grumbled impatiently.
“And we do not come of a race that run away,” said Naoise.
Silence fell. But the statement of his own quality had unlocked a door of bitterness in Naoise’s heart.
“Nor will you easily find the girl who will run away from a kingdom,” he continued as though addressing reasonable counsel to his juniors.
Deirdre faced him gravely and lovingly.
“I will run away with you,” she said.