“The King must wed.”

“This is no mere choosing of a horse.”

“Sire, you can learn to love. It is not so difficult a thing, no more than falling down upon a bed of roses.”

The retort was in no wise suited to Uther’s humour.

“I am no boy to be married on the moment to cap the reading of a vision.”

“Sire!”

“Bring me the woman I may love, if you are magical enough,—then bid me wed.”

“My lord, you mock me with a dream.”

“Not so.”

“She is dead then?”