be?" asked Bladud, somewhat amused by his father's tone and manner.

"Ay, that she is," answered the king. "Beautiful enough to set not a
few of my young men by the ears. Did you not see her on the platform at
the games--or were you too much taken up with the scowling looks of
Gunrig?"

"I saw the figure of a young woman," answered the prince, "but she kept
a shawl so close round her head that I failed to see her face. As to
Gunrig, I did not think it worth my while to mind him at all, so I saw
not whether his looks were scowling or pleased."

"Ha! boy--he gave you some trouble, notwithstanding."

"He has gone away in anger at present, however, so we will let him be
till he returns for another fight."

Gunrig, meanwhile, having reached his town or village, went straight to
the hut in which his mother dwelt and laid his troubles before her. She
was a calm, thoughtful woman, very unlike her passionate son.

"It is a bad business," she remarked, after the chief had described the
situation to her, and was striding up and down the little room with his
hands behind his back, "and will require much care in management, for
King Hudibras, as you know, is very fierce when roused, and although he
is somewhat afraid of you, he is like to be roused to anger when he
comes to understand that you have jilted his daughter."

"But I have not jilted her," said Gunrig, stopping abruptly in his walk,
and looking down upon his parent. "That ass Bladud won her, and
although he does turn out to be her brother, that does not interfere
with his right to break off the engagement if so disposed. Besides, I
do not want to wed the princess now. I have quite changed my mind."

"Why have you changed your mind, my son?"

"Because I never cared for her much; and since I went to visit her
father I have seen another girl who is far more beautiful; far more
clever; more winning, in every way."

The woman looked sharply at the flushed countenance of her son.

"You love her?" she asked.

"Ay, that do I, as I never loved woman before, and, truly, as I think I
never shall love again."

"Then you must get her to wife, my son, for there is no cure for love."

"Oh, yes, there is, mother," was the light reply of the chief, as he
recommenced to pace the floor. "Death is a pretty sure and sharp cure
for love."

"Surely you would not kill yourself because of a girl?"

Gunrig burst into a loud laugh, and said, "Nay, truly, but death may
take