rove to keep her gravity, "they are but stupid rogues at worst."

"Nay, but they are sly rogues at best!" retorted the old woman. "The
first that came, took me for a witch, and was moderately civil, but the
second took away my stool and threatened to set the dogs at me."

"If this be so, I will have him cow-hided; but tell me--what would you
with me? Can I help you? Is it food that you want, or rest?"

"Truly it is both food and rest that I want, at the proper times, but
what I want with you now, is to take me to your own room, and let me
talk to you."

"That is a curious desire," returned Hafrydda, smiling, "but I will not
deny you. Come this way. Have you anything secret to tell me?" she
asked, when they were alone.

"Ay, that have I," answered the woman in her natural voice, throwing off
her shawl and standing erect.

The princess remained speechless, for her friend Branwen stood before
her.

"Before I utter a word of explanation," she said, "let me say that your
brother is found, and safe, and well--or nearly so. This is the main
thing, but I will not tell you anything more, unless you give me your
solemn promise not to tell a word of it all to any one, till I give you
leave. Do you promise?"

Hafrydda was so taken aback that she could do nothing for some time but
gaze in the girl's face. Then she laughed in an imbecile sort of way.
Then she burst into tears of joy, threw her arms round her friend's
neck, hugged her tight, and promised anything--everything--that she
chose to demand.

When, an hour later, the Princess Hafrydda returned to the breakfast
room, she informed the king and queen that the old woman was not a
beggar; that she had kept her listening to a long story about lost men
and women and robbers; that she was a thorough deceiver; that some of
the servants believed her to be a witch, and that she had sent her away.

"With an invitation to come back again, I'll be bound," cried the king,
interrupting. "It's always your way, my girl,--any one can impose on
you."

"Well, father, she _did_ impose on me, and I _did_ ask her to come back
again."

"I knew it," returned the king, with a loud laugh, "and she'll come, for
certain."

"She will, you may be quite sure of that," rejoined the princess with a
gleeful laugh, as she left the room.

About the same time, the little old woman left the palace and returned
to the hut of the Hebrew.

Here, as she expected, she found that her escort