lads has already beaten me at most things."

"You mean Bladud?" returned the king.

"Dromas is only so far right," interposed the prince. "It is true that
where mere brute force is required I usually have the advantage, but
where grace and speed come into play I am lost."

Of course Dromas would not admit this, and of course Hafrydda's fair
cheeks were crimsoned when the youth, accidentally looking up, caught
the princess accidentally gazing at him; and, still more of course, the
king, who was sharp as a needle in such matters, observed their
confusion and went into a loud laugh, which he declared was only the
result of merry thoughts that were simmering in his brain.

The reception was to be held in the large hall of the palace. No ladies
were to be presented, for it must be remembered that these were
barbarous times, and woman had not yet attained to her true position!
Indeed, there was to be no ceremony whatever--no throne, no crown, no
gold-sticks in waiting or other sticks of any kind. It was to be a sort
of free-and-easy conversazione in the presence of the royal family,
where, just before the sports began, any one who was moved by that
ambition might hold personal intercourse with the king, and converse
with him either on the affairs of State, or on private matters, or
subjects of a more light and social kind--such as the weather.

At the appointed hour--which was indicated by that rough and ready but
most natural of sun-dials, the shadow of a tree falling on a certain
spot--the royal family adjourned to the large hall, and the
unceremonious ceremony began.

First of all, on the doors being thrown open a crowd of nobles--or
warriors--entered, and while one of them went to the king, and began an
earnest entreaty that war might be declared without delay against a
certain chief who was particularly obnoxious to him, another sauntered
up to the princess and began a mild flirtation in the primitive manner,
which was characteristic of the sons of Mars in that day--to the
unutterable jealousy of Dromas, who instantly marked him down as a fit
subject for overwhelming defeat at the approaching games. At the same
time the family doctor paid his respects to the queen and began to
entertain her with graphic accounts of recent cases--for doctors had no
objection to talking "shop" in those days.

We have said that no ladies were admitted to places of public
importance, such as grand-stands or large halls, but we ha