, starting aside as if in fear;
the rider staggered, his stroke passed harmless by, and both steed and
knight fell clanging to the ground before the steadfast spear of Edwald,
and lay motionless upon the field.

Edwald did now as Froda had done before. In knightly wise he stood still
a while upon the spot, as if waiting to see whether any other adversary
were there to dispute his victory; then he sprang from his steed, and
flew to the assistance of his fallen friend.

He strove with all his might to release him from the weight of his
horse, and presently Froda came to himself, rose on his feet, and
raised up his charger also. Then he lifted up his vizor, and greeted his
conqueror with a friendly smile, though his countenance was pale.
The victor bowed humbly, almost timidly, and said, "You, my knight,
overthrown--and by me! I understand it not."

"It was her own will," answered Froda, smiling. "Come now to your gentle
bride."

The multitude around shouted aloud, each lady and knight bowed low, when
the aged duke pointed out to them the lovely pair, and at his bidding,
the betrothed, with soft blushes, embraced each other beneath the green
garlands of the golden bower.

That very day were they solemnly united in the chapel of the castle, for
so had Froda earnestly desired. A journey into a far-distant land, he
said, lay before him, and much he wished to celebrate the marriage of
his friend before his departure.

CHAPTER VIII.

The torches were burning clear in the vaulted halls of the castle,
Hildegardis had just left the arm of her lover to begin a stately dance
of ceremony with the aged duke, when Edwald beckoned to his companion,
and they went forth together into the moonlit gardens of the castle.

"Ah, Froda, my noble, lofty hero," exclaimed Edwald, after a silence,
"were you as happy as I am! But your eyes rest gravely and thoughtfully
on the ground, or kindle almost impatiently heavenwards. It would
be dreadful, indeed, had the secret wish of your heart been to win
Hildegardis--and I, foolish boy, so strangely favoured, had stood in
your way."

"Be at rest, Edchen," answered, the Danish hero, with a smile. "On
the word of a knight, my thoughts and yearnings concern not your fair
Hildegardis. Far brighter than ever does Aslauga's radiant image shine
into my heart: but now hear what I am going to relate to you.

"At the very moment when we met together in the course--oh, had I words
to express