does it foretell?"

'"The Gods that made it may know. Last time it spoke was at Hastings, when
I lost all my lands. Belike it sings now that I have new lands and am a
man again," said Hugh.

'He loosed the blade a little and drove it back happily into the sheath,
and the sword answered him low and crooningly, as--as a woman would speak
to a man, her head on his shoulder.

'Now that was the second time in all my life I heard this Sword sing.'...

'Look!' said Una. 'There's mother coming down the Long Slip. What will she
say to Sir Richard? She can't help seeing him.'

'And Puck can't magic us this time,' said Dan.

'Are you sure?' said Puck; and he leaned forward and whispered to Sir
Richard, who, smiling, bowed his head.

'But what befell the sword and my brother Hugh I will tell on another
time,' said he, rising. 'Ohe, Swallow!'

The great horse cantered up from the far end of the meadow, close to
mother.

They heard mother say: 'Children, Gleason's old horse has broken into the
meadow again. Where did he get through?'

'Just below Stone Bay,' said Dan. 'He tore down simple flobs of the bank!
We noticed it just now. And we've caught no end of fish. We've been at it
all the afternoon.'

And they honestly believed that they had. They never noticed the Oak, Ash,
and Thorn leaves that Puck had slyly thrown into their laps.

SIR RICHARD'S SONG

_I followed my Duke ere I was a lover,_
_To take from England fief and fee;_
_But now this game is the other way over--_
_But now England hath taken me!_

_I had my horse, my shield and banner,_
_And a boy's heart, so whole and free;_
_But now I sing in another manner--_
_But now England hath taken me!_

_As for my Father in his tower,_
_Asking news of my ship at sea;_
_He will remember his own hour--_
_Tell him England hath taken me!_

_As for my Mother in her bower,_
_That rules my Father so cunningly;_
_She will remember a maiden's power--_
_Tell her England hath taken me!_

_As for my Brother in Rouen city,_
_A nimble and naughty page is he;_
_But he will come to suffer and pity--_
_Tell him England hath taken me!_

_As for my little Sister waiting_
_In the pleasant orchards of Normandie;_
_Tell her youth is the time for mating--_
_Tell her England hath taken me!_

_As for my Comrades in camp and highway,_
_That lift their eyebrows scornfully;_
_Tell them t