s tired, or he has seen a fresher face. That is Ulfar's great
fault. He loves too well, because he does not love very long. Can you
not forget him?"

"No."

"You must have other lovers?"

"No. I never had a lover until Ulfar wooed me. I will have none after
him. I shall love him until I die."

"What folly!"

"Perhaps. I am only a foolish child. If I had been wise and clever, he
would not have left me. It is my fault. Do you believe he will ever
come to Seat-Ambar again?"

"I do not think he will. It is best to tell you the truth. My dear, I
am truly sorry for you! Indeed I am, Aspatria!"

The girl had covered her face with her thin white hands. Her attitude
was so hopeless that it brought the tears to Lady Redware's eyes.
Hoping to divert her attention, she said,--

"Who called you Aspatria?"

"It was my mother's name. She was born in Aspatria, and she loved the
place very much."

"Where is it, child? I never heard of it."

"Not far away, on the sea-coast,--a little town that brother Will says
has been asleep for centuries. Such a pretty place, straggling up the
hillside, and looking over the sea. Mother was born there, and she is
buried there, in the churchyard. It is such an old church, one
thousand years old! Mother said it was built by Saint Kentigern. I
went there to pray last week, by mother's grave. I thought she might
hear me, and help me to bear the suffering."

"You poor child! It is shameful of Ulfar!"

"He is not to blame. Will told me that it was a poor woman who
couldn't keep what she had won."

"It was very brutal in Will to say such a thing."

"He did not mean it unkindly. We are plain-spoken people, Lady
Redware. Tell me, as plainly as Will would tell me, if there is any
hope for me. Does Ulfar love me at all now?"

"I fear not."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure."

"Thank you. Now I will go." She put out her hands before her, as if
she was blind and had to feel her way; and in answer to all Lady
Redware's entreaties to remain, to rest, to eat something, she only
shook her head, and stumbled forward. Brune saw her coming. He was
standing by the horses, but he left them, and went to meet his sister.
Her misery was so visible that he put her in the saddle with fear. But
she gathered the reins silently, and motioned him to proceed; and
Aspatria's last sad smile haunted Lady Redware for many a day. Long
afterward she recalled it with a sharp gasp of pity and annoyance. It
was such a p