ftly and looked their longings.

"Are these your handicraft?" said Maudlin.

"Mine?" Harding uttered a short laugh. "Not I or any man can make such
things."

"You are right," said Maudlin. "Wayland's self might acknowledge them.
Smith, I will buy them of you."

"You cannot give me my price."

"Gold I know does not tempt you." She smiled and came close beside him.

"Then do not offer it."

"Shall it be steel?"

Harding's eyes swept her flower-like beauty. "Not from Queen Maudlin."

"True. My bid is costlier."

"Name it."

"A kiss from my mouth."

At the sound of his laughter the rose flowed into her cheek.

"What, a bauble for my jewel, too-eager lady?" he said harshly. "Do the
women of this land hold themselves so light? In mine men carve their
kisses with the sword. Hark ye, young Queen! set a better value on that
red mouth if you'd continue to have it valued."

"I could have you whipped for this," said Maudlin.

"I do not think so," Harding answered, and stepped down the river-bank
into his waiting boat.

"I keep my clasp," said Clarimond.

Seven men sprang hotly to their feet. "What's your will, Queen?"

"Nothing," said Maudlin slowly, as she watched him row over the water.
"Let the smith go. This test was between him and me and no man's
business else. Well, he is of a temper to come through fire unmelted."
She flashed a smile upon the seven that made them tremble. "But he is a
mannerless churl, we will not think of him. Which among YOU would spurn
my kiss?" She offered her mouth in turn, and seven flames passed over
its scarlet. Maudlin laughed a little and beckoned her watching maids.
"Well!" she said, taking the path to the castle, "He that had had
strength to refuse me might have worn my favor to-morrow and for ever."

And meanwhile by the further river-bank came Rosalind, with mushrooms
in her skirt. And as she walked by the water in the evening she looked
across to her lost castle-walls, and touched the pennies in her pouch
and dreamed, while the sun dressed the running flood in his royalest
colors.

"Linen and purple and scarlet and gold," mused she; "and so I might sit
there to-morrow among the rest. But linen and purple!" she said in
scorn, "what should they profit my fathers' house? It is no silken
daughter we lack, but a son of steel."

And as she pondered a shadow crossed her, and out of his boat stepped
Harding, new from his encounter with the Queen. He did not glance at
her n