‘Over the hills and the wastes! Why, the folk there are savage and wild as beasts.’

She dropped her hand upon her axe with a laugh of some scorn.

‘I fear neither man nor beast; some few fear me.’ And then she told strange tales of fierce attack and defence, and of the bold free huntress life she had led.

Her words came a little slowly and deliberately, as though she spoke in a scarce familiar tongue; now and then she hesitated, and stopped in a phrase, as though for lack of some word.

She became the centre of a group of listeners. The interest she excited dissipated, in some degrees, the dread inspired by the mysterious voices. There was nothing ominous about this young, bright, fair reality, though her aspect was strange.

Little Rol crept near, staring at the stranger with all his might. Unnoticed, he softly stroked and patted a corner of her soft white robe that reached to the floor in ample folds. He laid his cheek against it caressingly, and then edged up close to her knees.

‘What is your name?’ he asked.

The stranger’s smile and ready answer, as she looked down, saved Rol from the rebuke merited by his unmannerly question.

‘My real name,’ she said, ‘would be uncouth to your ears and tongue. The folk of this country have given me another name, and from this’ (she laid her hand on the fur robe) ‘they call me “White Fell.”’

Little Rol repeated it to himself, stroking and patting as before. ‘White Fell, White Fell.’

The Fair face, and soft, beautiful dress pleased Rol. He knelt up, with his eyes on her face and an air of uncertain determination, like a robin’s on a door-step, and plumped his elbows into her lap with a little gasp at his own audacity.

‘Rol!’ exclaimed his aunt; but, ‘Oh, let him!’ said White Fell, smiling and stroking his head; and Rol stayed.

He advanced farther, and panting at his own adventurousness in the face of his aunt’s authority, climbed up on to her knees. Her welcoming arms hindered any protest. He nestled happily, fingering the axe head, the ivory studs in her girdle, the ivory clasp at her throat, the plaits of fair hair; rubbing his head against the softness of her fur-clad shoulder, with a child’s full confidence in the kindness of beauty.

White Fell had not uncovered her head, only knotted the pendant fur loosely behind her neck. Rol reached up his hand towards it, whispering her name to himself, ‘White Fell, White Fell,’ then slid his arms round her neck, and kissed her—once—twice. She laughed delightedly, and kissed him again.

‘The child plagues you?’ said Sweyn.

‘No, indeed,’ she answered, with an earnestness so intense as to seem disproportionate to the occasion.

Rol settled himself again on her lap, and began to unwind the bandage bound round his hand. He paused a little when he saw where the blood had soaked through; then went on till his hand was bare and the cut displayed, gaping and long, though only skin deep. He held it up towards White Fell, desirous of her pity and sympathy.

At sight of it, and the blood-stained linen, she drew in her breath suddenly, clasped Rol to her—hard, hard—till he began to struggle. Her face was hidden behind the boy, so that none could see its expression. It had lighted up with a most awful glee.