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 which, to Tuirenn, seemed to betoken some hidden enmity. Tuirenn looked at her closely, wondering who she could be; then she glanced at her maids, but they seemed unconscious of the stranger's presence among them, and did not even hear her when she spoke.

"Fair princess," said the girl, "I am a messenger from Fionn, who sends you greetings, and desires to speak with you in the wood yonder. Come with me and I will lead you to him."

Tuirenn wondered as she listened to the girl. It was not like Fionn to send such a message, but she thought that perhaps, for reasons unknown to her, he could not come to the house. She followed the girl from the room, and her women looked up as she passed, but still did not see the stranger.

When they came to the edge of the wood Tuirenn said:

"I do not remember having seen you before. What is your name, and do you belong to the Clan Basna? "

The girl looked at Tuirenn, and there was a wicked light in her eyes as she answered: