Page:The Allies Fairy Book.djvu/84

 I not hear you speaking to the king’s son in the palace to-night? Or has that devil really made you dumb, when he struck his nasty hand on your jaw?”

The girl raised her white, smooth hand,and laid her finger on her tongue, to show him that she had lost her voice and power of speech, and the tears ran out of her two eyes like streams, and Guleesh’s own eyes were not dry, for, as rough as he was on the outside, he had a soft heart, and could not stand the sight of the young girl, and she in that unhappy plight.

He began thinking with himself what he ought to do, and he did not like to bring her home with himself to his father’s house, for he knew well that they would not believe him, that he had been in France and brought back with him the King of France’s daughter, and he was afraid they might make a mock of the young lady or insult her.

At last he thought: “I know now what I’ll do; I’ll bring her to the priest’s house, and he won’t refuse me to keep the lady and care for her.” He turned to the lady again and told her that he was loath to take her to his father’s house, but that there was an excellent priest, very friendly to himself, who would take good care of her if she wished to remain in his house; but that if there was any other place to which she would rather go, he said he would bring her to it.

She bent her head, to show him she was obliged, and gave him to understand that she was ready to follow him anywhere. “We will go to the priest’s house then,” said he; “he is under an obligation to me, and will do anything I ask him.”

They went together accordingly to the priest’s house, and the sun was just rising when they came to the door. Guleesh beat it hard, and as early as it was the priest was up, and opened the door himself. He wondered when he saw Guleesh