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152 gracious lady, and thy own courtesy, sweet maid,” he said, hurriedly. “Wilt thou not join me at meat, until the Lady Aastrid comes?”

Maidoch shook her head and took a few more steps to the door. Thorgills was in deep apprehension. Was she indeed a spirit, whom he could never hold? What could he say to detain her? How might he keep her even for a moment beside him? Then he remembered the strongest chord of her affection. “If thou wilt not join me at meat, wilt thou not sit a space that I may ask thee of thy father?”

Maidoch stood quite still. Her father had so strong a friendship for the scald, that now it would be gravely discourteous to refuse to speak of him to his friend. She lifted her eyes gratefully to Thorgills’ face, and as the scald sat down, she too seated herself. Her voice was full of feeling as she spoke. “If thou wilt refresh thyself, Lord Thorgills, I will speak to thee of my father. Thou hast been our friend, and my heart grows sad to see him so ailing.”

Thorgills spoke softly. “Thy noble father is failing fast. It were not true kindness, gentle maid, to tell thee otherwise. Hast ever thought how it may be with thee when he hath left thee? I would I could forbear to speak such words, but, dear lady, I would fain make less cruel the blow when it shall fall.”

Maidoch looked at him in silence. Then Thorgills asked: “Is there aught I can do for thy father?”