Page:The Story and Song of Black Roderick.djvu/14

6 heart.’ And then aloud he spoke, laying his hands upon the yellow curls of his child: ‘This is the golden link that binds the clans. God's sweet love be upon her head, for she hath healed a cruel and evil quarrel between the two houses. Lift up your voices, my comrades, and make ye merry; it is a good deed you have helped in to-day.’

Now, when the guests turned with their laughter and gentle jesting to the newly-married pair, the Black Earl relented not his frown. With scant courtesy and brief goodbye he mounted upon his fretting steed, vowing he could no longer stay. Up before him they lifted the young bride.

‘'Tis a rough place to carry the child,’ wept the sad mother.

But her father smiled upon the Black Earl.

‘Where but upon his heart should she rest? Is that not so, my son?’

‘If it be not cold,’ muttered the sullen bridegroom, drawing his rein.

‘Wrap thy cloak about her,’ cried the father, waving farewell.