CHAPTER XXIV.

A Dreaded Event.

We can better understand the situation in which the princess found herself on the day set apart for the wedding by a consideration of the manner in which she spent the interval between the departure and return of the invading army. Her royal suitor was scarcely out of sight of the castle than she began to upbraid herself for promising to marry him under any circumstances whatever. Of course the promise would signify nothing if Trahaiarn should return in time to claim her for his own, but the hope of her ever seeing him again hung on a very slender thread. What then should she do? For hours she wrestled with her trouble alone, seeking no divine help, yielding to no suggestion of her maid. But towards evening finding her burden unbearable, she betook herself to the small oratory adjoining the royal chapel, and sank in the extreme agony of her heart before an image of St. Winifred, who, despite the increasing popularity of the Virgin Mary, was still in great favor as a patroness of Gwynedd. Alone and in the anguish of her spirit she poured out her complaint,

and besought the saint to cause the return of her betrothed if he was still living, or if he was dead to give her strength to pass through the ordeal awaiting her. Conscious as she was of her passionate nature she was afraid that in a weak moment she might yield to an impulse wholly inconsistent with the promise she had made, and therefore she urged her second petition with more earnestness and persistence than she did the other. At length feeling much relieved, and believing that the help she so much needed would be given her she returned to her room, and ere long was fast asleep.

On the following day she was much improved in spirits and in looks, and during the next three weeks the queen found her applying herself to the work of preparation for the wedding with far greater vim and interest than she had thought possible under the circumstances. Like all the ladies of rank in England and Wales at that time Nest had not been above learning such domestic accomplishments as were at a latter date considered fit only for women of the middle and lower classes. Being an adept at carding wool, spinning, weaving, sewing, and embroidery, her deft hands had

produced many a fine article which would now be called into requisition as a part of her wedding outfit. Among other things she had several gowns, tunics, kirtles, and mantles of home-made linen or woolen cloth, with flowers, animals, stars, and historical subjects worked on them in embroidery. These articles were of different colors and of a quality that distinguished people of rank from those who were socially their inferiors. A lady of humble station would have considered herself wellprovided for her marriage had she no more in her trousseau than the princess already had, but Nest, and especially the queen, thought the rank of the prospective bridegroom demanded a larger outfit. Accordingly, the queen's hall was soon converted into a veritable workshop, with looms and needles in full operation. While the coarser work was consigned to the maids on this occasion, the princess and her mother devoted their attention to two court dresses, one of scarlet and the other of purple. These colors being in great favor among the Scandinavians, the queen was bound to have her daughter clad in a manner agreeable to their taste. Nor did her anxiety to conform to the customs of the people among whom the princess expected to live stop with colors.

"I am at a loss to know what figure would best suit the king," said she looking critically at the dress. "Had I only my own taste to satisfy I would embroider alternate rows of roses and lilies; but some other de

sign may better please his majesty.'

"Methinks a large battle-axe embroidered with yellow silk might be most agreeable to him," said the princess with ill-suppressed sarcasm.

"No, it shall be a ship," said the queen. "It shall be an exact copy of the 'Bison.' Magnus thinks more of his ship than of his battle-axe.. I saw it the other day at Conwy. In your father's fleet there is not one like it. It has more than thirty banks of rowers. There was a great buffalo head on the bow, and its tail on the stern-post. Both the head and the tail together with the sides of the ship were gilded over, and therefore can be worked with yellow silk or gold thread."

"That might please the vanity of the king," said Nest, "but I fear his court would mistake the dress for a chart, and me for a fool. No, flowers or birds, or nothing for me."

It was a fortunate circumstance that the queen's chamberlain appeared at this juncture announcing. the desire of a Saxon peddlar to show the ladies of the court a large assortment of dress goods direct from London and Paris. The queen's mind was thus diverted from a subject that might have resulted in a quarrel.

"Bring him in," said she, "that we might examine his bundle. Like as not he has never seen either London or Paris, much less his' goods."

"Your majesty shall judge for yourself as to the genuineness of my goods," said the peddlar now entering the room and proceeding at once to open his pack. Then while Al

dyth and Nest with their attendants crowded him and uttered exclamations of delight at what they saw, he held up one piece of goods after another for their inspection.

"This," said he, "was made for royalty to wear. It is the best piece of cendal that ever saw an English loom."

"I have seen better," said the queen. "Have you no foreign cloth?"

"I have, royal madam, and such. as your exquisite taste cannot help admiring," said the peddlar, spreading his imported goods before the delighted gaze of the ladies. "This is a Russian damask in silk and gold, just what your majesty needs, if I may presume to say so. And here is a fine specimen of Sicilian silk of the most approved pattern. You would search the reals in vain for such another piece. I have but a few yards left."

"Then have those to whom you sold the rest left the kingdom?" asked Nest, thinking that the peddlar's words did not hold well together.

"They were never in it to my knowledge," was the prompt reply. "All but this remnant was sold in England. The first piece I sold to the lady of England, who, you know, is the wife of King Edward, and the last piece was bought by the wife of the young Earl Morcar."

The queen allowed the reference to her brother's wife to pass unnoticed, and finding that the remnant would be a valuable addition to the princess' outfit, she bought it after a successful attempt to beat

down the price. Nest also was permitted to buy such minor articles as she needed, including a supply of gold thread.

Upon the peddlar's departure the ladies resumed their work, and soon were engaged in an animated conversation touching the merits of the various cloths they had seen. Glad would the maids have been to become the possessors of some of the fine specimens of goods which the peddlar had displayed, but according to the custom of the Welsh court they had to be content to wear the clothes discarded by the queen and princess.

During the excitement attending the preparations for the wedding Nest's mind as well as her handswere too busy to allow her to indulge in melancholy reflections, but the busiest time was scarcely over before she again began to show signsof sadness. Repeated visits to the oratory no longer brought her relief. Each day increased her repugnance for an alliance in the anticipation of which her heart had never taken any delight. While in this mood shesought the confessional, which differed but little from that in Catholic use to-day.

"Holy father," said she kneeling before one of the openings and addressing the king's chaplain, "I have been sore pressed of late, and in my distress I have offended St. Winifred, so that she no longer intercedes for me."

"That is bad, my bad!" was the reply.

child, that is "But what is

the nature of thy offense? Tell me that."

"I know not, holy father, unless it be that I have wished that the King of Norway would be slain during this campaign."

"And is not that enough to offend even God himself? Is he not to be thy husband, and is it not a sin to rebel against God's will as well as to wish evil to those who love us?" Choked with sobs and blinded with tears the princess made no immediate reply; but presently she said with an effort,

"I do not want to marry him, nor do I wish to break my promise; yet I know that if I become his wife I shall be forever miserable."

"I am sorry for thee, my child; yet I will not encourage thee in rebellion against what is a plain, though painful duty. Repent of thy sins and face the inevitable with the courage of a true Christian. God wills that thou bear this burden, which the hand of providence has laid on thy shoulders, to his honor and glory and the salvation of thy -soul."

"Then forgive my sins, holy father, and aid me with your prayers that I might do my duty."

"May the Lord absolve thee. I will certainly offer prayers in thy 'behalf."

The princess now left the chapel in which stood the confessional, and returned to her room somewhat strengthened in her purpose to perform a painful obligation.

During her absence word had reached the castle of the approach

of the two kings with their forces, and upon entering her room she learned the news from her maid. There had been times in her life when she would have hailed the news with joy; but for reasons which were far too vivid to her mind she felt no inclination as of old to mount the tower and witness the arrival of the army. Nor did she later, owing to a severe headache, permit Magnus to see her.

The circumstance which debarred the lover from seeing the princess was no obstacle to the father, for not long after his return Gryffydd entered Nest's room with fatherly greeting and tidings of joy. He said he was sorry she could not see Magnus, for he had talked about her all the way home. He also spoke in complimentary terms of his military qualifications and exploits. Nor did he forget to mention the successful manner in which the allied forces had invaded England far into the interior, and that they would have forced their way to the heart of London had not Harold persuaded Edward to restore Algar again to his favor, and his own estates, and to offer satisfactory terms to Magnus. All this, however, failed to interest the princess, although she tried to master herself sufficiently to appear pleased at what he said.

Returning to the hall Gryffydd soon found himself and his prospec. tive son-in-law the center of a large group of courtiers, and the most of the night was spent in the hall amidst feasting and drinking. Early the next morning as the festivities

were being renewed the king's the king's servants applied themselves to the work of decoration, a work that would have been previously attended to had it been known when the roval warriors would return. All the prominent rooms were adorned with wreaths and festoons, and arches of evergreen were erected in the court-yard and over the approaches to the castle. The chapel was also decorated with flowers and evergreens. Nor was the larder neglected, it being decorated with beef, mutton, and fowl in immense quantities.

While these necessary preparations were going on Nest was trying to compose herself for an interview with Magnus. Though she would have been glad to forego this ordeal she tried to persuade herself that the sooner she began to make the acquaintance of her future husband the better, since providence had meant them for each other. She was still struggling with herself when she was summoned to the queen's hall to meet Magnus. Being as brave as she was passionate she went immediately to the king, who received her with a most pleasant smile, and helped her to a divan beside him. They were both somewhat embarassed, yet each was determined to make the best of the situation. Magnus had the advantage over Nest, however, in that he was aided by love. The princess was to him the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and as he led her to the divan the touch of her hand sent a thrill through his

whole being. Yet what was to him. an extreme pleasure was to the princess anything but a pleasure.. Her repugnance did not, as she had, hoped it would, give way to a more favorable feeling. But she did herutmost to conceal it under an effort. to be at least civil if not responsive;. and though the conversation between them related to their marriage the princess behaved in a manner much to her credit. Once only did her repugnance threaten to destroy her self-control, namely, when Magnus bent over and kissed her. But she wisely cut the interview short. at this point, on the plea that her headache had returned.

"I am sorry, love, that the wedding cannot take place to-night," said the king as they parted. "But I will not insist further since it is the custom. of your people to marry in the morning. May time drive his chariot a little faster to-night than is his wont,. and may the saints give you sweet rest and happy dreams. But why must you hasten?"

"I wish it were otherwise, but I must go," was the hasty reply. "Then good-by love, till we meet. again," said the king.

The princess made a faint response and hastened from the room, while Magnus disappointed at the shortness of the interview, but consoling: himself that before long this bewitching bit of humanity would be under his absolute control, returned to the festive hall accompanied by his interpreter. He had no idea of the supreme effort that the interview had cost his intended bride, or of the new