fretty on the floor.

'"Hearken!" said Hugh. "It is my sword," and as he belted it on the
music ceased.

'"Over Gods, forbid that I should ever belt blade like that," said De
Aquila. "What does it foretell?"

'"The Gods that made it may know. Last time it spoke was at Hastings,
when I lost all my lands. Belike it sings now that I have new lands and
am a man again," said Hugh.

'He loosed the blade a little and drove it back happily into the sheath,
and the sword answered him low and crooningly, as--as a woman would
speak to a man, her head on his shoulder.

'Now that was the second time in all my life I heard this Sword
sing.'...



'Look!' said Una. 'There's Mother coming down the Long Slip. What will
she say to Sir Richard? She can't help seeing him.'

'And Puck can't magic us this time,' said Dan.

'Are you sure?' said Puck; and he leaned forward and whispered to Sir
Richard, who, smiling, bowed his head.

'But what befell the sword and my brother Hugh I will tell on another