It arose tranquilly on his spirit. The voice
of other years visited his soul. His eyes filled--he could have wept in
the very overflowing of his delight. He dashed his hand across his
forehead; but the pageant had disappeared.
Daylight once more shone into the apartment; but nothing was discerned,
save a dark curtain concealing one extremity of the room, and the seer
sitting at his elbow.
"Boy, what sawest thou?" said Kelly, not raising his head as he spoke,
but intently poring over a grim volume of cabalistic symbols.
"In troth, I am hard put to it, Master Kelly. The maid I have just seen
is accounted the veriest shrew in the parish, and one whom no man may
approach with a safe warranty. I am like to lose all hope of wiving, if
this be the maiden I am to woo. And yet"--The form of the comely suitor
he had seen kneeling at her feet just then flashed on his mind, yet
cared he not to show the seer how much the phantom had disturbed him.
"Idle tales?" said Kelly. "I wot not but half the gay gallants in the
town would give the best jewel in their caps to have one sweet look, one
pretty smile from her cruel mouth.
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