"Surely they are," said the girl, "and we lack no courtesy and due
attention at their hands, but dear foster-mother, my question is
not answered. Maybe it is not to be answered and that I am curious
overmuch. Are all men grim, grave, and austere, wearing rugged
countenances scored with ancient wounds, and bearing each man upon
his shoulders the weight of some fearful responsibility? Are all
men like that, dear Levarcam?"
"Nay, indeed," said the other, "there arc youths too, gracious,
and gay, and beautiful, as well as grave men such as these."
They sat together in their sunny grianan, [Footnote: A derivative
from Grian, the sun. The grianan was an upper chamber, more
elegantly furnished than the hall, usually with large windows and
therefore well lit and reserved for the use of women.]
embroidering while they conversed. It was early morning and the
air was full of the noises and odours of sweet spring-time.
"I know that now," said the maiden, "which I only guessed before,
for waking or sleeping I have dreamed of a youth who was as unlike
these men as the rose-tree with its roses is unlike the rugged
oak-tree or the wrinkled pine that has wrestled with a thousand
storms.
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