she said, as if she had to convince herself also, and yet, as if she were confident of some secret power in herself, and had to put it to the test. ‘Sit down and sing again,’ she called in her high, strident voice.

‘I’m frightened,’ cried Ursula, in a pathetic voice, watching the group of sturdy short cattle, that stood with their knees planted, and watched with their dark, wicked eyes, through the matted fringe of their hair. Nevertheless, she sank down again, in her former posture.

‘They are quite safe,’ came Gudrun’s high call. ‘Sing something, you’ve only to sing something.’

It was evident she had a strange passion to dance before the sturdy, handsome cattle.