Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/229

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HOSTING OF SLIEVE-NA-MAN
189

tell him of his discovery. Finally he determined to go straight up to the house, and walking in through the door, sat down on a curiously-fashioned chair of amethyst crystal just inside. No one appeared to notice him, so he sat still and observed the house and the people in it, the like of whom he had never seen before. On one side of the house he saw a number of men with shining spears and shields, and by each man stood a beautiful woman; on the other side stood a group of gentle-eyed, yellow-haired girls, with fur cloaks reaching from their shoulders to their heels. In the centre of the floor was another crystal chair, like the one he sat on, and sitting on this was a tall, beautiful girl, who played a harp and sang as she played. In the midst of a song she glanced round, and looked at the Fian.

"Caeilté," she said, and he wondered how she knew his name, "your long journey today and the storm has wearied you. Come near to the fire, and good meat and strong ale shall be placed before you."

"That I cannot do," Caeilté replied, "while