"But you'd be a good queen!" Hilde says. "You're kind and honourable and lovely!"

"Hilde!" Adalgoth groans, almost expiring with embarrassment.

"Shouldn't we go in and have dinner?" Athalwin asks, as he finds all that girl talk about queens and marriages less than interesting.

Teja lets out his breath; he is still deeply reddened, and does not dare to even look at Kate.