He seemed a young man to be in this desolate place of his own free will, for his black beard and hair were hardly grizzled with the passing years yet.
There was a low wall round the gathering of huts, the gate being closed with a wattled hurdle, lest the pigs should wander.

Here the hermit stopped, and before he opened the gate lifted his voice and cried loudly in the tongue which I did not know.
There was a stir then in the peaceful enclosure.

Out of the huts came in all haste men clad like our guide, speaking to one another fast, with eager faces and gestures.

At that time I counted nine huts, and thought that we need turn out none of these strange hosts of ours.
P Again our hermit cried out, for the rest did not come to meet us.
I saw Dalfin smiling, and asked what it all meant in a low voice.
"I have more than half forgotten the little Latin they taught me at Monasterboice long ago," he answered; "but he is telling them that here we have not a lady merely, but a queen.

It is the first trouble again." Now the brethren consulted, still standing in the hut doors, and at last, being thereto exhorted once more by our friend, they came toward us slowly, as if wishing to show that they had no longing for things outside their island cares.