In them it had grown and grown, as it were, and now I was
disappointed with it. I suppose that it is always so with what one
has not seen since childhood, and for me it was as well. I felt no
shadow of regret for the choice I had made.
So after the foundation was laid with all due rites, I went back to
the king and found him at Chippenham, for he was passing hither and
thither about his realm, as was his wont, biding for weeks or maybe
months here, and so elsewhere, to see that all went well. And I
knew that in Erpwald and his mother I left good and firm friends
behind me, and that all would be done as I should have wished. Ay,
and maybe better than I could have asked, for what Erpwald took in
hand in his plain single-heartedness was carried through without
stint.
Through Chippenham come the western chapmen and tin traders, and so
we had news from the court at Exeter that all was well and quiet,
and so I deemed that there was no more trouble to be feared. It
seemed as if Owen had taken his place, and that every foe was
stilled.
And yet there grew on me an uneasiness that arose from a strange
dream, or vision, if you will, that came to me one night and
haunted me thereafter, so soon as ever my eyes closed, so that I
grew to fear it somewhat. And yet there seemed nothing in it, as
one may say.
Pages:
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287