"Forgive me," he said. "I never can manage to keep more than one
thing in my head at a time. Here was I thinking of nought but that,
until this news came and drove out all else. Don't tell Elfrida
that I forgot it."
"Trouble enough for her without that," answered Herewald. "You
cannot hold back, maybe, though indeed, not one will think the
worse of you if you do so. We must tell Elfrida what has befallen,
however, and she must speak her mind on your doings. Come, let us
find her."
"Do you speak first, Ealdorman," I said, and he nodded and went his
way.
Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He was
long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her maidens
preparing for the morrow.
"What will she say?" asked Erpwald presently.
"I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it will
be hard for her to do so."
"I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it
will not be easy for her to send me away," said the lover, torn in
two ways. "How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?"
"I cannot tell," I said, shaking my head.
For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be a
long affair if once they get among the hills.
"If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be put
off for so very long," I added to comfort him.
Pages:
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364