Even my father will not help
to keep you here."
"But, Elfrida--it was your own saying--" the poor lover went no
further, for he was beyond his depth altogether.
It would seem that this was not the way in which she had spoken to
him when they were alone. So I went to help him.
"We will take care of him, Elfrida," I said, trying to laugh; "but
I think that he is able to do that for himself fairly well."
Then I was sorry that I had spoken, for it was a foolish speech,
seeing that it brought the thought of danger more closely to her
than was need, or maybe than she had let it come to her yet. She
turned into the half-darkness of the hall again, and after her went
Erpwald. The ealdorman and I went to the courtyard and left them,
feeling that we need say no more.
Then through the dusk that horseman whom we had noted clattered up,
and called in a great voice to us, asking if we knew where he
should find Oswald the marshal, and I answered him and went out
into the road to him. And there sat Thorgils, fully armed, on a
great horse that was white with foam, but had been carefully
ridden.
"Ho, comrade! have you heard the news?" he said, gripping my hand.
"Twenty times in half an hour," I answered. "But is there somewhat
fresh?"
"Have any of your twenty told you that these knaves of Welsh have
broken peace with us, tried to burn Watchet town--and had their
heads broken?"
"News indeed, that," said I.
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