perhaps, was such a gathering to pray for relief
for their land, as had not been since those days, far off now, when the
British prayed, in that same place, the like prayers for deliverance
from my own forbears. And as I prayed, looking on the calm face of the
old man who had bidden me take heart and forgive, I knew that last
night's dream was true in this, that I had forgiven.

So when the mass was over, and Wulfhere had begged Alswythe to take
order at once for our going on our journey, I found the old man, and
could greet him with a light heart. And he, looking on me, could read,
as he had read the trouble, how that that had passed, and asked me if
all was well, as my face seemed to say.

I told him how I had fared, and how my outlawry, though still in force,
was now light on me as the sheriff's messenger--though this I thought
was but because, flying with Alswythe, I might as well take the message
as one who could be less easily spared.

Then he said that already he deemed the prophecy that had been given him
was coming true, and spoke many good and loving words to me to
strengthen my thoughts of peace withal.

Presently he looked at our horses, now standing ready at the franklin's
door, and would have me go back with him into his own chamber in the
little timber-walled church. And there he found writing things in a
chest, and wrote on a slip of parchment a letter which he bade me give
to the bishop when I came to him, signing it with his name at the end,
as he told me, though I could not read it, for one who has been bred a
hunter and warrior has no need for the arts of the clerk. Indeed, I had
seen but two men write before, and one was our old priest at Cannington,
and the other was Matelgar, and I ever wondered that this latter should
be able to do so, and why of late he was often sending men with letters.
Yet it seems to me now that surely they had to do with his schemes that
had so come to nought.

Then the old man blessed me, telling me again that I should surely
prosper unless that I failed by my own fault, and that it seemed to him
that there was yet work for me to do that should set me again in my
place, and maybe higher.

So talking with him, Wulfhere called me, and I must needs say farewell
to Turkil and his father, and they bade us return, when the time came,
by this way back to our own place. And Turkil wept, and would fain have
gone with us, but I promised to see him again, and waved hand to him