king's hand in token of homage,
going to his place very glad, for this was what his father desired most
of all.

Then the king beckoned Wislac and gave him also a deed like Aldhelm's,
granting him the lordship of the manor of Goring on the Thames, and that
was a good reward to the stout Mercian, who thanked the king, saying
that he wotted not how his majesty knew what he would have most wished.
Whereupon the king laughed, saying that kings knew more than men gave
them credit for, and so Wislac did homage, and sat down.

Then Ethelwulf looked at Wulfhere, and said; "Wulfhere, my old warrior,
I know not rightly what to do with you, for you are a lonely man, and I
think that a place in my court would not suit you. Nor would you care to
hold a manor in a strange place. Wait a little, and we will think it over."

Now at that Wulfhere looked glad, for I think he feared rather than
desired reward.

Now came my turn, and my face flushed, and I was a little frightened,
for there was but one thing I wanted, and I feared that that might not be.

But the king made a step towards me and took me by the hand, looking
hard at me.

"Heregar," he said, "yours has been a strange story, and from beginning
to end you have been first in this victory that will gain us peace for
many years to come. Moreover you have suffered wrong, being punished for
evil falsely laid to your charge on my account. And that I must show all
men to be untrue, and that I, the king, hold it so. Now shall you choose
your own reward."

Then was I sorely abashed, not knowing how to say what I longed for, and
the king stood waiting a little. And maybe I should never have got it
out, but the atheling looked up, and said:

"May I speak for you, Heregar?"

And so plainly did I see that he knew all, that I asked him to do so,
and he came beside me and said; "Heregar needs but one thing, my father,
and that is the hand of the maiden he loves--Alswythe the daughter of
Matelgar, and your ward since her father was slain."

"Are you so foolish as to ask no more than that?" said the king, smiling.

And on that my tongue was loosed, and I answered; "Aye my Lord the King.
If foolish it be to long for the one whom a man loves, and who loves
him, so that he holds her beyond all other reward."

"Then is your request granted," said the king very kindly. "Yet must you
have withal to keep so great a treasure rightly."

Now I had forgotten that I was landless, and well it