employment, however, was not sufficient
to content Brithric, who perceived that King Athelstane was too wise a
prince to listen to artful flattery or to allow any person of his court
to obtain an undue influence over his mind.

"Ah!" said Brithric to himself, "if Edwin were king, I should be his
chief favorite. Wealth and honors would be at my disposal; and as he
believes everything I say to him I should be able to govern him, and
persuade him to do whatever I wished."

Brithric had soon an opportunity of introducing this treasonable
project to Prince Edwin; for King Athelstane sent him with a letter to
the head of the college; and as soon as he had delivered it he paid a
visit to Prince Edwin, whom he found in his own chamber, engaged with
Wilfrid in brightening his arrows.

"So, Brithric," said the prince, "do you bring me an invitation to the
court of the king, my brother?"

Brithric shook his head, and replied, "No, my prince; King Athelstane
has no wish to see you there. Take my word for it, he will never give
you an invitation to his court."

"Why not?" asked Prince Edwin, reddening with sudden anger.

"King Athelstane knows that you have a better title to the throne than
himself," replied Brithric. "He knows, also, that were his valiant
Thames and Ealdormen to see you, they would be very likely to make you
king; for you are possessed of far more princely qualities than the
base-born Athelstane."

The eyes of Prince Edwin brightened at the words of Brithric, and he
grasped the arrow which he had in his hand with the air of one who
holds a sceptre. "Fie, Brithric," said Wilfrid, "how can you be so
treacherous to your royal master as to speak of him with such
disrespect, and to put such dangerous and criminal ideas into the mind
of Prince Edwin?"

"Peace, meddling brat," cried Edwin, angrily; "who asked counsel of
thee in this matter?"

"There are some things which it would be a crime to hear in silence,"
replied Wilfrid; "and I implore you, my dear, dear lord, by all the
love that once united you and your faithful page in the bonds of
friendship, not to listen to the fatal suggestions of the false
Brithric."

"False Brithric!" echoed the wily tempter; "I will prove myself the
true friend of the Atheling, if he will only give consent to the deed
by which I will make him this very day the lord of England."

"Impossible," cried the prince; "you have no power to raise me to the
throne of my father Ed