d Relf. "I had thought that I must
break this matter gently to you."

"Maybe you would have had to do so had I bided at Penhurst much
longer," said I truly enough.

"All the same, Redwald, I wish it were you, on my faith," said the
thane, growing red in his earnestness.

"Thanks therefor," said I. "It is good to hear you say so; but I am
a landless warrior in bad luck, and so it is better as it is. Who
is the man of Sexberga's choice?"

"Eldred of Dallington," said he. "A good youth enough, and with
lands enough. He has never seen a fight, though," and then he
turned on me suddenly, putting his hand on mine. "I could have
sworn, lad, that you were fond of the girl. Tell me if it is so,
and Eldred shall go down the wind like a strayed hawk, for all I
care."

I shook my head, but it came over me for a moment that I wished I
might recall the wandering fancies of the winter days in
Penhurst--but that passed, and I was lonely in heart.

"Nay, thane, that is not so. My sword here is all that I love next
to my king and Olaf my cousin--and Relf the thane. I have no love
for any maiden, nor could Sexberga think twice of me."

"If you had bided a little longer. Well, then, no hearts are
broken, or so much as awry, and that is well. So, as I was saying,
Penhurst will be lonely directly, and already I love this maiden
with the outland name for saving you. How would she take it if we
gave her shelter with us? I am going back home in a day or two, and
you must come with me."

The good thane spoke fast, being easier in his mind, as it seemed,
on one point, and not willing to make any show of generosity on the
other.

"That is a kind thought of yours," I said, being very glad, and not
less so that I could not help rejoicing that I should see more of
Uldra.

"I wonder what my wife would say?" he said thoughtfully.

"If I know aught of her kindness, and I think that I have proved it
well," answered I, "she will be glad to help this orphan maiden."

"Let us go and see her, and ask her to come, therefore," said Relf,
rising up. "I want to thank her, moreover, for saving you."

I was nowise loath, and so we went along under the trees towards
the nunnery. And as we went Relf talked of Eldred, the Thane of
Dallington, and the wedding that was to come. And all the while I
believe that he was troubling about two things that were mixed in
his mind--fear that I was set aside by Sexberga, and a wish that I
had been the bridegroo