er?" he asked.

"Nothing, there was no need."

Then Relf began to chuckle to himself, and I could not tell why.
But presently he said:

"Did you give the sisters names likewise?"

"Yes, I did. I do not think I should have cared to say what they
were," I answered, laughing also.

He said no more about this, and we came to the hall, and then went
to find Godwine at the ships. But I could not but feel disappointed
that Uldra would not come with us. And that was not all for her own
sake, as I found when I came to turn over my thoughts a little. I
would fain see more of the maiden who had borne peril so well, and
had stood so bravely at my side.

Now when Godwine heard how our errand had failed, he laughed at
Relf's downcast looks and said, scanning my weatherbeaten and
forest-worn garments:

"Maidens love to see warriors go in bright array. She is tired of
those old weeds of Redwald's. We must fit him out afresh in the
morning, and then she will listen maybe."

He was so pleased with this boyish wisdom of his own, being fully
persuaded that he was right, that he and I must ride together to
Chichester with morning light, and find new gear for me.

"We roll in riches since you fell into the pit," he said, when I
would pay for what I had with my last piece of gold. "And you must
keep that one; there are more due to you yet as I think."

Nor would he be denied in this, and it is not a warrior's part to
take an earl's gifts grudgingly. And when I fairly shone in bright
array from head to foot, he must needs add a wonderful round
brooch, silver and gold wrought, with crimson garnets at the ends
and in the spaces of the arms of a cross of inlaid pearl and
enamel, such as one seldom sees.

"It is a Kentish brooch," he said, "so shall men know that you are
a friend of the earls of Kent and Sussex."

That was an earl's giving indeed, but Godwine is ever open handed,
and I am not alone in learning how he will give.

"Now we must go back, and you shall seek this damsel again since
old Relf is so set thereon. As for you, it is likely that you have
had trouble enough with her already, and will care little if she
will not come," he said, and looked me over from head to foot as we
stood outside the chapman's house in the wide place where the four
roads cross in Chichester town.

"My faith!" he added, "I believe that even Emma the Cat would mind
what you told her now!"

"Lord earl," said I, "you will make me vain."

"