amiss, brother?" said Withelm.

"Wait," he answered. "I will think before I speak."

I could see that this was not the old puzzlement, but something new and
heavy, so we held our peace. Long was he before he moved or spoke, and
when he did so it was wearily.

"Well knew I that somewhat was to happen to me in this town, even as I
told you, brother, when we first passed its gates. And now it seems to
be coming to pass. For this is what is on me, as it seems to me--
either that I must see the light of day no more, or must live to be a
scorn and sorrow to one for whom it were meet that a man should die."

"Surely the black dream is on you, my brother! Neither of these things
can be for you!" I cried.

"Would that it were the dream, for that is not all of sorrow, and that
also is of things so long past that they are forgotten. I can bear that,
for your voice always drives it away. But now the hand of Alsi the king
is on me for some ill of his own--"

"Stay," said Withelm. "Let us go out and speak, if that name is to be
heard. It were safer."

"Less safe, brother," answered Havelok. "At once we should be kept
apart. Listen, and I will tell you all, and then say your say."

Then he told us, word for word, all that had just passed between him and
the king. And as we listened, it grew on us that here was no wrong to
the princess, but rather the beginning of honour. I could see the
downfall that was in store for Alsi, and I thought also that I saw hope
for the winning back of the Danish kingdom, with an East Anglian host to
back us. And this also saw Withelm, and his eyes sparkled. But Havelok
knew not yet all that had grown so plain to us.

He ended, and we said nothing for a moment.

"Well?" he said, not looking up, but with eyes that sought the floor, as
if ashamed.

"By Odin," said I, speaking the thought that was uppermost, "here will
be a downfall for Alsi!"

"Ay, you are right, brother. I will not wed her."

But that was by no means what I meant, as may be known; and now Withelm
held up a warning hand to me, and I knew that his advice was always best.

"If the maiden is unwilling, wed her not," he said. "If she is willing,
even as the king said, that is another matter. We have no reason to
doubt his word as yet."

"You saw not his face as he spoke. And then, how should the princess
think of me?"

"Who knows? Even Odin owned that the minds of maids were hard to fathom.
But one may find a reason or two. M