espite his
poor attire. He carried some long thing under his arm wrapped up in
cloth which was bound about with twine and sealed every here and there
with yellow wax.

The goodman started up when he came in, and made as if he would have
the newcomer put out, and he muttered: "We keep no house for the
harbouring of runagates." Yet he looked at Osberne withal, for he was
now grown so masterful that nought was done in the house without him;
and the lad stood up straightway and came to the newcomer and bade him
welcome from out the storm. Then he took him by the hand and led him
up to the hearth, and spake to his grandam: "Goodwife, this our guest
has been in rough weather without, and ere he sits down to meat with
us, it were well to take him into the inner chamber and wash his feet,
and find him dry raiment." The goodwife looked kindly on the guest and
bade him come with her, and he went; but ere his back was turned,
Osberne looked on him and caught a glance of his eye, and therewith he
was sure that despite his rags and wretchedness this was his friend
Steelhead. In a while he came back into the hall, clad and shod as
well as might be done in a hurry, and Osberne led him into his own
seat at the board, and gave him to drink; and Stephen withal served
him with all care, so that he was in an hospitable house, save that
the goodman cast somewhat grudging glances on him, but whereas he
might not gainsay all the rest of his household, there was little
scathe therein.

But when the guest sat down, he took that long bundle and gave it into
Osberne's hands, and said: "Thou art so friendly to a gangrel man,
that I make bold to ask this grace of thee also, to wit that thou wilt
heed this bundle, and let none other touch it, and give it back to me
tomorrow morning ere I depart." Osberne yeasaid to that, and took the
bundle and laid it at his bed-head. And therewith the meat was brought
in, and the meal was merry; for now the guest seemed so noble-looking
a man and so cheerful of countenance and so debonair, that none save
the goodman thought any longer of his rags wherewith he had come into
the hall out of the storm. But even the goodman was better with him
presently, when he saw that though he ate and drank like a tall man,
he needed no such abundance for the filling of his maw as did Stephen.

Ere they began drinking the guest said: "I may as well tell you folks
my name, since ye are so good to me, and have not asked for it, a