welcome. Many friends whom I had made
at Exeter were there, and among them, quiet and yet hopeful of
release, were the hostages.

That was a wonderful Yule to me; but I will say little of it, for
the tale of the most terrible Twelfth Night that England has ever
known overshadows it all, though there were things that I learned
at that time, sitting in the church with Harek, at the west end,
and listening, that are bright to me. But they are things by
themselves, and apart from all else.

Now peace was on all the land, and the frost and snow were bright
and sharp everywhere; so that men said that it was a hard winter,
and complained of the cold which seemed nothing to us Northmen.
Maybe there was a foot of snow in deep places, and the ice was six
inches thick on the waters; and the Saxons wondered thereat, saying
that they minded the like in such and such years before. Then I
would tell them tales of the cold north to warm them, but I think
they hardly believed me.

The town was full of thanes and their families who had been called
to Alfred's Yule keeping, and it was very bright and pleasant among
them all, though here and there burnt ruins made gaps between the
houses, minding one that the Danes had held the place not so long
since.

So they kept high feasting for Yule and the New Year, and the last
great feast was for Twelfth Night, and all were bidden for that,
and there was much pleasant talk of what revels should be in the
evening.

The day broke very bright and fair, with a keen, windless frost
that made the snow crisp and pleasant to ride over, hindering one
in no way. And there was the sun shining over all in a way that
made the cold seem nought to me, so that I had known nothing more
pleasant than this English winter, having seen as yet nothing of
the wet and cold times that come more often than such as this.
Then, too, the clear ringing of the bells from every village near
and far was new to me, and I thought I had heard nothing sweeter
than the English call to the church for high festival {x}.

So I went to the king, and asked him if I might take with me the
Danish jarl for a ride beyond the town; for the hostages were only
free inside the walls, and I knew this would please Osmund and
Thora well. I said that I would see to his safety and be answerable
for him.

"This must be Osmund, I suppose," the king said, smiling. "I have
heard how you came to know him and his fair daughter at Wareham. It
was