r me, I just turned in
my bench end so that my feet were clear of the table, on which my
arm and cup rested, and faced right down the hall, with, of course,
no one at all between me and the steps of the high place. For now
all had taken their seats except one cup bearer, who waited at the
lowest step with the king's golden cup in one hand, and in the
other a silver flagon of good Welsh wine to fill it withal. One
would say that this was but a matter of chance, but as it happened
presently it was well that I moved.

Now, in the hush was a little talk and laughter among those who
were nearest the king, and then I saw the queen smile and speak to
Elfrida, who blushed and looked well pleased, and then rose and
came daintily round the end of the king's board. There a thane who
sat at the table at the foot of the steps rose and handed her down
them to where the servant waited. Ina had asked her to hand him the
cup after the old fashion, she being the lady of the chief house in
Glastonbury next his own. There she took the cup from the man's
hand, and held it while he filled it heedfully. A little murmur
that was all of praise went round the hall, and her colour rose
again as she heard it, for it was not to be mistaken, and from the
lower tables the voices were outspoken enough in all honesty.

Then she went up the steps holding the cup, and the king smiled on
her as she came, and so she stood on the dais before the table and
held out the wine, and begged the king to drink the "Bragi bowl"
from her hands in her father's town.

The king bowed and smiled again, and rose up to take the cup from
this fair bearer, and at that moment there was a sort of scuffle,
unseemly enough, at the lower end of the hall near the door, and
gruff voices seemed to be hushed as Ina glanced up with the cup yet
untouched by his hand.

Then a man leapt from the hands of some who tried to hold him back,
and he strode across the hall past the fire and to the very foot of
the high place--as rough and unkempt a figure as ever begged for
food at a king's table, unarmed, and a thrall to all seeming. And
as he came he cried:

"Justice, Ina the king!--Justice!"

At that I and my men, who had sprung to our feet to hinder him, sat
down again, for a suppliant none of us might hinder at any time. I
did not remember seeing this man come in, but that was the business
of the hall steward, unless there was trouble that needed the
house-carles.

Ina frowned a