Egwina turned with a start. Ælfric the juggler stood beside her. At first the maiden could not recall his name or who he was, when Ælfric, seeing her bewilderment, said: “Thou canst not gainsay thy knowledge of me, girl. Wot ye not that thou and thy father didst make me into a theow?” “Art thou truly the juggler?” asked Egwina, shrinking back from the fierce look of the man’s face. “I am in truth he. Where is thy father!” “Dead,” came from the maiden, faintly. “Art thou alone?” a malignant look came into the man’s eyes. Egwina nodded. “And thou?” she asked. “Art thou still a wite? I hope not. I would have tried to get granther to return and pay the were for thee, but that the Danes oppressed so that there was no thought save for safety from them.” “I needed not your aid,” came from Ælfric. “A freed-man do I stand before thee with help of none save Ælfric. But what dost thou with Edwy’s harp?” “I did but try it;” and Egwina laid it down. “Hast thou none of thine own that thou must try those of others?” “No; I have none;” and Egwina sighed. ”Truly, Ælfric, thou hast had thy desire, and ill hath been our fortune. Dead lieth granther, and alone do I wander without kith or kin. Soon I hope to find some lord to take me for his gleemaiden.“ “Why stayest thou not here?” questioned Ælfric. “I wish not to be in Winchester,” returned Egwina. “Tell me, Ælfric, thou dost not regard me now with hatred, dost thou?” A cruel light shone in the man’s eyes; but he answered: “No; if ye have both suffered, it is sufficient.” Without saying more he left the hall, and Egwina saw him not while she was at the hall. The next morning, laden with many gifts bestowed by the bounty of Oswald the thegn, the maiden started forth, resolved to speedily seek the protection of some lord. She had gone but a little way from the manor, when she heard her name called, and looking back she beheld a bond-woman running toward her. In her hand was Edwy’s harp. “This also hath my lord sent thee,” she cried, her breath coming quickly from the exertion of running. “But the instrument belongeth to the harper!” cried Egwina in amazement. “He hath another for Edwy. Take and question not the bounty of the thegn.” The woman thrust the instrument into the girl’s hands before she could prevent her, and was gone. Egwina stood for a little while regarding the harp with surprise and some disquietude. “I would that the thegn had not done this,” she mused. “I like not to take the harp of a gleeman. I wot not what manner of lord he may be who takes from one to bestow on another. I know not what to do.”