The assembly dispersed. With erect bearing, as of one conscious of rectitude, the maiden walked with the ealdorman and the gerefa. With pale face, Ælfric would have hurried away with Edwy but that Beornwulf interposed. “My Lord Oswald,” he said, addressing the thegn, “see that these men are present during the ordeal. Be thou there also and thy bond-woman who hath testified.” “Aye; I will be there,” answered the thegn. “If it shall be proven that I have wronged the maiden, twice will I pay the were.” “Await the result, and then shape thy action,” said Beornwulf, shortly, and continued on his way with the maiden and the ealdorman. In answer to the knock at the portals of the bishop’s house, the warder declared that the bishop had returned but was at mass. “Then leave we the maiden here,” said the ealdorman, “and seek him at the minster.” “Not yet hath the maiden been proven innocent of the charge,” said the gerefa cautiously. “I would afford no opportunity for escape lest justice be defeated. Should she flee from us, thou and I, brother, must pay the were.” “Are there not bolts and bars?” queried the other. “Let us leave the girl here, and seek the bishop.” It was so decided, and Egwina found herself alone in a room with the door barred awaiting the return of the bishop. Overwrought by the events which had transpired so rapidly, and the excitement thereof, the wearied girl sank down upon one of the carved settles and gave way to tears. Violently at first she wept, but gradually the sobs grew quieter and less frequent until at last they ceased entirely, and, worn out by fatigue, the maiden slept. “She sleeps not as the guilty sleeps,” said the voice of the ealdorman, as Egwina awoke. “It speaks in the maiden’s favor that she hath sought the aid of the church. Mickle do I mislike to see so fair a hand scarred and seamed by the ordeal.” “True,” answered a voice, which sounded sweeter than the softest music in Egwina’s ear, for well did she know it. “True; but better for the hand to be scarred than that the soul be seared with the blackness of falsehood and theft. Time may bring obliteration to the scars of the skin; to the soul never, save through the blood of Him who alone can purify.” Egwina turned and looked the speaker full in the face. “Well hast thou spoken, Denewulf,” she said. “Egwina! is it truly thou?” and the bishop, for he was none other than Denewulf, the swineherd, whom the king had appointed to this position, seized the maiden’s hands. “Dear child, is it thus that I see thee at last?” “It is thus, Denewulf,” answered Egwina, sadly. “Where is Adiva? I knew not that thou wert the bishop.” “Unworthy am I of so great an estate,” said Denewulf, humbly, “but the king hath thought otherwise. Adiva is well and with me. Much will she rejoice to see thee, my child, for little have we known of thee for some time. How comes it that thou art not with the king, but lie in my hands, accused of theft and subjected to the ordeal?”