“And what brings you here, lads?” He had hardened his heart, and made up his mind to show no kindness to his own kin. The day might come when they might need him; then it would be his turn. “Your father, as we told you, is dead.” “So much the better for him, and the worse for England. And Harold and the Godwinssons, of course, are lords and masters far and wide?” “Tosti has our grandfather Siward’s earldom.” “I know that. I know, too, that he will not keep it long, unless he learns that Northumbrians are free men, and not Wessex slaves.” “And Algar our uncle is outlawed again, after King Edward had given him peaceably your father’s earldom.” “And why?” “Why was he outlawed two years ago?” “Because the Godwinssons hate him, I suppose.” “And Algar is gone to Griffin, the Welshman, and from him on to Dublin to get ships, just as he did two years ago; and has sent us here to get ships likewise.” “And what will he do with them when he has got them? He burnt Hereford last time he was outlawed, by way of a wise deed, minster and all, with St. Ethelbert’s relics on board; and slew seven clergymen: but they were only honest canons with wives at home, and not shaveling monks, so I suppose that sin was easily shrived. Well, I robbed a priest of a few pence, and was outlawed; he plunders and burns a whole minster, and is made a great earl for it. One law for the weak and one for the strong, young lads, as you will know when you are as old as I. And now I suppose he will plunder and burn more minsters, and then patch up a peace with Harold again; which I advise him strongly to do; for I warn you, young lads, and you may carry that message from me to Dublin to my good brother your uncle, that Harold’s little finger is thicker than his whole body; and that, false Godwinsson as he is, he is the only man with a head upon his shoulders left in England, now that his father, and my father, and dear old Siward, whom I loved better than my father, are dead and gone.” The lads stood silent, not a little awed, and indeed imposed on, by the cynical and worldly-wise tone which their renowned uncle had assumed. At last one of them asked, falteringly, “Then you will do nothing for us?”