Now all eyes turned to see who spoke, and in a moment Odda rose up hastily and went down the long room till he came to where the man stood. Then I was amazed, for the ealdorman went on one knee before him, and said: "Good my lord, I knew not that you were here among the crowd. I pray you come to the high seat." "When will you remember that titles and high places are no longer pleasing to me?" the man said wearily. "I tire of them all. Rise up, Odda, my friend, and let me be." "I will not rise without your blessing, nevertheless," said the ealdorman. Whereon the man spoke a few words to him softly and quickly, signing with his hand crosswise over him. Then I said to those about me, who were watching all this in silence: "Who is this strange man?" "It is Neot the holy, King Alfred's cousin," one answered, whispering. "That is a strange dress for an atheling," I said; but they hushed me. Now it seemed that Odda tried again to draw this Neot to the high table, but he would not come. Then I said to old Thord, who sat over against me beyond Odda's empty chair: "This is foolishness; or will he not honour the king's guests?" But a thane shook his head at me, whispering behind his hand: "It is humbleness. He has put his rank from him, and will not be held as being above any man." Then spoke old Thord: "Maybe he can put his rank away among men who know him not, and that is a good humbleness in a way. But where all know what his birth is, he has but to be humble and kind in ways and speech, and then men will think more thereof than they will if they see him pretending to be a churl." Now Thord's voice was rough with long years of speaking against the wash of the waves, and the thunder of wind in sail and rigging, and the roll and creak of oars; and as he said this, every one turned towards him, for a silence had fallen on the crowd of folk who watched Neot the king's cousin and his strife with Odda. So Neot heard, and his face flushed a little, and he looked hard at Thord and smiled curiously, saying: "In good truth the old warrior is right, and I am foolish to hide here now I am known. Let me go and sit by him." Then Odda led him to the upper end of the room, and every one rose as he passed by. I drew myself nearer to the ealdorman's place, and made room for him where only the table was between him and Thord, for that bench was full. So he put his hand on my shoulder and sat down, looking over to Thord, and saying with a quiet smile: "Thanks for that word in season, friend." But the old warrior was somewhat ashamed, and did but shift in his seat uneasily. "Ay, ay," he growled; "I cannot keep my voice quiet." Neot laughed, and then turned to me and held out his hand for the king's letter, which I gave him. He ran his eyes over the writing very quickly, and then said: "Here is nothing private; shall I read aloud?" But the thanes fell to talking quickly, and I nodded.