The day broke very bright and fair, with a keen, windless frost that made the snow crisp and pleasant to ride over, hindering one in no way. And there was the sun shining over all in a way that made the cold seem nought to me, so that I had known nothing more pleasant than this English winter, having seen as yet nothing of the wet and cold times that come more often than such as this. Then, too, the clear ringing of the bells from every village near and far was new to me, and I thought I had heard nothing sweeter than the English call to the church for high festival {x}. So I went to the king, and asked him if I might take with me the Danish jarl for a ride beyond the town; for the hostages were only free inside the walls, and I knew this would please Osmund and Thora well. I said that I would see to his safety and be answerable for him. "This must be Osmund, I suppose," the king said, smiling. "I have heard how you came to know him and his fair daughter at Wareham. It was well done, though maybe I should blame you for running over-much risk." "I think I ran little, lord king," I said; "and I could have done no less for the poor maiden." "Surely; but I meant that to go at all was over dangerous." "I am ready to do the same again for you, my king," I said. "And after all I was in no danger." Then said the king, smiling gravely at me: "Greater often are the dangers one sees not than those which one has to meet. I have my own thoughts of what risk you ran. "Well, take your fair lady and the jarl also where you will. But the feast is set for two hours after noon, and all must be there." So I thanked him, and he bade me ask his steward for horses if I would, and I went straight to Osmund from his presence. "I think it will be a more pleasant ride than our last," said Thora. "Yet that is one that I shall not forget." Then I tried to say that I hoped she did not regret it either, but I minded me of the loved nurse she had to leave, and was silent in time. Yet I thought that she meant nothing of sorrow in the remembrance as she spoke. We called out my two comrades, for Osmund liked them well, and rode away northward, that the keen air might be behind us as we returned. That was all the chance that led us that way, and it was well that we were so led, as things turned out. The white downs and woodlands sparkling with frost were very beautiful as we rode, and we went fast and joyously in the fresh air; but the countryside was almost deserted, for the farmsteads were burned when the Danes broke in on the land last spring, and few were built up as yet. The poor folk were in the town now, for the most part, finding empty houses enough to shelter them, and none left to whom they belonged.