"Penhurst is a lonesome place, and it will be worse for my wife when Sexberga is gone," he said musingly. "Why, where is your daughter going?" I asked him. He looked at me sidewise for a moment, and I thought that his face fell a little. Then he said: "Going to be wedded shortly." "That is well," I said. "To whom?" Then the thane turned fairly round on me with wide eyes, and a blank fear fell on me that he meant that I was to wed her. Yet surely the lady had told him that I was betrothed. "Ho!" he said; "did you not know that? Methought everyone did." That was worse, and I knew not what he looked for from me. "I have been away; I have heard nought," I answered lamely enough. "Oh, aye; so you have," he said. "Truly, I forgot that. We quiet people fancy that all the world knows our affairs. And it was in my mind that you had a tenderness that way yourself. I knew not how you would take it." Then we both laughed, but it was not a hearty laughter, for each feared the other a little, as it seemed. "I am glad for Sexberga, if she is happy," said I. "Why, now, that is well," said Relf. "I had thought that I must break this matter gently to you." "Maybe you would have had to do so had I bided at Penhurst much longer," said I truly enough. "All the same, Redwald, I wish it were you, on my faith," said the thane, growing red in his earnestness. "Thanks therefor," said I. "It is good to hear you say so; but I am a landless warrior in bad luck, and so it is better as it is. Who is the man of Sexberga's choice?" "Eldred of Dallington," said he. "A good youth enough, and with lands enough. He has never seen a fight, though," and then he turned on me suddenly, putting his hand on mine. "I could have sworn, lad, that you were fond of the girl. Tell me if it is so, and Eldred shall go down the wind like a strayed hawk, for all I care." I shook my head, but it came over me for a moment that I wished I might recall the wandering fancies of the winter days in Penhurst--but that passed, and I was lonely in heart. "Nay, thane, that is not so. My sword here is all that I love next to my king and Olaf my cousin--and Relf the thane. I have no love for any maiden, nor could Sexberga think twice of me." "If you had bided a little longer. Well, then, no hearts are broken, or so much as awry, and that is well. So, as I was saying, Penhurst will be lonely directly, and already I love this maiden with the outland name for saving you. How would she take it if we gave her shelter with us? I am going back home in a day or two, and you must come with me." The good thane spoke fast, being easier in his mind, as it seemed, on one point, and not willing to make any show of generosity on the other. "That is a kind thought of yours," I said, being very glad, and not less so that I could not help rejoicing that I should see more of Uldra. "I wonder what my wife would say?" he said thoughtfully.