Now when Godwine heard how our errand had failed, he laughed at Relf's downcast looks and said, scanning my weatherbeaten and forest-worn garments: "Maidens love to see warriors go in bright array. She is tired of those old weeds of Redwald's. We must fit him out afresh in the morning, and then she will listen maybe." He was so pleased with this boyish wisdom of his own, being fully persuaded that he was right, that he and I must ride together to Chichester with morning light, and find new gear for me. "We roll in riches since you fell into the pit," he said, when I would pay for what I had with my last piece of gold. "And you must keep that one; there are more due to you yet as I think." Nor would he be denied in this, and it is not a warrior's part to take an earl's gifts grudgingly. And when I fairly shone in bright array from head to foot, he must needs add a wonderful round brooch, silver and gold wrought, with crimson garnets at the ends and in the spaces of the arms of a cross of inlaid pearl and enamel, such as one seldom sees. "It is a Kentish brooch," he said, "so shall men know that you are a friend of the earls of Kent and Sussex." That was an earl's giving indeed, but Godwine is ever open handed, and I am not alone in learning how he will give. "Now we must go back, and you shall seek this damsel again since old Relf is so set thereon. As for you, it is likely that you have had trouble enough with her already, and will care little if she will not come," he said, and looked me over from head to foot as we stood outside the chapman's house in the wide place where the four roads cross in Chichester town. "My faith!" he added, "I believe that even Emma the Cat would mind what you told her now!" "Lord earl," said I, "you will make me vain." "Earl, forsooth!" he cried, "the clothes have made you mighty courtly all at once. Godwine and Redwald are going back to Bosham, and the earl bides at Chichester Cross--mind you that!" And he swung himself on his horse laughing, and we rode away, while the people shouted, for they had gathered in twos and threes to look on him. Now when we came back to the great house, there was Relf sitting on the bench where we had sat yesterday, and he looked as if he had had good news. "Now, thane," said Godwine, "here is a new messenger to your sorrowful damsel." Relf stared at me and laughed, and when I got off my horse Godwine would have us go at once. So Relf took my arm and we went, while the young earl joked us till we were out of hearing. "Now," said the thane, "we will not spoil the earl's jest, but must even let him think that all has been his doing thus." "Why, he will see us start for Penhurst, and if Uldra is not there--" "Aye, but she will be. She is coming gladly," Relf said. "How is this?" I asked. "Just that I have been to see the maiden while you were gone, and I spoke to her as to a daughter, and so she is coming."