"He said that it was want of travelling gear," said I. "Why, that was not it, though being thoughtful and fatherly he asked of that first." "Tell me what was the trouble, then." "I thought--there were things said, and you called me by her name--that the wedding Relf spoke of was yours and Sexberga's. That was all." "Surely Relf knew not who you were?" "No. He did not till Ailwin came to Penhurst." "Then," said I, "it passes me to know how he found out what the trouble was." "Because he has a daughter of his own," she laughed. And so she began to speak of Sexberga's wedding, which had been not long since. Then we came to Wormingford, and there was Ailwin, bent and aged indeed by the troubles, but well, and rejoiced to see me once more, and that I and Hertha were so happily together. But I had to ask his pardon for my roughness to him before I could feel content. "My son, had you not felt this matter very deeply, I know you would not have troubled yourself even to wrath about it. Truly I was glad to hear you speak so. There is nought to forgive." So he said, and maybe he was right. I rode back presently to Bures with my heart full of joy, and a wondrous content. And when I came to the house on the green I was to learn that joys come not always singly any more than sorrows, which are ever doubled. The door stood open as I rode up, and in the red light from within the house stood two tall figures on the threshold, and the light flashed from helms and mail as they moved, and for a moment a fear came over me that some new call to arms waited me, so that the peace that I thought I had at last found was to be snatched from me. For it was as in the days when Olaf's men stood on guard over us at the doorway. More like those days it was yet to be, for as I reined up a voice cried: "Ho, cousin what of the White Lady?" And Olaf himself came and greeted me as I leapt from the saddle, holding my shoulders and looking at me as he took me into the light to scan my face. The other warrior was Ottar the scald, my friend, and now I had all that I could wish. We sat together in the old places, and he said presently: "You seem contented enough with Cnut, to judge by your face, my cousin." "I had forgotten him. I am content with all things," I answered. "How came you here?" "Nay, but you shall tell me of yourself first," he said. "Then I may have somewhat to say of my doings." So I told him all. "Why then, you must be wedded betimes," he said; "for I must see that wedding, though I would not have Cnut catch me. The ships are in Colchester river, and but for Egil I had never got there even." Then I heard how he had been southward, and what deeds he had done; and it was Ottar who told me that, for Olaf had nought to say of himself. But presently when it came to the time when he turned his ships homeward, Olaf took up the story.