, too," said Alfgar, "and
strove to deprive me of both; yet I am too happy now to harbour
revenge."

"Well, I meet him at St. Frideswide's tomorrow, and we shall be
formally reconciled in the presence of the bishop and his clergy,
wherewith I trust he will be content, and not trouble me too often
with his presence."

"Where is he staying now?"

"I hardly know; but after the reconciliation I must admit him as my
guest, for my sister is with him, if he chooses to stay; but I hope
that will not be the case."

"His ill-omened presence would cast a gloom upon St. Andrew's day."

"It would indeed; it shall be avoided if possible. And now let us
commend ourselves to the Lord, who died that we might be forgiven.
'Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against
us.'"

And they slept.

On the morrow before the altar of St. Frideswide, the king and Edric
had their places in the choir.

One very touching ceremony, handed down from early times, was still
observed in England--the "kiss of peace," occurring at some period
before the close of the canon of the mass, when all the members of the
cathedral chapter, or of the choir, as the case might be, solemnly
saluted each other.

And for this reason Edmund and Edric had been placed next each other.
So when this most solemn moment arrived, they looked each other full
in the face, and gave and received the sign of Christian brotherhood.

After this they both communicated.

When the holy rite was ended, Edmund invited Edric and Elgitha to
become his guests.

Edric knew the old palace well. He had occupied it one well-remembered
season, during which, in that very banqueting hall where we have
introduced our readers, Sigeferth and Morcar, the earls of the seven
burghs, were treacherously murdered at the banquet after Edric had
previously made them heavy with wine.

There was the usual gathering that evening. Did Edric remember the
place, and the bloody event which only he and one other present
connected with the spot?--for Edmund had been far away, and the matter
had been hushed up, as far as was possible, by all the power and
influence Ethelred could exert in his favourite's cause, or rather his
own, for he, the royal villain, shared the ill-gotten spoil.

If he did remember it, he took care not to show it that night. He was
as calm and self-possessed as a man could be--as a smiling sea under
the summer sky--smiling so that the heedless voyager knows