ears and
cautions, she, ever mindful of Godwin's preference for the Earl, and his
last commands to her, hastened to release Harold from his pledge; and to
implore him at least to suffer Gurth to be his substitute to the Norman
court. "Listen dispassionately," said Gurth; "rely upon it that Edward
has reasons for his fears, more rational than those he has given to us.
He knows William from his youth upward, and hath loved him too well to
hint doubts of his good faith without just foundation. Are there no
reasons why danger from William should be special against thyself? While
the Normans abounded in the court, there were rumours that the Duke had
some designs on England, which Edward's preference seemed to sanction:
such designs now, in the altered state of England, were absurd--too
frantic, for a prince of William's reputed wisdom to entertain. Yet he
may not unnaturally seek to regain the former Norman influence in these
realms. He knows that in you he receives the most powerful man in
England; that your detention alone would convulse the country from one
end of it to the other; and enable him, perhaps, to extort from Edward
some measures dishonourable to us all. But against me he can harbour no
ill design--my detention would avail him nothing. And, in truth, if
Harold be safe in England, Gurth must be safe in Rouen? Thy presence
here at the head of our armies guarantees me from wrong. But reverse the
case, and with Gurth in England, is Harold safe in Rouen? I, but a
simple soldier, and homely lord, with slight influence over Edward, no
command in the country, and little practised of speech in the stormy
Witan,--I am just so great that William dare not harm me, but not so
great that he should even wish to harm me."

"He detains our kinsmen, why not thee!" said Harold.

"Because with our kinsmen he has at least the pretext that they were
pledged as hostages: because I go simply as guest and envoy. No, to me
danger cannot come. Be ruled, dear Harold."

"Be ruled, O my son," cried Githa, clasping the Earl's knees, "and do not
let me dread in the depth of the night to see the shade of Godwin, and
hear his voice say, 'Woman, where is Harold?'"

It was impossible for the Earl's strong understanding to resist the
arguments addressed to it; and, to say truth, he had been more disturbed
that he liked to confess by Edward's sinister forewarnings. Yet, on the
other hand, there were reasons against his acquiescence