ne his errand and fed that great bulk of his. He has an honest
face, and will be fair to all."

That seemed to please the crowd; and after that they said no more, but
followed and watched the gathering up of Havelok's mighty burden. And
presently there was more than he could manage; and he spoke to Berthun,
who checked himself in a half bow as he answered.

Then Havelok looked over the faces before him, and beckoned to two men
who seemed weakly and could not press forward, and to them he gave the
lighter wares, and so left the market with his master, as one must call
the steward.

"What told I you?" said the old man, as they came back from the great
gate. "Never saw I one with a face like that who harmed any man, either
in word or deed."

Now when Havelok had set down his load in the kitchen, he straightened
himself and said to Berthun, who was, as one may say, waiting his pleasure.

"This is today's task; but it is in my mind that I would stay up here
and work."

"What would you do?"

"There are men yonder who will miss the carrying if I am market porter
always. But here are things I can earn my keep at, and help the other
servants with at the same time. Water drawing there is, and carrying of
logs for the fire, and cleaving them also, and many other things that
will be but hardening my muscles, while they are over heavy to be
pleasant for other folk."

"Well," answered Berthun, "that is all I could wish, and welcome to some
here will you be. Let it be so."

"Now, I do not think that you would make a gain by my work this morning?"

"Truly not, if any one is wronged by my doing so," the puzzled steward said.

Then Havelok asked how many men would have been needed to carry up the
goods that he had brought, and Berthun said that he was wont to send one
at least from each stall, and more if the burden was heavy.

"Then today four poor knaves must go dinnerless by reason of my
strength, and that does not please me altogether," said Havelok gravely.
"Give these two their loaves; and then, I pray you, give me the other
four, and let me go back to the market."

And then he added, with a smile, "I think that I can order matters there
so that things will be more fair, and that you will have less trouble
with that unmannerly scramble."

"If you can do that, you are even as your name calls you. Take them and
welcome, Curan, and then come here and do what work you will," Berthun
said in haste.

"Tasks you must se