ng to stare at Richard
with a look of curiosity, while Richard in his turn felt considerably
affronted that a boy so much less than himself should call him little.

"Yes," said the Queen; "your father has brought him home with him."

Carloman stepped forward, shyly holding out his hand to the stranger, but
his brother pushed him rudely aside. "I am the eldest; it is my business
to be first. So, young Northman, you are come here for us to play with."

Richard was too much amazed at being spoken to in this imperious way to
make any answer. He was completely taken by surprise, and only opened
his great blue eyes to their utmost extent.

"Ha! why don't you answer? Don't you hear? Can you speak only your own
heathen tongue?" continued Lothaire.

"The Norman is no heathen tongue!" said Richard, at once breaking silence
in a loud voice. "We are as good Christians as you are--ay, and better
too."

"Hush! hush! my Lord!" said Osmond.

"What now, Sir Duke," again interfered the King, in an angry tone, "are
you brawling already? Time, indeed, I should take you from your own
savage court. Sir Squire, look to it, that you keep your charge in
better rule, or I shall send him instantly to bed, supperless."

"My Lord, my Lord," whispered Osmond, "see you not that you are bringing
discredit on all of us?"

"I would be courteous enough, if they would be courteous to me," returned
Richard, gazing with eyes full of defiance at Lothaire, who, returning an
angry look, had nevertheless shrunk back to his mother. She meanwhile
was saying, "So strong, so rough, the young savage is, he will surely
harm our poor boys!"

"Never fear," said Louis; "he shall be watched. And," he added in a
lower tone, "for the present, at least, we must keep up appearances.
Hubert of Senlis, and Hugh of Paris, have their eyes on us, and were the
boy to be missed, the grim old Harcourt would have all the pirates of his
land on us in the twinkling of an eye. We have him, and there we must
rest content for the present. Now to supper."

At supper, Richard sat next little Carloman, who peeped at him every now
and then from under his eyelashes, as if he was afraid of him; and
presently, when there was a good deal of talking going on, so that his
voice could not be heard, half whispered, in a very grave tone, "Do you
like salt beef or fresh?"

"I like fresh," answered Richard, with equal gravity, "only we eat salt
all the winter."

There was ano