g
on many a burnished hauberk and tall conical helmet, and above them waved
many a banner and pennon that Richard knew full well. "There! there!" he
shouted aloud with glee. "Oh, there is the horse-shoe of Ferrieres! and
there the chequers of Warenne! Oh, and best of all, there is--there is
our own red pennon of Centeville! O Alberic! Alberic! is Sir Eric here?
I must go down to him!"

"Bertrand sent out notice to them all, as soon as you came, to come and
guard our Castle," said Alberic, "lest the Franks should pursue you; but
you are safe now--safe as Norman spears can make you--thanks be to God!"

"Yes, thanks to God!" said Richard, crossing himself and kneeling
reverently for some minutes, while he repeated his Latin prayer; then,
rising and looking at Alberic, he said, "I must thank Him, indeed, for he
has saved Osmond and me from the cruel King and Queen, and I must try to
be a less hasty and overbearing boy than I was when I went away; for I
vowed that so I would be, if ever I came back. Poor Osmond, how soundly
he sleeps! Come, Alberic, show me the way to Sir Eric!"

And, holding Alberic's hand, Richard left the room, and descended the
stairs to the Castle hall. Many of the Norman knights and barons, in
full armour, were gathered there; but Richard looked only for one. He
knew Sir Eric's grizzled hair, and blue inlaid armour, though his back
was towards him, and in a moment, before his entrance had been perceived,
he sprang towards him, and, with outstretched arms, exclaimed: "Sir
Eric--dear Sir Eric, here I am! Osmond is safe! And is Fru Astrida
well?"

The old Baron turned. "My child!" he exclaimed, and clasped him in his
mailed arms, while the tears flowed down his rugged cheeks. "Blessed be
God that you are safe, and that my son has done his duty!"

"And is Fru Astrida well?"

"Yes, right well, since she heard of your safety. But look round, my
Lord; it befits not a Duke to be clinging thus round an old man's neck.
See how many of your true vassals be here, to guard you from the villain
Franks."

Richard stood up, and held out his hand, bowing courteously and
acknowledging the greetings of each bold baron, with a grace and
readiness he certainly had not when he left Normandy. He was taller too;
and though still pale, and not dressed with much care (since he had
hurried on his clothes with no help but Alberic's)--though his hair was
rough and disordered, and the scar of the burn had not y