im sit gloomy and grim in the Castle hall in the evening,
spoiling all their sport.

Winter had set in, and Osmond used daily to take the little Duke and
Alberic to the nearest sheet of ice, for the Normans still prided
themselves on excelling in skating, though they had long since left the
frost-bound streams and lakes of Norway.

One day, as they were returning from the ice, they were surprised, even
before they entered the Castle court, by hearing the trampling of horses'
feet, and a sound of voices.

"What may this mean?" said Osmond. "There must surely be a great arrival
of the vassals. The Duke of Brittany, perhaps."

"Oh," said Richard, piteously, "we have had one council already this
week. I hope another is not coming!"

"It must import something extraordinary," proceeded Osmond. "It is a
mischance that the Count of Harcourt is not at Rouen just now."

Richard thought this no mischance at all, and just then, Alberic, who had
run on a little before, came back exclaiming, "They are French. It is
the Frank tongue, not the Norman, that they speak."

"So please you, my Lord," said Osmond, stopping short, "we go not rashly
into the midst of them. I would I knew what were best to do."

Osmond rubbed his forehead and stood considering, while the two boys
looked at him anxiously. In a few seconds, before he had come to any
conclusion, there came forth from the gate a Norman Squire, accompanied
by two strangers.

"My Lord Duke," said he to Richard, in French, "Sir Eric has sent me to
bring you tidings that the King of France has arrived to receive your
homage."

"The King!" exclaimed Osmond.

"Ay!" proceeded the Norman, in his own tongue, "Louis himself, and with a
train looking bent on mischief. I wish it may portend good to my Lord
here. You see I am accompanied. I believe from my heart that Louis
meant to prevent you from receiving a warning, and taking the boy out of
his clutches."

"Ha! what?" said Richard, anxiously. "Why is the King come? What must I
do?"

"Go on now, since there is no help for it," said Osmond.

"Greet the king as becomes you, bend the knee, and pay him homage."

Richard repeated over to himself the form of homage that he might be
perfect in it, and walked on into the court; Alberic, Osmond, and the
rest falling back as he entered. The court was crowded with horses and
men, and it was only by calling out loudly, "The Duke, the Duke," that
Osmond could get space enou