ered and led off to the assistance
of Jarl Cerda all the fighting-men he could assemble, as a wounded
messenger had arrived from that noble, asking the King for more help,
for he was sore pressed by the enemy.

The Danes, he sent word, were in great force, and more and more of their
war-galleys kept coming up the river, the occupants slaying and
destroying wherever they landed.

It was an anxious time for Queen Osburga, whose eyes often looked red as
if she had been weeping, while her cheeks grew white and thin, and she
shut herself up a great deal, so that no one should see her.

The men-folk had nearly all departed from the place, and there was no
one to exercise authority, so, as soon as the four boys had recovered
from their disappointment at not being allowed to go with the little
army their father led, they began to look upon it as a free and jovial
time in which they could do whatever pleased them most, and this they
did to such an extent that poor Swythe's face became full of lines, and
after trying in vain to make his pupils continue their studies, and
putting up with a great amount of disobedience on their part, he began
to reproach them in his mild way. He was one of the gentlest and most
amiable of men, but the wilfulness of the boys had at length compelled
him to protest.

"It seems so shocking," he said, rather piteously. "I only beg and pray
of you all, now that the King is at the war and our dear lady the Queen
in such sorrow and trouble, to try your best to get on with your
lessons, so that the King may feel proud of his sons when he returns.
Ethelbald laughs and mocks at me; Ethelbert says he will not study;
Ethelred follows his example; and Alfred, of whom I expected better
things, has just told me he does not mind a bit what I say, and that he
will do just as he likes."

"And so he shall!" said Bald boldly. "That is, he shall do as I like.
Father has gone to fight the Danes, and while he's away, as I am the
eldest, I shall act in his place, and shall expect everyone to obey me
as if I were King."

"Oh, no, no, no," cried Swythe, looking shocked. "Our dear lady Osburga
is Queen, and everyone must obey her."

"Do not speak of that to me!" cried Ethelbald. "She is only a woman,
and cannot manage the men. Why, if father should be killed--"

"Which Heaven forbid!" cried Swythe, with a look of horror on his face.
"Oh, dear me, Ethelbald, what a thing for you to say! Shocking, my dear
boy."