for such, finding
in myself one to whom he could speak his mind of his own affairs
without any thought of favour or policy rising up to cloud my
answers to him, as his guest.

So in a few days I told him of Ecgbert, and gave him those messages
of which I have spoken, being sure that with him they were safe.
And I was glad that I did so, for his joy on hearing of his friend
was good to see. As for the rest of the hopes of our atheling, he
may have had his own thoughts, but he said plainly that the day
when Wessex would need him might come, and that if it did none
would more willingly welcome him home again.

"But," he said, "I think that best of all Ecgbert would wish to
come home in peace at once, and set all ambition aside. Presently,
if we are careful, I may be able to speak to Offa of him again.
Nay, but have no fear; I understand how matters are with Bertric,
and will risk naught. I think we may find that Offa, who is
friendly with King Carl, knows more of Ecgbert than you might
guess."

So that matter dropped, and I had done my errand. But for the sake
of Ecgbert I was all the more welcome to the king, for I had to
tell him of the wars and the deeds of his friend. I do not think
that any will wonder that thus I saw more of the king than
otherwise might have been my lot.

Now there was another of whom I saw much at this time before we
started to ride westward, and that, of course, was the Lady Hilda.
She, I found, was going to Fernlea, rather that she might be one of
the ladies who should attend the bride whom it was hoped that the
king would bring home, than as going to remain with Quendritha, and
I must say that I was glad thereof. With her and her father I rode
many a mile hawking, and both of them seemed to hold me as an old
friend by reason of that lucky chance which brought about our first
meeting; and the only fault I had to find with the journey we
looked for was that in Offa's court would end my friendship with
them.

So it happened one day as we rode thus that while the thane had
crossed a stream, beating up the far bank for a heron, we fell into
talk of the journey and its ending.

"What is amiss with it all?" she asked. "The good queen seems
terribly downcast about it. Is not the princess her choice?"

"Altogether so, as the king tells me. Perhaps the queen has
mother-like fears for the safety of this only son of hers, and lets
them get on her mind overmuch."

"That would be hardly like our