ave thereto," quoth Steelhead, "that though the world be wide
there are many ways about it, and meseemeth that there is somewhere a
way whereon thy feet and Elfhild's may draw toward one another." Said
Osberne: "May all good hap go with thee for thy word. Dost thou not
see how my face is already gladdened thereby?"

Said Steelhead: "This is hope, my son, that flareth up swiftly and
fadeth soon; but no this I shall give to thee, as I deem I may, that
never shalt thou lack hope so long as thou hast deeds to to. Call to
mind what thou thyself saidst unto Elfhild, that the only way to
bridge the Sundering Flood is for one of you, or both, to wander wide
in the world. But now tell me, what hast thou in thy mind to do in
these days that pass?" Said Osberne: "I have been thinking of it, that
when the Midsummer Feast is over I shall say farewell to my folk and
to ride to Eastcheaping to find Sir Medard; for meseems he is the man
whom I know out in the world who will put me in the way of deeds."
Said Steelhead: "And wilt thou go alone, or hast thou a mind to take
any with thee? Suppose it were Stephen the Eater, who is a man of
lore, and as I do thee to wit moreover, a friend of our own?" "Dost
thou command me to have him with me, lord?" said Osberne. "Nay," said
Steelhead, "I but ask thee of thy mind in the matter."

Said Osberne: "Then I shall tell the that my mind is to go all
birdalone. I would take no part of Wethermel with me, lest I soften
towards the Dale, and turn back some fair day of summer and fall to
nursing my sorrow therein. Moreover I know of Stephen that he is both
a wise man and a champion, and I deem it were well to leave such an
one to uphold the good days of Wethermel; so that whether I do that
which I would, and come back in joy and honour; or do it not, and die
away from my place, not without honour it may be, I shall yet know of
the thriving of my kindred and the pleasures of Wethermel, which shall
yet be glorious on the earth, even as it were a very living creature
and mine own true friend. Many a time shall I think of it, in good hap
and in ill hap, in grief and in joy."

"Hail to thy word, son and stout-heart!" said Steelhead, "for herein
thou thinkest of it as my very heart would that thou shouldst. Now I
see that I have indeed sown the seed of hope in thee, and I call it
the lack of fear."

And now he brought the talk on other matters, and was as kind and
friendly as might be, and Osberne deemed