u aught of Elfric of Aescendune?"

"He fell in the last charge of the cavalry."

"Dead?"

"We think so."

"How is it that you have suffered yourselves to be beaten?"

"Had you been there it might have ended differently. We became the
aggressors, and attacked a superior force, while they had all the
advantage of ground."

"Come in. You must first have some food and wine; then you shall tell me
all. We may need your help here, and shall be glad of every able-bodied
man."

"More are on the road."

And so it proved, for party after party continued to fall in. The solemn
quiet, which so well befitted the house of mourning, was banished by the
presence of the soldiery in such large numbers, for early in the day
nearly a hundred and fifty were gathered together, and accommodation
threatened to fall short.

Under these circumstances the lady Edith became very anxious that either
the departure of her unwelcome guests should be hastened, or that the
loved remains should be removed at once to the priory church, where she
could bemoan her grief in quiet solitude, and be alone with her beloved
and God. There seemed no rest or peace possible in the hall, and Redwald
was apportioning all the accommodation to his followers as they came,
preserving only the private apartments of the lady Edith from intrusion.

She was still expecting the arrival of Elfric, for Redwald had not
communicated the news he had received, and she did not even know that
King Edwy had been defeated; so absorbed was she in her grief, that she
did not note the thousand little circumstances which might have told her
as much.

But before the hour of terce, Alfred came into the room where she was
seated with her daughter, and she saw by his troubled countenance that
he had something to communicate which pained him to tell.

"Elfric!" she said--"he is well?"

"He has not come yet, my mother; and I grieve to say that we were
deceived yesterday--deceived about the battle."

"How so?"

"The king was defeated; he has fled southward, and there has been a
great slaughter."

"But Elfric?"

"No one can tell me anything about him," said Alfred, wringing his
hands. "Mother, you must leave this place."

"Leave our home--and now?"

"They talk of defending it against the forces of the Etheling Edgar, who
has been declared king; and we should all be in great danger."

"But will they stay here against our will?"

"Yes; for they say their lives depend upon