"How now? Are these manners for the heir of Flanders?"
"He has told all!"
"He has!" and she started and dropt her comb.
"Pick up that comb, girl. You need not go away. I have no secrets with
young gentlemen."
"I thought you would be glad to hear."
"I? What can I want in the matter, save that your grandfather should be
satisfied that you are entertaining a man worthy to be your guest?"
"And he is worthy: he has told my grandfather who he is."
"But not you?"
"No. They say I must not know yet. But this I know, that they welcomed
him, when he told them, as if he had been an earl's son; and that he is
going with my Uncle Robert against the Frieslanders."
"And if he be an earl's son, how comes he here, wandering with rough
seamen, and hiding his honest name? He must have done something of which
he is ashamed."
"I shall tell you nothing," said Arnulf, pouting.
"What care I? I can find out by art magic if I like."
"I don't believe all that. Can you find out, for instance, what he has on
his throat?"
"A beard."
"But what is under that beard?"
"A goitre."
"You are laughing at me."
"Of course I am, as I shall at any one who challenges me to find out
anything so silly, and so unfit."
"I shall go."
"Go then." For she knew very well that he would come back again.
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