As for killing it, it was no more than he
expected, and nothing to what Hereward had done since, and would do yet.
Wherefrom Hereward opined that Gilbert had need of him.
They chatted on: Hereward asking after old friends, and sometimes after
old foes, whom he had long since forgiven; for though he always avenged an
injury, he never bore malice for one; a distinction less common now than
then, when a man's honor, as well as his safety, depended on his striking
again, when he was struck.
"And how is little Alftruda? Big she must be now?" asked he at last.
"The fiend fly away with her,--or rather, would that he had flown away
with her, before ever I saw the troublesome little jade. Big? She is grown
into the most beautiful lass that ever was seen,--which is, what a young
fellow like you cares for; and more trouble to me than all my money, which
is what an old fellow like me cares for. It is partly about her that I am
over here now. Fool that I was, ever to let an Etheliza [Footnote: A
princess of the royal blood of Cerdic, and therefore of Edward the
Confessor.] into my house"; and Gilbert swore a great deal.
"How was she an Etheliza?" asked Hereward, who cared nothing about the
matter. "And how came she into your house? I never could understand that,
any more than how the bear came there.
Pages:
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257