Yet by the king’s side, leaning on his chair, was one whom I then noted not, having eyes only for his father—­Alfred the Atheling, who, to my mind, is both warrior and saint, as though Ethelwulf, his father, and Ealhstan, his teacher, had each taught him the properties of the other, making a perfect king.

Now, while I looked, our guide went and made obeisance before the king, telling him of our coming, and at that the face of Ethelwulf lighted up, and he called to us to come near and give our message.  And I saw the queen clasp her hands, as preparing to hear things all too heavy for a lady’s ear, while the atheling stood up and gazed eagerly at us.  Then, too, over all the court was deep silence, as they made a lane through which we must pass to reach the throne, and our feet seemed to make all the sound there was.

So we tramped up, and bowed low before the king, who ran his eyes over us, though not as a captain:  but as one who knows men of all sorts well, and is accustomed to judge their faces.

Then he said to me; “You are Heregar, the bishop’s standard bearer.  We have heard of you as such, and welcome you, knowing you must bring good news, as your face tells me.”

“I am Heregar, Lord King,” I answered, “and I bring good news—­written in these which I am to give into your own hand.”

Then the king smiled a little, and signed the atheling to take the letters, and give them him.

But I, not knowing court ways, must needs think this beside my duty, and said quickly, not knowing to whom I spoke; “Pardon me, Thane, I am to give these into the king’s own hand,” and so stepped past him, holding out the letters to Ethelwulf.

And at that the atheling laughed outright, which was strange to me in the king’s presence, saying, “Not so far wrong, standard bearer, if not very polite;” and so stepped back to his place, still laughing.

But Ethelwulf did not notice this, having taken the letters eagerly from me, and broken open the first that came.

Now when he had read the first few lines, he looked up, and reading from the letter, which doubtless told him the names of the bearers—­ “Heregar I know,” he said; “which is Wulfhere?”

Then Wulfhere bowed, and the king asked for Wislac and Aldhelm, and then for each of the men in turn.  And when each had answered, he looked hard at us, still holding the letter open, but saying nothing, and then fell to reading again.  So we must stand still till all those letters were read.

Presently he took one, and reading the outside, gave it to the atheling, saying it was to him, and went on reading.  That the atheling took, and as he read, looked at us, and it seemed particularly at me, though I thought nothing of that.

At last the king finished, and turned to a tall, noble-looking warrior who stood very near the dais, bidding him treat us with all honour, and see to our lodging near him while we were at court.  Shortly, he said, he would speak to us of all we could tell him.