Now we came to the bishop’s chamber, and he went in, calling me after him in a minute or so.  I could hear Ealhstan’s voice and that of another as I waited outside.

The other was Eanulf the Ealdorman, and as I entered he rose up and faced me.

“So, Heregar,” he said, “you are bishop’s man now, and out of my power.  I am glad of it,” and so saying he reached me out his hand and wrung mine, and looked very friendly as he did so.

“I have heard of your doings,” he said, “and thank you for them.  And I will see this matter of yours looked into, for I think, as the bishop believes, that there has been a plot against you for plain reasons enough.  However, that must stand over as yet.  But come with me to the hall and I will right you with the thanes there.”

At that I thanked him, knowing that things were going right with me, and the bishop smiled, as well pleased, but said nothing, as Eanulf took me by the arm, and we went together to the great hall, where the thanes, some twenty of them, were talking together.  At once I saw several whose faces had burnt themselves, as it were, into my mind at the Moot; but none of Matelgar’s friends among them.

They were quiet when their leader went in, and he wasted no time, but spoke in his own direct way.

“See here, thanes; here is Heregar, whom we outlawed but the other day.  Take my word and Ealhstan’s and Osric’s for it that there was a mistake.  We know now that there is no truer man, for he has proved it, as some of you know-he being the man who lit the huts at Stert in face of the Danes, and being likewise the Saint of Cannington—­”

“Aye, it is so,” said several voices, and others laughed.  Then, like honest Saxons as they were, they came crowding and laughing to shake hands with an outlawed saint, as one said; so that I was overdone almost with their kindness, and knew not what to say or do.

But Eanulf pushed me forward among them, saying that I, being bishop’s man, was no more concern of his, outlaw or no outlaw, and that saints were beyond him.  So he too laughed, and went back to the bishop; and I found Wulfhere and Wislac, and soon I was one of my own sort again, and the bad past seemed very far away.

But Wislac looked at me and said:  “You have spoilt a fine tale I had to take home with me; but maybe I need not tell the ending.  Howbeit, I always did hold that there was none so much difference between a fighting saint and one of ourselves.”

And that seemed to satisfy him.

CHAPTER XII.  THE GREAT LEVY.

It was not long before Eanulf made up his mind to action, and he was closeted with the bishop all that morning.  Then, after the midday meal, he called a council of all who were there, and we sat in the great hall to hear his plans.

Ealhstan came with him, and these two sat at the upper end of the hall, and we on the benches round the walls, for the long tables had been cleared.