“Siric,” he said, with his usual kind way of speaking, “do not distress yourself unduly; you know I am rich in flocks and herds.  I will make up the loss of the cattle, my brother the prior will have a mass said for poor Guthred, and he shall have the last rites performed at our expense; it is all we can do for him; the rest we must leave to the mercy of God.”

“Nay, Thane,” said Siric; “I thank you for your goodwill, but I may not stand thus indebted to any man.  I will repay myself at the expense of the robbers.  Still you may remember Guthred at God’s altar.”

And he strode away.

My brother was now joined by his children Bertric and Ethelgiva, and his wife, the Lady Hilda.  I saw that he was ill at ease, but we did not mention the subject, which I am sure was uppermost in both our minds, lest we should alarm the gentle ones.

Just then I remembered that I had promised to meet Alfgar in the pine wood, and I hastened to the spot.

I found him seated again on the fallen tree.  He rose at my approach, and saluted me with some emotion, as if some inward excitement made itself visible in spite of his efforts to suppress it.

“My son,” said I, “have you pondered my words of last Sunday?”

“I have, and I am come to put myself under your instruction.  I will be guided by you in all things, and fulfil thus the dying wish of the only being who ever loved me.”

“But, my boy, there must be yet a higher, a holier motive.”

“I trust it is not wanting, my father.”

“Are you able to stay long today?”

“O yes, my father is keeping high festival; a number of his countrymen are visiting him and holding revel; this morning they drove in a number of oxen, I know not whence, and slaughtered two on the spot, and they have broached several barrels of mead; they will keep the feast all day, and before night my father will not be in a state to miss me; I always absent myself if I can on such occasions.”

“Then you must come home with me, and share the noon meat, after which I can give you my time until evensong.”

He made no objection, and we returned to the Priory together, where he took his noon meat in the guest chamber, and I devoted all the time between the meal and nones to an examination of my catechumen.

I found that poor Kyneswith had impressed all the primary truths of our holy faith deeply upon his mind, although he wanted much building up, and needed instruction in details; he seemed deeply impressed by the main facts of the life and teaching of our blessed Lord, particularly His message of peace on earth, good will towards men, contrasting so forcibly with the faith of his own people.

The time passed rapidly away, and we went to the minster church at three, when nones and evensong were said together, for we could not keep the people till the proper hour for the latter office, owing to the darkness of November.