“Nay,” he said gravely.  “It is said of me that I do not do things hastily, and it is a true word enough, seeing that I know that I often lose a chance by over caution, maybe.  Answer me a question or two fairly, and I think you will see that I may ask you to bide here.”

Then he minded me that I alone of all his athelings knew this Welsh tongue as if born thereto, and also that men knew me as the son of Owen the prince, so that the Welsh would hardly hold me as a stranger.  That I had found out in these last months while I had been numbering the freemen and their holdings; and as I went about that business I had seen every one that was of any account, so that already I knew all the land I had to rule better than any other.  That task, however, had been set me, as I know now, in preparation for this post.

I had no answer to make against all this concerning myself, for it was true enough, but I did not speak at once.  It did not follow that I could rule as I should, even with all this to help me, and I knew it.

“What, is more needed?” Ina said.  “Well, I at least have had a letter from Owen by the hand of Thorgils yesterday.  See what is written in it.”

He set the writing in my hand, and turned away while I read it.  It was meant for my sight as well as his, for he had written to Owen concerning this post for me.  And after I had read it all I could say no more, for Owen told how he would help me in all ways possible, and also that he knew how Gerent himself would be more content in knowing that no stranger was to be over the land he had lost.

So I gave the letter back to the king’s hand, and said plainly:  “I think that I may not hold back from what you ask me, my King, after all that Owen says.  Nevertheless I—­”

“But I am certain that you will do well,” said Ina.  “Now I shall miss my captain about the court, but I need him here.  So you must even stay.  There is Owen on the west to help you keep the peace in one way, and Herewald on the east to help you with the levies if need be.  Fear not, therefore.  It is in my mind that you will have an easier time here than any other I could have bethought me of, if I had tried.”

Then, as in duty bound, I knelt and kissed the hand of the king in token of homage, and he smiled at me contented.

“You will be the first ealdorman of Devon, Oswald, when the Witan meets,” he said; for it needed the word of the council of the thanes to give me the rank that was fitting.

Then when I rose up and stood somewhat mazed with the suddenness of it all, Ethelburga the queen, who had stood by smiling at me now and then, said:  “This is your hall, Oswald, remember.  But it needs one thing yet.  You were wrong when you said it was complete.”

I looked round and saw nothing wanting, from the hangings on the wall to the pile of skins on the high place seats.

“There are the pegs for the arms of the house-carles,” I said, “but no arms thereon yet.  That will soon be mended.  And I have to set up a head or two of game, to make all homely, maybe?”