“More than that, Oswald,” she said, laughing.  “Strange how dense a man can be!  It is a mistress who is needed.  Else the women of Devon will have no friend at court.”

I laughed, a little foolishly, perhaps, not having any answer at all, and Ina smiled and went out into the court by himself, saying that he would not meddle with such matters.  So I was left to the queen by the hearth.

“Jesting apart, Oswald,” she said, “I had hoped that vow of yours would have led to somewhat, and whose fault it was that nought came of it I do not know.  However, no harm seems to have been done, and that may pass, though indeed Elfrida was a favourite of mine.  But see to it that next time you are no laggard.  Now, when are you going to Dyfed?”

Then I suppose my face told some tale against me, for the queen laughed softly.

“Soon, Oswald?”

I could not pretend to misunderstand her then, but when it was put to me so plainly it did not seem to me all so certain that my suit would fare better than my vow.  I had no fear once that the last would not have been welcome, and was mistaken enough.  Now, perhaps because I was in real earnest, I did doubt altogether.

“What, do you fear that there is no favour for you, my Thane?” Ethelburga said, with a smile lingering round the corners of her mouth.

“I do not see how there can be,” I answered.  “I am not worthy.  It is one thing for the princess to be friendly with me, and another for her to suffer me to look so high.”

I spoke plainly to the queen, as I was ever wont since I was a child in her train and she the kindly lady to whose hand I looked for all things, and from whom all my earlier happinesses had come.  She was ever the same, and I know well that her name will be remembered as one of our best hereafter.  It was almost therefore as mother to son that she spoke to me, rather than as mistress to servant.

“But you had no doubts at all concerning Elfrida.”

“That was foolishness, my Queen, and I see it now.  This is different altogether.”

“I know it, and it was my fault in a way.  Still, you were then but the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up to the daughter of the ealdorman.  Now you are the Thane of Taunton, and to be the first ealdorman of Saxon Devon, with house and riches at your back, moreover.  And she of whom you think is but the daughter of a Welsh princelet.”

“Nay, my Queen, but she is Nona.”

“Go your ways, Oswald,” the queen said, laughing—­“of a surety you are in earnest this time.  Nay, but I will jest no more, and will wish you all speed to Pembroke.  If there is no welcome, and more, for you there, I am mistaken, for you deserve all you wish.”

So we spoke no more, but joined the king.  Presently, when I came to think of what the queen had said of my changed rank and all that, I saw that she was right, and it heartened me somewhat.  Not that I thought it would make any difference to Nona, but that it surely must to Howel, which was a great matter after all.