“It is of our cousin Rosamund, is it not?” asked Godwin presently.

“Ay.  Who else?”

“And you would tell me that you love her, and that now you are a knight—­almost—­and hard on five-and twenty years of age, you would ask her to become your affianced wife?”

“Yes, Godwin; it came into my heart when she rode the grey horse into the water, there upon the pier, and I thought that I should never see her any more.  I tell you it came into my heart that life was not worth living nor death worth dying without her.”

“Then, Wulf,” answered Godwin slowly, “what more is there to say?  Ask on, and prosper.  Why not?  We have some lands, if not many, and Rosamund will not lack for them.  Nor do I think that our uncle would forbid you, if she wills it, seeing that you are the properest man and the bravest in all this country side.”

“Except my brother Godwin, who is all these things, and good and learned to boot, which I am not,” replied Wulf musingly.  Then there was silence for a while, which he broke.

“Godwin, our ill-luck is that you love her also, and that you thought the same thoughts which I did yonder on the quay-head.”

Godwin flushed a little, and his long fingers tightened their grip upon his knee.

“It is so,” he said quietly.  “To my grief it is so.  But Rosamund knows nothing of this, and should never know it if you will keep a watch upon your tongue.  Moreover, you need not be jealous of me, before marriage or after.”

“What, then, would you have me do?” asked Wulf hotly.  “Seek her heart, and perchance—­though this I doubt—­let her yield it to me, she thinking that you care naught for her?”

“Why not?” asked Godwin again, with a sigh; “it might save her some pain and you some doubt, and make my own path clearer.  Marriage is more to you than to me, Wulf, who think sometimes that my sword should be my spouse and duty my only aim.”

“Who think, having a heart of gold, that even in such a thing as this you will not bar the path of the brother whom you love.  Nay, Godwin, as I am a sinful man, and as I desire her above all things on earth, I will play no such coward’s game, nor conquer one who will not lift his sword lest he should hurt me.  Sooner would I bid you all farewell, and go to seek fortune or death in the wars without word spoken.”

“Leaving Rosamund to pine, perchance.  Oh, could we be sure that she had no mind toward either of us, that would be best—­to begone together.  But, Wulf, we cannot be sure, since at times, to be honest, I have thought she loves you.”

“And at times, to be honest, Godwin, I have been sure that she loves you, although I should like to try my luck and hear it from her lips, which on such terms I will not do.”

“What, then, is your plan, Wulf?”

“My plan is that if our uncle gives us leave, we should both speak to her—­you first, as the elder, setting out your case as best you can, and asking her to think of it and give you your answer within a day.  Then, before that day is done I also should speak, so that she may know all the story, and play her part in it with opened eyes, not deeming, as otherwise she might, that we know each other’s minds, and that you ask because I have no will that way.”