"By sea and by land, with sword and with mail, will we meet the invader," answered the King, with a flashing eye. "Thou hast said:— so depart."
The monk turned and withdrew.
"Let the priest's insolence chafe thee not, sweet lord," said Aldyth. "For the vow which thou mightest take as subject, what matters it now thou art king?"
Harold made no answer to Aldyth, but turned to his Chamberlain, who stood behind his throne chair.
"Are my brothers without?"
"They are: and my lord the King's chosen council."
"Admit them: pardon, Aldyth; affairs fit only for men claim me now."
The Lady of England took the hint, and rose.
"But the even-mete will summon thee soon," said she. Harold, who had already descended from his chair of state, and was bending over a casket of papers on the table, replied:
"There is food here till the morrow; wait me not." Aldyth sighed, and withdrew at the one door, while the thegns most in Harold's confidence entered at the other. But, once surrounded by her maidens, Aldyth forgot all, save that she was again a queen,—forgot all, even to the earlier and less gorgeous diadem which her lord's hand had shattered on the brows of the son of Pendragon.