The lady raised her hands to her brows in most weary wise.
"Good Odda," she said, notwithstanding, "I thank thee much for thy kindness in thus coming, and for all the pains that thou hast taken. And since thy mead was lost on my behalf, I thank thee for it also. Let us sit here awhile and eat, as thou sayest; we are sore anhungered, that is sure. And later we will go find my reeve at Stoke over yonder. He will doubtless have one drop of somewhat for us each to drink. We also emptied our flasks an hour ago, silly souls that we were!"
She had with her her mass-priest, her women, her men-at-arms, her thralls. We sat down upon the ground, and broke the pasty into portions, and dealt out my fine wheaten bread.
As she talked with me of the old days in her own home, suddenly we heard a noise in the woodland upon our right—a child's voice wailing—the voices of two children. Far away at first, then somewhat nearer. Two wandering children, crying fit to burst their bosoms. Great breathless, thirsty sobs, swelling every now and then to a despairing roar.
The lady had sprung to her feet, and had broken through the nearest bushes into the thicket beyond.
"Hither! hither!" she cried. "Come! Come! But where are ye? Weep no more—here is help!"
We all followed her. She walked onward, calling; they shouted still, and drew nearer and yet more near: at last they came forth, the little mites, upon a bare plot whereon we had halted. Boy and girl they were; five and seven years old they seemed: hand clasped in hand, cheeks grimy with dust which their tears had furrowed, faces flushed and seared by the mighty heat.
She ran to meet them, with outstretched arms. They ran to her, and caught at her skirts. The girl, the younger, cried, "We were lost!" and the boy said hoarsely, "Mother!… O mother, the world looks black…. Oh, my head, I cannot see!" and he had fallen flat at her feet before she could stay him.
The girl said, "Lady, my head—great smart have I also!" and her breath came thick and loud.
The Lady Edith gathered sorrel-leaves, and bound them about the heads of the bairns.