"Ye had avenged his roughness with me," she answered. "And I saw him rise to fall upon you."
By this time they had emerged upon the highroad; and now there passed them two nuns riding sleek mules, and two serving-men, mounted also.
"There goes Burghild of Caynham," said Alftrude. "It is now five years since she took her holy oaths. I would not be she for all the world—though, heaven wot! a nun's life is a peaceful life!"
"There is peace to be found where no nuns are, lady."
"Know ye her story, Richard Scrob's son? She is the thane of Caynham's daughter, and Godric the brother of Athelstane of Berrington loved her dearly, and she him. But his lands were small and barren, and he could offer her no fitting home, or so he thought. He would take service with some great lord, and store what wealth the saints might send him, that he might make yon maiden his wife. They met twice or thrice in the year, and I am sure each read the other's mind; but he never told her of his love and of his hopes. And she pined for him, and grew pale, and tart of mood. Godric went out with Earl Sweyn against the Welsh king, and was slain by the Welshmen. When Burghild heard these tidings, she fell sick of sorrow, even nigh unto death; but she is brave; she clung to life, and now she is the Church's bride. Oh, sad that lack of goods should sunder two true hearts!"
"How could he speak, being a man without wealth?" said Richard. "He might not speak." He would not look at her.
"He should have spoken," said Alftrude softly.
"Now, as for these swine indeed, thy kinsmen——" cried he…. "Pardon my rough speech, Lady Alftrude; but I have marked how they treat you—you who were their brother's wife—better born than they, and better nurtured. As the dirt underfoot! Must ye abide beneath their roof? Is there none other with whom ye might dwell?"
"My brother is a thane about the King's court. I have not set eyes on him for many a year. I have no other brother and no sister."
"It is many a day since I have wondered how ye bore with them."