"Do you speak first, Ealdorman," I said, and he nodded and went his way.
Erpwald and I followed him into the hall, and there stayed. He was long gone thence to the bower where Elfrida sat with her maidens preparing for the morrow.
"What will she say?" asked Erpwald presently.
"I think that she will bid you fight for the king, though it will be hard for her to do so."
"I hope she will, though, indeed, I should like to think that it will not be easy for her to send me away," said the lover, torn in two ways. "How long will it take to settle with these Welsh?"
"I cannot tell," I said, shaking my head.
For, indeed, though I would not say it, a Welsh war is apt to be a long affair if once they get among the hills.
"If we have the victory, I think that the wedding will not be put off for so very long," I added to comfort him.
He walked back and forth across the hall until Herewald came back, and then started toward him.
"Go yonder and speak with her," the ealdorman said, pointing to the door whence he came.