“Where did you get that salute?” said Alsi sharply, seeing at once that it was not English; and, indeed, it was that of Gunnar’s courtmen.
“I cannot tell,” answered my brother. “It seems to be there when needed.”
“Well, it is not that used here. Get the housecarls to teach you better manners.”
Then Havelok bowed a little, in token that he would do so; and when Alsi spoke to him next it was in Welsh.
“You are a marshman, as I hear?”
Now Havelok had learned fairly well from the poor folk who loved him, but carelessly, so that when he answered Alsi frowned at his way of speaking.
“I am from the marsh,” he said simply.
“We had better get back to English!” the king said; “you people forget your own tongue. Now, are you married?”
Thereat Havelok laughed lightly.
“That I am not,” he answered.