"Going to be wedded shortly."
"That is well," I said. "To whom?"
Then the thane turned fairly round on me with wide eyes, and a blank fear fell on me that he meant that I was to wed her. Yet surely the lady had told him that I was betrothed.
"Ho!" he said; "did you not know that? Methought everyone did."
That was worse, and I knew not what he looked for from me.
"I have been away; I have heard nought," I answered lamely enough.
"Oh, aye; so you have," he said. "Truly, I forgot that. We quiet people fancy that all the world knows our affairs. And it was in my mind that you had a tenderness that way yourself. I knew not how you would take it."
Then we both laughed, but it was not a hearty laughter, for each feared the other a little, as it seemed.
"I am glad for Sexberga, if she is happy," said I.
"Why, now, that is well," said Relf. "I had thought that I must break this matter gently to you."