CHAPTER V.
Meanwhile Athalwin had already reached his father and climbed up his knee, clinging to his foot.
The rider lifted him up with a loving hand, set him before him in the saddle, and spurred his horse into a gallop. The noble animal, once the charger of Theodoric, neighed lustily as he recognised his home and his mistress, and shook his flowing mane.
The rider now reached the hill, and dismounted with the boy.
"My dear wife!" he exclaimed, embracing her tenderly.
"My Witichis!" she answered, blushing with pleasure, and clinging to him; "welcome home!"
"I promised that I would come before the new moon--it was difficult----"
"But thou hast kept thy word, as always."
"My heart drew me here," he said, putting his arm around her.
They went on slowly to the house.