“Sayest thou so?” Alfred seemed to be startled. “Why, ’tis but the other day that he received sword and buckler!”
“Swiftly doth the time fly,” returned Elswitha. “I know that which I tell thee is true, and it hath grieved me, Alfred, for Egwina is not noble.”
“True,” assented the king; “she comes not of noble blood.”
Egwina covered her face with her hands. Was it not as she had thought it would be? Now these dear people, who had done so much for her, who had been so kind, would be displeased.
Alfred and the lady passed on. Egwina sobbed aloud in her loneliness.
“Maiden,” came a low whisper.
Egwina looked up to see the form of Gyda again beside her.
“I have heard all. All that the youth said to thee, and what the king and his wife said also. Seest thou not that they wish thee not? Come! Gyda will cherish thee as her own.”
Egwina looked at her hopelessly.
“What shall I do, Gyda?” she cried. “I could not bear that they should be cold to me.”