[CHAPTER XXII—THE ORDEAL]
The effect on the people was electrical. A murmur went up that the maiden was innocent else she durst not appeal to the Supreme Judge. Ælfric the juggler turned pale. The tendency toward belief in the girl’s innocence grew into a certainty in the heart of the ealdorman, and even the gerefa seemed somewhat softened.
“Child, child,” he said, compassionately, “wottest thou what thou askest?”
“Yea, I know,” answered Egwina, firmly. “By fire or by water as ye may choose, my lord gerefa and my lord ealdorman, and with God be the judgment.”
“With God be the judgment,” repeated the gerefa solemnly. “But with thee lieth the choice.”
“Do ye two choose,” said the maiden, “that ye may be satisfied with the trial. It will please me the better to have it so decided.”
“Then, brother,” said the gerefa, addressing the ealdorman, “what sayest thou to the ordeal by water?”
“If it suit the maiden, I will not gainsay the choice,” returned the ealdorman.
“Then, maiden, thou shalt to the bishop, who will return to Winchester this day. There wilt thou purify thyself by just preparation for the rite. Let bread and salt, water and herbs only be thy portion. Three days shalt thou tarry at the abode of the bishop; then, purified and absolved, the ordeal will be given thee. In the presence of witnesses, twelve for thee, and twelve against thee, shalt thou enter the church with the priest. Into boiling water shalt thou plunge thine arm to the elbow, and from the water shalt thou take a stone heated hot. And may God, the Supreme Ruler, who on the last great day shall judge the quick and the dead, be thy judge. May He, in His infinite mercy, prove thee innocent as thou sayest, for dire and dread is the punishment that will o’erwhelm thee shouldst thou be guilty.”
The assembly dispersed. With erect bearing, as of one conscious of rectitude, the maiden walked with the ealdorman and the gerefa. With pale face, Ælfric would have hurried away with Edwy but that Beornwulf interposed.