“Then why dost thou not wish to come to the palace? Ah!” catching sight of the downcast face of Egwina. “Come, little one, thou shalt answer. Is it Edward?”
Egwina bowed in silent assent.
“Egwina, tell me truly,” and Alfred’s voice was grave. “Lovest thou not my son? He told me that thou didst, and that thou didst withhold from him thy true-lofa because thou didst fear that I would be displeased with thee. Gladly did I approve thee, for thou wert near and dear to me already as mine own child. When he sought thee, lo! thou couldst not be found. Vainly have we searched for traces of thee, but none could be found. Edward hath grieved without ceasing over thy loss. Tell me why thou didst leave, for in that doth lie the reason of thy wish not to return. Hath Edward been mistaken? Dost thou not love him?”
Egwina looked at him with troubled eyes. Siegbert would have spoken, but she stopped him.
“My brother, I will tell him all,” she said in earnest tones. “I do love Edward, my king. I knew not that he did love me until the night I left him. I stood awaiting his coming after he would have seen thee, when I heard footsteps approaching. Wishing not to meet other than Edward at the moment, I retired into the shadow of the trees. It was thou, my king, and the lady Elswitha. She was telling thee that she feared that Edward did look upon me with loving eye. Thou wert surprised, and when the lady said that it had grieved her that I was not gentle, thou didst say, ‘True, she comes not of noble blood.’ I could bear no more, my king. I feared thy displeasure, and so, as Gyda the seid woman was there and wished me to go with her, I left all and followed after her.”
“Thou foolish little one!” The king’s voice was very tender. “And thou didst not hear the rest of our talk? I said, ‘True, she is not of noble blood, but what do we reck of the blood when the mind is noble? Glad am I that our son hath chosen so wisely.’”
“My king!” gasped the girl. “Saidst thou that?”
“The very same. Now will ye go with me, my children?” Alfred had risen. He held out his hands to them with his most winning smile. With an inarticulate cry Egwina sprang to him, and Siegbert’s eyes were wet as he kissed the hand of Britain’s gentle king.
[CHAPTER XXIX—BRINGING THE SUMMER HOME]
Never to be forgotten was the day on which Alfred brought Egwina and Siegbert to his palace. Not a cloud marred the blue of the sky or dimmed the brightness of the sun. All nature seemed to have donned her fairest garb. Cowslips dotted every mead. Birds trilled joyously from every bush. The patient oxen, each with a nosegay betwixt his horns, bore to every village and town tall birch trees, around which the swains and maidens frolicked; for it was the first of May, and ealdorman and thegn and ceorl joined together in the glad bringing home of the Summer.