own abbey; then at last the neighbouring thanes, many of Danish
extraction and scarcely Christian, were stirred up to invade the
territory of the abbey, and were promised immunity and secure possession
of their plunder. They liked the pleasant excitement of galloping over
Dunstan's ecclesiastical patrimony, of plundering the farms and driving
away the cattle, and there was scarcely a night in which some fresh
outrage was not committed. At this point the action of our tale recommences.

It will be remembered that the father of Ella had found relief from his
grief, after the death of his unhappy son Oswald, in building and
endowing the monastery of St. Wilfred, situate on the river's bank, at a
short distance from the hall.

The completion of the work had, however, been reserved for his son, and,
everything being now done, it became the earnest desire of Ella, with
the consent of the brethren who had been gathered into the incomplete
building, to place it under the Benedictine rule.

For this end he determined to send a messenger to negotiate with Dunstan
at Glastonbury, and, yielding to Alfred's most earnest request, he
consented to send him, in company with Father Cuthbert, who was to be
the future prior, upon the mission.

Since the desertion of Elfric, his brother Alfred had been as a
ministering angel to his father, so tender had been his affection, yet
so manly and pure. He was by nature gifted with great talents, and his
progress in ecclesiastical lore, almost the only lore of the day, would
have well fitted him for the Church; but if this idea had ever been in
the mind of the thane, he put it aside after the departure of Elfric.