his young master into the hands of his bitter foes. Alfred was at once
summoned; and a conference was held, in which Father Cuthbert, his
brethren, and the chamberlain and steward of the hall, took part.

"It is now generally believed," said Father Cuthbert, "that Redwald is
the bitter enemy, for some reason, of the house of Aescendune. Has any
one here suspected that reason?"

No one could give any reply.

"I fear what I am about to say," he continued, "will startle you all.
Redwald is a member of the family himself."

"A member of the family!"

"Yes. Is there any one present who remembers the unhappy brother of our
late lamented lord--Oswald, the son of Offa?"

"Yes," said the old chamberlain, "I remember him well; and I see now
what you mean."

"Is not the expression of the face identical? Are they not the same
features, as one might say?"

"Yet Redwald is much darker."

"Because his mother was Danish, and he has inherited some of her
peculiarities, that is all."

"Still," said the steward, "every one supposed that the unhappy Oswald