Danes, Scots, and Welshmen fled before the English sword--listened
with enthusiasm, till he thought of his brother Oswald, when tears,
unobserved, rolled down his cheeks.

Not so with the boys. They had no secret sorrow to hide, and they
listened like those whose young blood boils at the thought of mighty
deeds, and longed to imitate them. And when the gleeman finished his
lengthy flight of music and poesy, they applauded him till the roof rang
again.

Song followed song, legend legend, the revelry grew louder, while the
lady Edith, with her daughter, retired to their bower, where they
employed their needles on delicate embroidery. A representation in
bright colours of the consecration of the church of St. Wilfred occupied
the hands of the little Edgitha, while her mother wove sacred pictures
to serve as hangings for the sanctuary of the priory church.

But soon the tolling of the bell announced that it was the compline
hour, nine o'clock, and that hour was never allowed to pass unobserved
at Aescendune, but formed the termination of the labour or the feast,
after which it was customary for the whole household to retire, as well
they might who rose with the early dawn.

Neither was it passed by on this occasion, although the boys looked very
disappointed, for they would fain have listened to song or legend till
midnight, if not later.

"Come, my children," said the thane; "we must rise early, so let us all
commit ourselves to the keeping of God and His holy angels, and seek our
pillows."