surrounding circumstances differed so widely from those of the present
hour; yet the Church, in her holy conservatism, has kept intact and
almost changeless all that is hers; that day the "Nicene Creed,"
"Sanctus," "Agnus Dei," "Gloria in Excelsis," rolled as now in strains
of melody towards heaven, and the "Te Deum" which concluded the jubilant
service is our Te Deum still, albeit in the vulgar tongue.

The sacred rites concluded, the royal procession left the church and
proceeded to the churchyard, when Edwy took formal possession of Wessex,
by the ceremony of standing upon a large rock called the King's Stone,
whence the town derived its name.

The feast was spread in the palace hard by, and all the nobles and
thanes (if the words are not synonymous) flocked thither, while the
multitude had their liberal feast spread at various tables throughout
the town, at the royal expense.

Elfric followed his father to the palace, and was about to take his
place at the board, when a page appeared and summoned him to the
presence of Edwy.

"I shall keep a vacant place for you by my side," said Ella, "so that we
may feast together, my son, when the king releases you; it is a great
honour that he should think of you now."

Elfric followed the messenger, who led him into the interior of the
palace, where he found Edwy impatiently awaiting him in the royal
dressing chamber.

Elfric had expected to find the newly-crowned king deeply impressed, but