"With my life."

"Come to the window, now; see the old sots departing. There a priest,
there a thane, there an earl--all drunk, I do believe; don't you think
so?"

"Yes, yes," said Elfric, disregarding the testimony of both his eyes
that they were all perfectly sober.

Just then his eye caught a very disagreeable object, and he turned
somewhat pale.

"What are you looking at?" said Edwy.

"There is that old fox, Dunstan, talking with my father; he will learn
that I am here."

"What does it matter?"

"Only that he will easily persuade my father to take me home."

"Then the commands of a king must outweigh those of a father. I have
heard Dunstan say a king is the father of all his people, and I command
you to stay."

"I want to stay with all my heart."

"Then you shall, even if I have to make a pretence of detaining you by
force."