that it does not."

"The worst of it is that I cannot help it," said I. "Did the lady
ask you to speak to me of the matter?"

"Why, no; she did not. Only, I thought that some one must. Of
course, I mean that I will fight you if it goes on."

"Of course," I said. "But I can in no wise stop it. Do you know how
it began?"

"Not altogether. How was it?"

"Really, that you had better ask some one else," I said, keeping a
grave face. "I think that it would have been fairer to me to have
done so first. But if there was any real blame to me, do you think
that the ealdorman would have been glad to see me just now? I think
that it was plain that he was so."

"I am an owl," Erpwald said. "Of course, he would not have been.
But did you come to see the ealdorman, or the lady?"

"Why, both of them, of course. I have known them for years."

He looked relieved when he heard that, and I thought that he must
be badly smitten already.

"Well, I will go and ask the ealdorman all about it," he said.
"Where shall I find you in an hour's time?"