"Then I will be your forester, Thane, for such time as I may, and I
thank you."

"Nay, but the thanks are all on my side," answered my father. "Now
I shall know that the boy will have one with whom he may live all
day in the woods if he will, and I shall be content."

So Owen bided with us, half as honoured guest and half as forester,
and as time went on he was well loved by all who knew him, for he
was ever the same to each man about the place. As for me, it was
the best day that could have dawned when he found me in the woods
as a lost child. And that my father said also.



CHAPTER II. HOW ALDRED THE THANE KEPT HIS FAITH, AND OWEN FLED WITH OSWALD.


Our Sussex was the last land in all England that was heathen. I
suppose that the last heathen thanes in Sussex were those whose
manors lay in the Andredsweald, as did ours. Most of these thanes
had held aloof from the faith because at the first coming of good
Bishop Wilfrith, some twelve years ago, those who had hearkened to
him were mostly thralls and freemen of the lower ranks, and they
would not follow their lead. Yet of these there were some, like my
father, who had no hatred, to say the least, of the Christian and
his creed, and did but need the words of one who could speak
rightly to them to turn altogether from the Asir.