thou art king?"

Harold made no answer to Aldyth, but turned to his Chamberlain, who
stood behind his throne chair.

"Are my brothers without?"

"They are: and my lord the King's chosen council."

"Admit them: pardon, Aldyth; affairs fit only for men claim me now."

The Lady of England took the hint, and rose.

"But the even-mete will summon thee soon," said she. Harold, who had
already descended from his chair of state, and was bending over a
casket of papers on the table, replied:

"There is food here till the morrow; wait me not." Aldyth sighed, and
withdrew at the one door, while the thegns most in Harold's confidence
entered at the other. But, once surrounded by her maidens, Aldyth
forgot all, save that she was again a queen,--forgot all, even to the
earlier and less gorgeous diadem which her lord's hand had shattered
on the brows of the son of Pendragon.

Leofwine, still gay and blithe-hearted, entered first: Gurth followed,
then Haco, then some half-score of the greater thegns.

They seated themselves at the table, and Gurth spoke first:

"Tostig has been with Count William."