"You are a troublesome varlet, Wulf, and the Lord Bishop has been
making serious complaint of you to the king. He says that you brawled
with his page, Walter Fitz-Urse; that you used insolent words against
his countrymen; and that you even withstood himself. What have you
to say to this?"

"The brawling was on the part of the bishop's page and not of mine,
my lord. I was running out to carry the message with which you
charged me to Ernulf of Dover when I ran against Fitz-Urse. That
was not my fault, but a pure mischance, nevertheless I expressed
my regret in fitting terms. Instead of accepting them, he spoke
insolently, talked of chastising me, and put his hand on the hilt
of his dagger. Then, my lord, I grew angry too. Why should I, the
page of Earl Harold, submit to be thus contemptuously spoken to by
this young Norman, who is but the page of an upstart bishop, and
whom, if your lordship will give permission, I would right willingly
fight, with swords or any other weapons. Doubtless, in my anger, I
did not speak respectfully of Walter's countrymen, and for this I
am sorry, since it has been the ground of complaint and of trouble
to you."

"In fact, Wulf, you spoke as a quarrelsome boy and not as the page
of one who has the cares of this kingdom on his shoulders, and whose
great desire is to keep peace between all parties," the earl put
in gravely.

For the first time Wulf hung his head:

"I was wrong, my lord."