"So you have come to say good-bye, Wulf," the latter said kindly;
"it is best so, boy. A time in the country will do you good, and
there will be much for you to do down there. I have ordered two of
my men to be in readiness to mount and ride with you, for I would
not that you should go unattended. One of them will bear a message
from me and a letter under my hand to the steward, and will tell
him that although you will, of course, remain as my ward until you
come of age, you are in all respects to be treated as if you were
already my sworn man, and thane. It would be well if you could
gather among your tenants twenty stout men as house-carls. The
steward is ordered to pay to you whatever moneys you may require,
and to account for them to me when he sends me in his checkers.
These house-carls will, of course, be paid. There must be ample
store of armour at Steyning for them, for your father was followed
by forty house-carls when he went with me to the Welsh wars. One
of the men who goes with you is a stout man-at-arms and is one of
my own house-carls; he will remain with you and will instruct your
men in arms and teach them to fight shoulder to shoulder. There may
be bad times ere long, and it is upon trained troops and not upon
hasty levies that we must most depend. In time I trust you will be
able to place fifty such men in the field, but at present twenty
will suffice. Have you aught to say to me before you go?"

"Yes, my lord; first, to thank you for your kindness, and to say
that I will carry out your instructions; secondly, to tell you that
Ulred the smith saw Walter Fitz-Urse handle his dagger, and was
standing ready to knock it from his hand did he draw it. Lastly,
that Ulred's son Osgod, who is a stout lad a year older than myself,
and for his age well accustomed to arms, desires to be sworn as my
man and to serve me in hall and in field. I like him much and have