prayed me to express his thanks to your majesty for having pardoned
him, and having authorized me to enrol him again in the ranks of
my followers here."

The king nodded pleasantly in answer to the deep bow that Wulf made.
"I was somewhat hasty in your matter," he said graciously, "and
dealt out somewhat hard measure to you, but doubtless, as Earl
Harold said, your stay in the country has been for your good, and
I am glad to hear that the worthy prior of Bramber speaks so well
of you."

The earl gave a little nod to Wulf, and the latter, gathering that
his case was concluded, and that he could now go at once, retired
with another deep obeisance.

Leaving the palace he made his way to the armourer's, whither he
had sent Osgod as soon as they arrived. The smith doffed his cap
as he entered. "I am right glad to see you back again, young master.
My son gave me a rare surprise, for truly when he walked in I did
not know him again, not having had him in my thoughts or having
heard of his arrival. The varlet saw that I did not know him, and
said, 'Canst mend me a broken dagger, master armourer?'

"'That can I,' I answered, and would have said more, when a laugh
came from his great mouth that well-nigh shook the house, and I
knew that it was my son, though the note was deeper than his used
to be, and was, as I told him, more like the bellow of a bull than
the laugh of a young fellow of eighteen. His mother looked in from
behind the shop and said, 'Surely that must have been Osgod's laugh.'
'It was,' I said, 'and there he stands before you. The impudent