Nor, half Norman as he was, did the young man seem insensible of the manly and elevated patriotism of his brother's hinted lessons, though he felt they implied reproof.

He came to the Earl, whose arm was round his mother, and said with a frank heartiness not usual to a nature somewhat frivolous and irresolute: "Harold, thy tongue could kindle stones into men, and warm those men into Saxons.

Thy Wolnoth shall not hang his head with shame when he comes back to our merrie land with shaven locks and spurs of gold.

For if thou doubtest his race from his look, thou shalt put thy right hand on his heart, and feel England beat there in every pulse." "Brave words, and well spoken," cried the Earl, and he placed his hand on the boy's head as in benison.
Till then, Haco had stood apart, conversing with the infant Thyra, whom his dark, mournful face awed and yet touched, for she nestled close to him, and put her little hand in his; but now, inspired no less than his cousin by Harold's noble speech, he came proudly forward by Wolnoth's side, and said: "I, too, am English, and I have the name of Englishman to redeem." Ere Harold could reply, Githa exclaimed: "Leave there thy right hand on my child's head, and say, simply: 'By my troth and my plight, if the Duke detain Wolnoth, son of Githa, against just plea, and King's assent to his return, I, Harold, will, failing letter and nuncius, cross the seas, to restore the child to the mother.'" [107] Harold hesitated.
A sharp cry of reproach that went to his heart broke from Githa's lips.
"Ah! cold and self-heeding, wilt thou send him to bear a peril from which thou shrinkest thyself ?" "By my troth and my plight, then," said the Earl, "if, fair time elapsed, peace in England, without plea of justice, and against my king's fiat, Duke William of Normandy detain the hostages;--thy son and this dear boy, more sacred and more dear to me for his father's woes,--I will cross the seas, to restore the child to the mother, the fatherless to his fatherland.

So help me, all-seeing One, Amen and Amen!".