But whither ?" I told him at once of the house of a great thane beyond the Quantocks, easily reached by safe roads through the forest land, where Danes would not care to follow, and he thanked me.
Then he said that I might well try to join the levy; but that it was possible that it would be hard for me.

And I told him that if I could not manage it I would join in the fight when no man would question me, and that seemed possible to both of us.

But if the Danes yet kept away I knew I could wait in hiding, having money now, safely enough till they had gone and the levy dispersed.
Then came Alswythe back, bearing with her the things I needed.

And Wulfhere begged her not to bide alone in the wood now, since robbers might be overbold now that the men were drawn off to the levy.

That was good advice in itself; but I knew that he would have her near the hall, lest there should be sudden need for fleeing.