And there we two men were helpless, looking at one another in the courtyard, and burning with impatience to get off.
"Let us go first, and tell her on the way" said he.
But I reminded him that we were here even now, and not on the far side of the Quantocks, because she would by no means leave her father.
Now while we debated this, the old sister who was portress, opened the wicket and asked us through it why these horses stood in the yard, and what we armed men did there.

And that decided me.

I would ask for speech with the prioress, and tell her the trouble.
That pleased Wulfhere: and I did so.

Then the portress asked who I might be, and lest my name should but prove a bar to speech with the lady, I showed her Osric's ring, which she knew as one he was wont to give to men as surety that they came from him on his errand.

And that was enough, for in a few minutes she came back, taking me to the guest chamber.
There I unhelmed and waited, while those minutes seemed very long, though they were but few before the lady came in.
She started a little when she saw who I was, for she had known me well, and knew now in what case I had been.