But Alswythe had told her also of what I had been able to do for her last night, if she had heard no more, for news gets inside even closed walls, in one way or another, from the lay people who serve the place.
I bent my knee to her, and she looked at me very sadly, saying: "I knew and loved your mother, Heregar, my son, and sorely have I grieved for you--not believing all the things brought against you.

How come you here now ?" Then I held out my hand and showed her Osric's ring, only saying that as the good sheriff trusted me I would ask her to do so.

And at that she looked glad, and said that she would hold Osric's trust as against any word she had heard of me in dispraise.
So I bowed, and then, thinking it foolish to waste time, begged her to forgive bluntness, and told her of the death of Matelgar and of the sore danger of the town, and of how Osric had hidden me take Alswythe to Glastonbury to the bishop, and how he would himself care for her own safety.
She was a brave lady, and worthy of the race of Offa from which she sprung.

And she heard me to the end, only growing very pale, while her hand that rested on the table grew yet whiter as she clenched it.
"Can we not recover the body of the thane ?" she asked, speaking very low.
I could but shake my head, for I knew that where he lay was now in the hands of the Danes.

True, if Osric could beat them off again he might gain truce for such recovery on both sides; but that seemed hopeless to me.