It was plain to be known that there was no plot laid by these honest Mercian nobles against their guest.

One feels aught of that sort in the air, as it were, and it holds back the tongues of men and makes their eyes restless.
There were some fifty or more who sat with the kings on the high place at the end of the hall opposite the great door, thanes and their ladies, of rank from earl to sheriff.

They set me at one end of the high table also, as a stranger of the court of Carl, asking me nothing of my own rank, but most willing to honour the great king through his man.

And that was all the more pleasant because next above me was the Lady Hilda, so that I was more than content.
She had found that she was indeed to ride home with the new-made bride, and had spoken with her already.
"See," she said, "the omens have come to naught.

We were most foolish to be troubled by them.