Have you ever been at the court of King Offa of Mercia ?" I had not, and I think I had told him so before, when he asked me if I would ride with him thither.
He took my arm and turned to pace the garden back again, thinking.
I wondered that he took the trouble to tell me all this, as I was so complete a stranger to him.
"I am sorry for that," he said; "I would have asked you somewhat.
You would have answered it frankly, and without the thought of what might please me, as our courtiers would of course stay to consider.
But tell me, what have you heard of Offa and his family ?" Now I could say nothing of what I had heard from Thrond; that was impossible.

Nor did it seem to me to matter that of it I spoke not.
The life of Quendritha the queen had lain open to all England, as one may say, for the last twenty years, and that was of more account than the half-told tale of a wandering Dane.

So I said simply the truth.
"I have ever heard of that royal house as the noblest and greatest in all England--at least since Ina of Wessex died; but I have been abroad for these five years, and I know not what they have brought." "Why, then," he answered, laughing, "it is I who must tell you of them.

There was once a fair little playmate of mine in Offa's house, his youngest daughter Etheldrida.

Since you left England she has grown up, and now--Well, you will not need telling the rest, maybe ?" He reddened and laughed, as if well content, and plain to me it was that if Ethelbert meant to wed that playmate of whom he spoke he was happy; for in this case certainly policy and inclination went hand in hand.
"Then both yourself and East Anglia will be happy, King Ethelbert," said I, smiling in turn.