I could almost fancy that I should be able to see the far blue line of the Mendips under the sun, so bright it all was and clear.
Then she asked if my folk knew that I was on my way home.
"No; else I had ridden straightway from Thetford to them.

They think that I am yet with the Franks across the sea, and a few days can make no difference to them.

Nor could I be so churlish as to refuse the king's offer of help on my way." "I wonder how you will find all when you get back ?" "And so do I.There were merchants from Bristol who brought me a message that all was well with them six months ago, and by the same hands I sent back word that so it was with me.

Possibly that message has reached them about this time." That was the third time I had heard from home during these years, and I was lucky to have heard at all.

It seems that my father had bidden friends of ours at the ports to let him hear of men from across the seas who were to go to the court of Carl.
"Ah," she said, "I hope so.