"There are things that come before friendship." "Well," he answered, "we shall see.

There is always a place for us both at Rolf's side in his new-won land." "Yet I should be loth to leave Alfred," I said most truly.

"I think that this is the only thing that would make me do so." "Thora would not stand in your way to honour with him, nor would I," said Osmund.
"Honour with Alfred shall not stand in my way, rather," I answered.
"But we speak of chances, as I think." We said no more, and he bade me farewell.
I went back to Alfred somewhat sad, and yet with many thoughts that were good and full of hope; and soon I had little time to do aught but look on at the way in which the king's plans worked out most wonderfully.
On the eve of the great Whitsunday festival we set out through the fen paths southward to the hills and the first woodlands of Selwood Forest, and when the morning came we were far in its depths, passing eastward towards the place where we were to meet the levy.
Presently we turned aside to a little woodland chapel that had escaped the sight of the Danes, and from a hut beside it came out an old priest, white-bearded and bent with age and scanty fare.

At first he feared that the heathen had found him at last; yet he looked bravely at us, catching up the crucifix that hung at his side and clasping it in both his hands as he stood in the open doorway of his church, as if to stay us from it.
Alfred rode forward to him when he saw his fear.
"Father, I am Alfred the king," he said.

"Far have I ridden on this holy day.