And by that time Relf had somewhat to say.
"Penhurst is a lonesome place, and it will be worse for my wife when Sexberga is gone," he said musingly.
"Why, where is your daughter going ?" I asked him.
He looked at me sidewise for a moment, and I thought that his face fell a little.

Then he said: "Going to be wedded shortly." "That is well," I said.

"To whom ?" Then the thane turned fairly round on me with wide eyes, and a blank fear fell on me that he meant that I was to wed her.

Yet surely the lady had told him that I was betrothed.
"Ho!" he said; "did you not know that?
Methought everyone did." That was worse, and I knew not what he looked for from me.
"I have been away; I have heard nought," I answered lamely enough.
"Oh, aye; so you have," he said.

"Truly, I forgot that.