"
Wulf bowed deeply and withdrew. The prospect of a visit for a few
weeks or even months to Steyning was not a terrible one. It was
some years since he had stayed there for any time. He had been two
years at Waltham, and since his father's death had been for the
most part with Harold, and the thought of an unrestricted life and
of spending his time as he chose, hunting and hawking, and going
about among his tenants, was by no means unpleasant. He was quite
satisfied that Harold was not seriously angered with him, and for
anything else he cared little.
As he understood that his duties as a page were at present at an
end, he thought he would first call upon Ulred the smith, to ask
him if he had seen Walter Fitz-Urse handle his dagger, and also to
tell Osgod that he was going away for a time. He found the smith
at work.
"Good morning, Master Wulf; though this is not the first time I
have seen you today, for I was at hand when you had that quarrel
with the Norman page."
"Yes, I caught sight of your face, Ulred. It was about that I have
come to you. The bishop has made complaint against me to the king,
and Earl Harold has ordered me to go down to Steyning for a time.
Of course I acted wrongly in speaking as I did to the bishop, but
so far as Walter Fitz-Urse is concerned I maintain that I did no
wrong. I told my lord as much, and that the Norman put hand upon
his dagger. The earl said that if I could prove that it would benefit
my case.
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