He is in thoughtful mood to-day, and will probably
be alone."
Two or three other knights were assembled in Baron de Burg's tent
when the three lads went in. De Burg said a few words to his
companions, explaining who they were, and then continued his
conversation with the others. Beorn and Wulf, as they stood behind
the chairs and listened to the talk, could not help being struck
with the difference between it and the conversations they had heard
at the houses of Saxon thanes.
With Harold they had been accustomed to hear matters of state touched
on. The church and the struggle going on between the Norman prelates
and monks on the one hand and the English clergy on the other was
one that was frequently talked over, as were also the projects
Harold had at heart for encouraging the spread of education and
raising the condition of people generally. At the houses of the
thanes, however, the evenings were passed in feasting and song, and
it was seldom that there was anything like discussion upon general
affairs. Indeed, between men heated with wine and accustomed to
state their opinions bluntly anything like friendly argument was
well nigh impossible. De Burg and his companions made no allusion
at all to public affairs, but discussed gravely and calmly, and
with a courteous respect for each other's opinions, questions
connected with the art of war, hunting, the changed conditions
brought about by the demolition of castles, the improvements gradually
being introduced in armour, and other kindred topics.
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