Beorn and Wulf had nothing to do save to make friends with young
Normans of their own age, to visit their castles and to join in the
hunting parties. The duke lost no opportunity of showing the sincerity
of the feelings of gratitude he had expressed to them for bringing
him the news of Harold's presence in his dominions, and they were
always specially invited to all court ceremonials, enjoying themselves
exceedingly. Wulf occasionally expressed his surprise to his
companion that no word was said as to their return to England, but
Beorn's answer always silenced him.
"The earl himself seems well satisfied, Wulf. Why should you be
more anxious for him than he is for himself?"
Once indeed he replied, "Harold is of so open and generous nature,
Beorn, that he would be the last person to suspect another of
dishonourable motives. Moreover, it is not because he is apparently
well content here that we must judge him to be without uneasiness.
Whatever he felt it would be impolitic to show it, and we see but
little of him now save when in company of the Normans. He cannot
but know that his presence is required in England."
It was a matter of satisfaction to Wulf that Walter Fitz-Urse was
not at the court, he having a few weeks before returned to England,
where he was again in the suite of the Norman bishop of London. He
himself had become firm friends with Guy de Burg, and often rode
over with him to his father's residence, where they hunted in the
forest together or rode out with falcons on their wrists, Agnes de
Burg often accompanying them on her pony.
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