Both dissembled their real
feelings. The duke said that he regretted that the King of England's wishes
forced his guest to start so suddenly, and that he much regretted his
departure. Harold thanked him for the hospitality he had shown him, but
neither made any allusion whatever to the scene that had taken place in the
courtyard. Wulf rode over to say good-bye to Guy and his father. The latter
was walking up and down the hall with a gloomy face.
"I blush for what has taken place to-day, Wulf," he said. "Tell the earl
that had we known what was going to occur there are few indeed who would
have attended at the ceremony, and that I for one shall hold him in no way
dishonoured if he breaks the vow that has thus been dishonourably extorted
from him. It was a trick and a base one, and I would tell Duke William so
to his face. What will men think of Norman faith when guests are thus
tricked to their disadvantage?"
For an hour Wulf remained talking with the baron and his family.
"I hope to see you again, Wulf," De Burg said, as the lad rose to take
leave. "Guy regards you as a brother, and though assuredly no Saxon will
set foot on Norman soil after to-day's doings, we may yet meet again."
"I shall come over to England to see you, Wulf, if you come not here," Guy
said. "I begin to think that I shall get over this, although I may never be
really strong again. We shall often think and talk of you, Agnes and I; and
I should like, of all things, to come and stay in your Saxon home.
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