I feared that you would be kept at court."
"Tostig and the king are still away," he said, "and he will return so
furious at this revolt against his authority, that, thinking as I do that
he is in no small degree at fault--for I have frequently remonstrated with
him at spending so large a portion of his time away from his earldom,--I
thought it best to get away."
"It is strange how Tostig differs from the rest of you," Edith said. "You
and Leofwyn, and Gurth are all gentle and courteous, while Tostig is fierce
and impetuous."
"Tostig has his faults," Harold said; "but we love each other dearly, and
from the time we were boys together we have never had a dispute. It will be
hard indeed upon me if I am called upon to side against him. We have
learnt, Edith, that Edwin and Morcar have been intriguing with the
Northumbrians. These Mercian earls are ever bringing troubles upon the
country, and I fear they will give even greater trouble in the future. If
they stir up disturbances, as they have done, against the king, who is king
by the will of the people, and also by right of birth, what will it be
when--" and he stopped.
"When you shall mount the throne, my Harold," Edith said proudly. "Oh, that
this feud between Leofric's house and Godwin's were at an end. It bodes ill
for England."
"It is natural," Harold said gently. "It is as gall and wormwood to the
earls of Mercia to see the ascendancy of the West Saxons, and still more
would it be so were I, Godwin's son, without a drop of royal blood in my
veins, to come to be their king.
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