Even now, when the blood is scarce dry on their hearthstones, there
is a large force of them under Edwin's banner.'"
"It is a grievous look-out for England," Edith said. "It would seem that
nothing can bring about peace and unity save the end of this terrible feud
between the families of Godwin and Leofric."
"That would indeed be a blessing for the country," Wulf agreed; "but of all
things that seems to me most hopeless."
"They must be reconciled!" Edith said, rising from her seat. "What is a
woman's love or a woman's life that they should stand in the way of the
peace of England? See you not, Wulf, there is but one way in which the feud
can be healed? Were it not for me Harold could marry the sister of these
earls, and if she were Queen of England the feud would be at an end. A
daughter of the house of Leofric, and a son of the house of Godwin, would
command the support of Mercia and Wessex alike, and as brothers of the
queen, Edwin and Morcar might well be content to be friends with her
husband and his brothers. I only stand in the way of this. I have already
urged this upon Harold, but he will not hear of it. Until now the Mercian
brothers might be a trouble, but they were not strong enough to be a danger
to the kingdom. Now that they hold half of it in their hands this marriage
has become a necessity. I must stand aside. What is my happiness and my
life that I should be an obstacle alike to my lord's glory and the peace of
England? Go to Harold; tell him that I am here, and pray that he will come
to me.
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