Part 36 (2/2)

”He is near at hand, in the priory; you will find him much changed, but they say he will do well.”

She shook like an aspen leaf, and threw her garments around her with nervous earnestness.

”Come, mother, take my arm.”

”O Alfred, may I not come, too?” said little Edgitha.

”Yes, you may come too;” and they left the house.

Elfric heard them approach, and sat up in his bed, Father Cuthbert supporting him with his arm; while another visitor, Edgar himself, stood at the head of the bed, but retired to give place to the mother, as if he felt no stranger could then intrude, when the widow clasped her prodigal to her loving breast.

CHAPTER XXIV. SOW THE WIND, AND REAP THE WHIRLWIND.

When Alfred rebuilt the city of Winchester, after it had been burned by the Danes, he erected a royal palace, which became a favourite retreat of his successors.

Here the unhappy Edwy retired after his defeat, to find consolation in the company of Elgiva. Indeed he needed it. Northumbria had followed the example of Mercia, and acknowledged Edgar, and he had no dominions left north of the Thames, while it was rumoured that worse news might follow.

In an inner chamber of the palace, and remote from intrusion, sat the king and his chosen advisers. It was early in the year 958, a spring day when the sun shone brightly and all things spoke of the coming summer-- the songs of the birds, the opening buds, the blossoming orchards.

But peace was banished from those who sat in that council chamber. Edwy was strangely disturbed, his face was flushed, and he bore evidence of the most violent agitation.

”It must come to that at last, my king,” exclaimed Cynewulf, ”or Wess.e.x will follow the example of Mercia.”

”Better lose my crown then and become a subject, with a subject's liberty to love.”

”A subject could never marry within the prohibited degree,” said a grey-headed counsellor.

”We have messengers from all parts of Wess.e.x, from Kent, from Ess.e.x, from Suss.e.x, and they all unite in their demand that you should submit to the Church, and put away (forgive me for repeating their words) your concubine.”

”Concubine!” said Edwy, and his cheek flushed, ”she is my wife and your queen.”

”Pardon me, my liege, I did not make the word my own.”

”You should not have dared to repeat it.”

”If I dare, my lord, it is for your sake, and for our country, which is dear to us all. Not an Englishman will acknowledge that your connection is lawful; from Exeter to Canterbury the cry is the same--'Let him renounce Elgiva, and we will obey him; but we will not serve a king who does not obey the voice of the Church or the laws of the land.'”

”Laws of the land! The king is above the laws.”

”Nay, my lord, he is bound to set the first example of obedience, chief in that as in all things; an example to his people. Remember, my lord, your coronation oath taken at Kingston three years ago.”

Edwy flushed. ”Is this a subject's language?”

”It is the language of one who loves his king too well to flatter him.”

At this moment an usher of the court knocked at the door, and obtaining permission to enter, stated that Archbishop Odo had arrived, and demanded admission to the council.

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