Wulf the Saxon | Page 9

word with him."
It was not, indeed, until two o'clock in the afternoon that Wulf had a
chance of speaking to the duke. Then, seeing that he was for the
moment alone, he entered the room and stood with bowed head waiting
for Harold to address him.
"So you have come to say good-bye, Wulf," the latter said kindly; "it is
best so, boy. A time in the country will do you good, and there will be
much for you to do down there. I have ordered two of my men to be in
readiness to mount and ride with you, for I would not that you should
go unattended. One of them will bear a message from me and a letter
under my hand to the steward, and will tell him that although you will,
of course, remain as my ward until you come of age, you are in all
respects to be treated as if you were already my sworn man, and thane.
It would be well if you could gather among your tenants twenty stout
men as house-carls. The steward is ordered to pay to you whatever

moneys you may require, and to account for them to me when he sends
me in his checkers. These house-carls will, of course, be paid. There
must be ample store of armour at Steyning for them, for your father
was followed by forty house-carls when he went with me to the Welsh
wars. One of the men who goes with you is a stout man-at-arms and is
one of my own house-carls; he will remain with you and will instruct
your men in arms and teach them to fight shoulder to shoulder. There
may be bad times ere long, and it is upon trained troops and not upon
hasty levies that we must most depend. In time I trust you will be able
to place fifty such men in the field, but at present twenty will suffice.
Have you aught to say to me before you go?"
"Yes, my lord; first, to thank you for your kindness, and to say that I
will carry out your instructions; secondly, to tell you that Ulred the
smith saw Walter Fitz-Urse handle his dagger, and was standing ready
to knock it from his hand did he draw it. Lastly, that Ulred's son Osgod,
who is a stout lad a year older than myself, and for his age well
accustomed to arms, desires to be sworn as my man and to serve me in
hall and in field. I like him much and have almost daily practised with
him in arms, and I should be glad to have him with me if you see no
objection."
"Not at all, Wulf; it is well that a man should have at his side one in
whom he can altogether trust, be he of gentle blood or simple
man-at-arms."
"Then I may take him down with me, my lord?"
"Yes, if it pleases you. Can he ride?"
"Not as yet, my lord, I will see that he is instructed down at Steyning.
He started to walk this morning, understanding that if you refused him
permission to be my man he would at once return. We shall overtake
him on the road."
"Bid one of your escort take him up behind," the earl said, "I like his
spirit. See that he is fittingly apparelled. You shall hear from me ere
long."

Half an hour later Wulf mounted, and with his two followers rode from
Westminster.

CHAPTER II.
COUNTRY LIFE.
Far from being depressed, Wulf felt his spirits rise as he rode away on
his banishment from court, for instead of feeling it a disgrace he
regarded it as a step forward in life. Earl Harold could certainly, had he
been so inclined, have smoothed down the angry prelate, and could
have retained him at court; but by the way he had spoken, Wulf was
convinced that the earl let him go because he thought that it was good
for him to be away. For four years he had been under tutelage, first at
Waltham, and then at the court. In the last position his life had indeed
been a pleasant one, for as one of Harold's pages he had mixed with all
the noble youths of the court, and had had a place at every festive
gathering. Still, he had been but a page, and treated as a boy. Now he
was to go forth, and to learn his duties as his father's successor.
Harold's steward, who had since the thane's death acted as the earl's
agent in the management of the estate, would instruct him doubtless in
his civil duties, while the soldier who rode behind him would teach him
how to lead men in battle, and how