he thought, looking at her beautiful face beneath the innocent primrose garland. For the next week, nothing else disquieted Rumon. True, Cild Aelfric stayed on at the Castle, averring that he too wanted to greet his King and hear about the boar hunt, but Rumon thought little about that. One could not be jealous of this young man whose tastes quite obviously did not run towards women; besides he was an entertaining addition to their sparse company. He had a fund of rather malicious anecdotes; he played chess with Alfrida — a game Rumon had never learned — he could play the viol, and sing with it in a thin tenor. Monday, March i8th, was a day of high winds and intermittent sunshine. After a nearly sleepless night, Alfrida was awakened at dawn by Britta who came nervously mincing into the chamber carrying a posset of warm milk. "Your pardon, my lady," she said quickly to forestall annoyance, "but my brother wishes to speak with you — at once." Alfrida curbed the angry rebuke on her lips, sat up slowly.
