Then Havelok stopped and passed his hand over his face, and he laughed a little, uneasy laugh.

“And all the while I could not get it out of my head that he ought to be kneeling before me.”

“Well,” he went on after a little, “when I had done, this Berthun asked me a question, saying that he was a discreet man, and that if he could help me in any way he would do so.  Had I a vow on me?  Nothing more than to earn my keep until the famine was over, I said.  I had left poor folk who would have the more for my absence, and he seemed to think that this was a wondrous good deed.  So I told him that if he could help me in this I should be glad.  Whereon he lowered his voice and asked if I must follow the way of Gareth the prince.  I had not heard of this worthy, and so I said that what was good enough for a prince was doubtless good enough for me, and that pleased him wonderfully.

“‘Gladly will I take you into my service,’ he said, ’if that will content you.’  Which it certainly would; and so I am to be porter again tomorrow.  Then I said that I had a comrade to whom I must speak first.  He said that no doubt word must be sent home of my welfare, and he saw me as far as the gate.”

“Which of you went out of the hall first?” I asked.

“Now I come to think of it, I did.  I went to let him pass, as the elder, though it was in my mind to walk out as if the place belonged to me; and why, I do not know, for no such thought ever came to me in Witlaf’s house, or even in a cottage; but he stood aside and made me go first.”

Now I longed for Withelm and his counsel, for one thing was plain to me, and that was that with the once familiar things of the kingship before him the lost memory of his childhood was waking in Havelok, and I thought that the time my father boded was at hand.  The steward had seen that a court and its ways were no new thing to him, and had seen too that he had been wont to take the first place somewhere; so he had deemed that this princely-looking youth was under a vow of service, in the old way.  It is likely that the Welsh name would make him think that he was from beyond the marches to the west, and that was just as well.

Then Havelok said, “Let us go back to the widow’s house and sleep.  My head aches sorely, and it is full of things that are confused, so that I do not know rightly who I am or where.  Maybe it will pass with rest.”

We turned hack, and then I told him what I meant to do; and that pleased him, for we should see one another often.

“We are in luck, brother, so far,” he said, “having lit on what we needed so soon; but I would that these dreams would pass.”

“It is the poor food of many days gone by,” I said.  “Berthun will cure that for you very shortly.”

“It is likely enough,” he answered more gaily.

“Little want is in that house, but honest Berthun does not know what a trencherman he has hired.  But I would that we had somewhat to take back to our good old dame tonight.”