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A strange discovery has been made which interests us all greatly. At the time of Alfgar's trial at Oxford, Herstan fancied there must be a secret staircase communicating with Edmund's room, but sought it in vain.
His mind became clear for a short time, and yet his memory was so confused that he scarcely comprehended where he was, or how he got here. So my return to Abingdon is indefinitely delayed, for Herstan and my sister both insist on my staying till he is out of danger, if God will; and indeed I know no one else to whose care I could willingly commit him.
The trees immediately around the house had been cut down a few weeks earlier, by order of Herstan, who saw they might afford cover to an enemy, in case the prince's prophecies were fulfilled, as proved now to be the case.
Alfgar. o Cuthbert, 1034. o Bertha, 1050 m. Herstan. + Edgitha, 990. ii Curse of Dunstan. "In the year of our Lord's incarnation 979, Ethelred, son of Edgar and Elfrida, obtaining the kingdom, occupied, rather than governed it, for thirty-seven years. The career of his life is said to have been cruel in the beginning, wretched in the middle, and disgraceful in the end.
Soon after our arrival, Herstan sent a messenger to Dorchester to learn at what hour the king was expected; and the answer was returned, that they expected him in time for the banquet at the episcopal palace this evening. So Edmund and Alfgar consented to pass the day quietly at Cliffton.
"Alfgar," said the bishop, "this counter-accusation cannot be received; have you aught else to urge?" "None. I commit my cause to God." The court retired. The pause was long and painful. It afterwards transpired that the bishop pleaded in Alfgar's favour, while Herstan ably seconded him; but all was in vain.
Elfwyn and Herstan talked of the old days of Dunstan; Alfgar and Hermann of the events of the recent war; the good bishop and Father Cuthbert on ecclesiastical topics; the ladies upon some question of dresses and embroidery for the approaching festivity, which seemed to interest them deeply, when an attendant entered, and approaching the king, whispered a message in his ear. "What! in this house?
"What shall we do?" asked Herstan, gazing with indescribable feelings at those who clung to him for support. "The case is clear as the day," said the prince. "The storm I foretold in vain has broken over the land, and the levies are not ready to meet it. Listen; you may hear the sounds of alarm from Dorchester even here. They see their danger."
Elfwyn, Hilda, Herstan, Bertha, and Hermann, with his sisters indeed all the kindred of the bride were there. Of the kindred of the bridegroom but one, so far as we know, is living his father Anlaf. It has been a warlike race, and nearly all the members of the family have found a warrior's grave.
Here, in the first year of the great English king Athelstane, Dunstan was born, the son of Herstan and Kynedred, both persons of rank a man destined to influence the Anglo-Saxon race first in person and then in spirit for generations the greatest man of his time, whether, as his contemporaries thought, mighty for good, or, as men of narrower minds have thought, mighty for evil.
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