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Updated: June 12, 2025
These, our old acquaintances, had all been gathered together in view of the approaching union of Alfgar with Ethelgiva, which was to be solemnised on St. Andrew's day, in the presence of the king. They were a happy party; all the woes of the past seemed forgotten in the happy present, or were only remembered in the spirit of the well-known line: "Haec olim meminisse juvabit."
And there, two heartbroken ladies, a mother and a daughter, came often to pray, not only for the soul of the departed king, but also for the discovery of his murderers and the clearing of the innocent, for neither Hilda nor Ethelgiva for one moment doubted the spotless innocence of Alfgar.
"You must admit them, or they will batter the door down. Edwy, Elfric! here, hide yourselves behind that curtain, it veils a deep recess." They had scarcely concealed themselves when Dunstan entered, attended by a guard of the royal hus-carles. "What means this insolence?" said Ethelgiva.
The whole party stood silent and breathless; for a loud and bitter cry, as of one in extreme anguish, broke upon the silence of the night. Ethelgiva uttered but one word as she bounded towards the staircase, for she knew the voice: "Alfgar!" Alfgar never saw his beloved lord enter his chamber with a look of greater weariness than he bore that night.
Brihtric pursued him with eighty ships, but being a bad sailor, got aground in a storm, and Wulfnoth came and burned all which the storm spared. The commanders and crews have forsaken the rest of the fleet in disgust. Whitsuntide, 1009. Poor Alfgar came to me in great trouble. He and Ethelgiva have been accepted suitors so long that he thought it time to propose marriage.
It was a fortnight ago, and our harvest was all gathered in. God had blessed our increase, and our garners were full with all manner of store; women and children had mainly been the reapers, but the Lady Hilda herself had been present amongst them, and so had her daughter, my niece, Ethelgiva, even sometimes labouring with their own hands.
Now after the mass was ended, we came forth from the church, and Alfgar, with Ethelgiva, walked down the path to the Lychgate, when Alfgar's eyes fell upon the stranger, whereupon, to our astonishment, he started, then stepped forward, fell on his knees, and cried, with a choked voice, "Father, your blessing!"
There is something in a life of adventure which warms the blood and makes time pass swiftly; my goodwife and I sometimes tire of each other's company, as I expect Ethelgiva and you will in time." "Never!" said Alfgar, so fervently that there was a general smile. "Well, time will show; meanwhile, how is the new hall at Aescendune getting on, Elfwyn?"
The servants went to answer it, and all the company awaited the issue in suspense. One of the principal domestics returned with haste, and whispered some words into the ear of Ethelgiva which seemed to discompose her. "What can this mean?" she said. "A guard of soldiers demand admittance in the king's name?" A louder knocking attested the fact.
Weeks passed away, and the women and children, as well as the old men, were all busy in getting in the bounteous harvest with which this year God had blessed the earth. Alfgar and Bertric worked like the theows themselves, and slowly the precious gifts were deposited in the garners. Alfgar had one source of consolation in the love he bore to Ethelgiva, a love which was fully returned.
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