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Updated: May 10, 2025
But, with all her awe, Githa, who, not educated like her daughter Edith, had few feminine resources, loved the visits of her mysterious kinswoman. She loved to live her youth over again in discourse on the wild customs and dark rites of the Dane; and even her awe itself had the charm which the ghost tale has to the child; for the illiterate are ever children.
"She is sibbe to Githa, wife of Godwin," answered the King, "and that is her most perilous connection; for the banished Earl, as thou knowest, did not pretend to fill the throne, but he was content with nought less than governing our people."
The ships sailed to their havens, and Tostig departed to his northern earldom. "And now," said Harold, "I am at leisure to thank thee, brave Norman, for more than thine aid in council and war; at leisure now to turn to the last prayer of Sweyn, and the often-shed tears of Githa my mother, for Wolnoth the exile.
"Ay, ay," answered Githa shuddering; "I saw her once in gloomy weather, driving before her herds of dark grey cattle. Ay, ay; and my father beheld her ere his death, riding the air on a wolf, with a snake for a bridle. Why askest thou?"
In the face of the younger girl Haco recognised Thyra, the last-born of Githa, though he had but once seen her before the day ere he left England for the Norman court for the face of the girl was but little changed, save that the eye was more mournful, and the cheek was paler. And Harold's betrothed was singing, in the still autumn air, to Harold's sister.
Fresh messengers were despatched to Gurth to collect the whole force of his own earldom, and haste by quick marches to London; and, these preparations made, Harold returned to the metropolis, and with a heavy heart sought his mother, as his next care. Githa was already prepared for his news; for Haco had of his own accord gone to break the first shock of disappointment.
The Vala motioned to her attendants to lay the cyst at the feet of Githa, and that done, with lowly salutation they left the room. The superstitions of the Danes were strong in Githa; and she felt an indescribable awe when Hilda stood before her, the red light playing on the Vala's stern marble face, and contrasting robes of funereal black.
"But how long shall the exile be?" asked Githa, comforted. Harold's brow fell. "Mother, not even to cheer thee will I deceive. The time of the hostageship rests with the King and the Duke.
We belong to a land where men are valued for what they are, not for what their dead ancestors might have been. So has it been for ages in Saxon England, where my fathers, through Godwin, as thou sayest, might have been ceorls; and so, I have heard, it is in the land of the martial Danes, where my fathers, through Githa, reigned on the thrones of the North."
At this time his brother Gurth, who had chiefly shared watch with Harold, for Tostig, foreseeing his father's death, was busy soliciting thegn and earl to support his own claims to the earldom about to be vacant; and Leofwine had gone to London on the previous day to summon Githa who was hourly expected Gurth, I say, entered the room on tiptoe, and seeing his brother's attitude, guessed that all was over.
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