There were in all sixteen in number, and as nearly half were women the meeting was evidently of a family character, as upon occasions of importance or when serious discussions were to take place men alone sat down.

As Edmund advanced to take his place, his eye fell upon the jarl who seated himself at the head of the table, and as he did so he gave a slight start of surprise, for he at once recognized in him the Northman Siegbert, whose ship he had stopped at the mouth of the Humber.

From him his eye glanced at the girl by whose side Sweyn was on the point of seating himself, and recognized in her the maiden who had besought her father's life.

The dinner commenced and proceeded for some little time, when Edmund saw the girl looking fixedly at him.
"Who is that who is standing behind your father's chair ?" she asked Sweyn.
"A Saxon slave," he answered.

"His vessel was well-nigh wrecked on our coast.