And at that she was glad, and told me that if she saw Leofwine the hermit she would tell him that his words were coming true.
Then she looked hard at me, and said that she had heard from her aunt why Osric so trusted me, and that she was proud of Heregar.

And I said that I had but done the things that someone had to do, and which came in my way, as it seemed to me, wherein I was fortunate.
At that she smiled at me, seeming to think more of the matter than that, and so talked of other things.

Yet she must needs at last come to that which lay nearest her heart, and so asked me if I had seen her father fall.
And I was glad to say that I had not; adding that it was near Combwich Hill, as I had heard, and close to where Osric the Sheriff fought.
So I think that all her life long she believed him to have fallen fighting in the first line, where Osric was, with his face to the enemy; for all men spoke well of the sheriff's valour that day, and none would say more than I told her.

Yet it may have been that the thane fought well, unobserved, in that press, and there is perhaps little blame to many who fly in a panic.
Now, that spoken of and passed over, she became more like her brave self, and from that time on would speak cheerfully both to Wulfhere and myself, as, the horses set in order again, we once more went on our winding way, following our guide.
Glad was I when, just before sunset, we saw the woodland under which his hut was set, and heard the vesper bell ringing far off from the village church.

Soon we were on hard ground again, and then I could show Alswythe where I had played Grendel unwittingly, and point the way I had wandered from Brent.
There we rested the horses, for we had yet two miles to go, and they were weary with the long and heavy travelling of the fens.