Whereon the ealdorman glanced at them with a sly grin and wink to me, and I understood.
So I went away, for that was enough.

Of course, I was very angry, by reason of the scratch to my pride; for it does hurt to think that one is not wanted, and for a while I brooded over it just as I had done the other day.

Then it came to me that at least I had no reason to be angry with Erpwald, who could know little or anything about me, being a newcomer, and it was not his fault if the girl made a tool of him to scare me away, and after that I found my senses again, rather sooner than before, perhaps.

It was plain that the ealdorman took it for granted that I had no feeling now in that direction, and so others would do the same, which was comforting.
So I supposed that there was no more to be said on the subject by any one, unless Elfrida chose to have the matter out, and set things on the old footing of frank friendliness again.
There I found that I was mistaken at once.

Some one was coming down the lane after me quickly, and then calling my name.