It was almost as if something was held back by the Devon man and his daughter, though why I should think so I could not tell.

At all events, their way of receiving the news was not like that of Howel and Nona.
By and by, when we came to sit down at table in the largest room of the palace, bright with fair linen, and silver and gold and glass vessels before us, and soft and warm under foot with rugs on the tiled floor which hardly needed them, as I thought, there was a guest I was pleased to see.

Thorgils had ridden from Tenby at the bidding of the princess, as it seemed, and his first words to me were of assurance that all went well for our sailing.

The good ship would be ready for the tide of the morrow night.

Pleased enough also he was with the chance of new passengers, as may be supposed.
I do not think that I have ever sat at a feast whereat so few were present at the high table, and there were no house-carles at all.
Truly, the room was not large enough for what we deem that a king's board should be, but we seemed almost in private.