"It is the thane on the great pied horse whom she will thank." I wondered whether it was the steed or myself she remembered best, which was not courteous of me.

Ethelbert laughed and told me so, adding that he thought after all that the horse would be noticed first.

He was the first thing which had caught his own eye when we rode into the palace yard on our coming, certainly, so I had to stand another jest or two about him.
We came to the bower, across a fair garden where the May flowers were gay and sweet, and the king knocked at the door.

It was a handsome, low-built little hall which stood at right angles to the great one, so that it had a door opening on the high place where we sat at table.

Its windows on this garden side were wide and high, and this morning the heavy shutters were flung back from each, and the curtains were drawn aside, for it faced south to the warm sun.
There were bright faces of the queen-mother's ladies at one or two as they sat in the deep window seats working or spinning, and anywise laughing with one another; whereon I grew bashful, for of ladies' talk and presence I have a sort of fear, being more used to camp than court, as I have said.
However, we went in, and there we stood on a floor strewn with sweet sedge in a fair hall, tapestry hung, full of sunlight, and of ladies also.