We hold that you have deserved well of all of us." But I told her of my mother and sister at home, and how I would fain be back with them, so she pitied me the more, saying that now for their sakes she would hasten me.
"Aye, lad," said the thane, "we have sons of our own at court, and the lady would that someone would pack them home on a good horse--so she must not be denied." Thus they persuaded me, and when I tried to thank them, the thane laughed, and the lady said: "Thank me not but in one way, and that is by asking your mother to help homeward some other lady's son when need is.

And that is all I would wish." And the end of it was that I rode away from Chichester town on a good horse and with change of clothes in saddlebags, and those worthy people stood at the gate to give me good speed.
Yet that is not the end, for there are one or two who have ridden in like sort from Reedham since that day, and have borne home the like message; so that I know not where the ending of that kindly deed may be.
Past the old Chichester walls I went, and out on the long line of the Roman street that should take me to London.

And as I went I sang, for the green beechen woods were wondrous fair to me after the long weeks of changing sea, and it seemed to me that all was going well, so that I put away for the time the grievous thought of my shipwreck, the one hard thing that I must face when I came home again.
There is nothing to tell of that ride; for well armed, and rich, and with a good horse, what should there be?
And at last I came to London town, and rode straightway to the great house of my godfather, Ingild, that stood by London Bridge.

Very strange it was to me to look out over the Pool as I crossed, and not to see our good ship in her wonted place, for this was the first time I had come to London except in her.
At the door of the courtyard, round which Ingild had his great storehouses and sheds for goods, I drew rein, and two serving men whom I knew well came out.

Yet they knew me not, staring at my arms and waiting for my commands.
So I spoke to them by name, and they started and then laughed, saying that they must be forgiven for not knowing me in my arms, for surely I had changed greatly since two years ago, when I was last with them.
It was the same when Ingild himself came out, ample robed and portly; for he gazed long at my helmed face, and then cried: "Why, here is a marvel! Wulfric, my son, you have grown from boy to man since last we met; and you come in helm and mail shirt and on horseback, instead of in blue homespun and fur cap, with an oar blister on either hand.