The jarl looked after her curiously and sadly.
"This is a strange business for the girl," he said.
"She seems almost as troubled because you are not fighting as if you were in danger by doing so," I answered, with that thought still in my mind.
Thereat the jarl stared at me.
"What has put that into your head ?" he asked.
I told him what she and I had said, adding that I feared I had seemed to hint somewhat discomforting.
Then said Osmund, looking in my face with a half smile: "She is glad I am honourably out of this business, and the trouble is not that.

There are one or two, maybe, whom she would like to see as safe in the same way." Then it flashed through my dull mind that perhaps I was one of these, and the thought was pleasant to me.
"Well," I said, "there are the thane, and his young son, the king's page, who is here.

They have been very kind to her." "Also a wandering king who took her out of danger," he said then.
"Ay; I shall be glad if she thinks of me." There were a little laugh and a rustling behind us, and one said: "Either you are the least conceited of men or the blindest, King Ranald, or you would know what is amiss." I turned, and saw the Lady Etheldreda herself, and I bowed to her in much confusion.
"O you men!" she said.

"Here you will let the poor girl break her heart in silence, while you fight for glory, or somewhat you think is glory, without a word to say that you care that she shall see what you win.

Of course she thinks of you, even night and day.