Ever was Alfred planning things like this, even in his greatest troubles; and therein he was wise, for it is not good to keep the mind full of heavy things alone.

Moreover, as we wondered at his skilful devices in these little things, we took heart from his cheerful pleasure in them.
When the chamberlain brought me in, the great book was put aside, and the pen set down, and the king looked up at me with his bright smile.
"Welcome, my ship thane," he said.

"Come and sit here beside me.

I have somewhat to read to you." So I sat down wondering, and he turned back to some place in his writing, and took the little knife that lay by him--for he had lost his jewelled book staff in Athelney--and running its point along the words, read to me from the writings of some old Roman what he had been busy putting into good Saxon: "Now when the Roman folk would make a fleet hastily, and had no rowers, nor time to train them rightly, they built stages like to the oar benches of a ship in a certain lake, and so taught the men the swing and catch of the long oars." "Will not that plan serve us, Ranald ?" he said.
"Ay, lord," I answered, laughing.

"In good truth, if a man can learn to keep time, and swing rightly, and back water, and the like, on such a staging, it is somewhat.