"Shall I leave Harek and his harp with you ?" "Harek would charm our ears, and would escape," Alfred answered.
"Nay, but I must give you house and lands for a home, and therein you shall leave a fair wife, whose loneliness will bring you ashore now and then." I thought there was more to come, and I liked not this at all, for it went too closely with my fears of what might be.

So I bowed, and answered nothing as yet, while he looked laughingly at me.
"Why," he cried, "half my thanes would have gone wild with joy if I had promised them either half of what I have said I would give to you.

Are you so fond of the longships and the restless waves that you will not be bound to the shore ?" "Nay, my king," I said; "but I cannot yet rightly understand all that you mean for me." "Well, it means that I must find you a rich wife, as I think I can.
What say you to that fair lady of Exeter town and Taunton--Odda's daughter, Etheldreda ?" "My king," I answered, somewhat over-gladly maybe, "Ethelnoth of Somerset, my good comrade, might have some grudge against me if I cast favouring eyes in that direction.

Let this bide for a little while, I pray you, King Alfred.

Yet I would not have you think me ungrateful, for indeed I know well what kindness is in your thought for me." "Nay, but I have it in my mind that you were fond of going to Taunton not so long since, and one might well think that a maiden's hair drew you.