I pray you come to the high seat." "When will you remember that titles and high places are no longer pleasing to me ?" the man said wearily.

"I tire of them all.

Rise up, Odda, my friend, and let me be." "I will not rise without your blessing, nevertheless," said the ealdorman.
Whereon the man spoke a few words to him softly and quickly, signing with his hand crosswise over him.
Then I said to those about me, who were watching all this in silence: "Who is this strange man ?" "It is Neot the holy, King Alfred's cousin," one answered, whispering.
"That is a strange dress for an atheling," I said; but they hushed me.
Now it seemed that Odda tried again to draw this Neot to the high table, but he would not come.
Then I said to old Thord, who sat over against me beyond Odda's empty chair: "This is foolishness; or will he not honour the king's guests ?" But a thane shook his head at me, whispering behind his hand: "It is humbleness.

He has put his rank from him, and will not be held as being above any man." Then spoke old Thord: "Maybe he can put his rank away among men who know him not, and that is a good humbleness in a way.

But where all know what his birth is, he has but to be humble and kind in ways and speech, and then men will think more thereof than they will if they see him pretending to be a churl." Now Thord's voice was rough with long years of speaking against the wash of the waves, and the thunder of wind in sail and rigging, and the roll and creak of oars; and as he said this, every one turned towards him, for a silence had fallen on the crowd of folk who watched Neot the king's cousin and his strife with Odda.
So Neot heard, and his face flushed a little, and he looked hard at Thord and smiled curiously, saying: "In good truth the old warrior is right, and I am foolish to hide here now I am known.