They gave us lodging near the great house where the court was held, and on the third day after we came, we were bidden to the king's presence.
Then it was that I looked on Ethelred for the first time, and I had thought that a king should have been more kingly than he.

For there was no command in his face, and he moved quickly and with little meaning in what he did, being restless in his way.

But he put his hand on my shoulder very kindly, and looked in my face and said: "One may know that this is the son of Siric, my friend.

He is like what the good thane was in the old days.

What shall I do for him, lady ?" Now, my mother would have answered, but I was not afraid of this handsome, careless-looking man, and I had my own wishes in the matter.