I do not know even their names." "After my father was slain, I had none left but my mother," I said.
"We are distant kinsfolk of Ulfkytel, our earl, but we have no near kin." "Was your mother's name Hertha ?" she said, naturally enough, for I had never named her, always speaking, as one will, of her as my mother only.
I looked up wondering, for I could not think how she knew that name, or indeed any other than that of Siric, my father, and maybe Thorgeir, my grandfather, for Olaf had told them at first, when they took charge of me, to what family I had belonged, and how I was akin to him.
"That was not my mother's name," I answered.

"It was that of a playfellow of mine.

How could you know it ?" "One will go back in thought and word to old times when one is sick," the lady said, smiling.

"This was a name often on your lips as I sat by you in your sickness.

It was ever 'Mother' and 'Hertha'.