CHAPTER XXVIII--AN UNEXPECTED GUEST

To London, or, as it was then known, Lundenbrige, the old British name, the brother and sister went. London, with its narrow, winding streets and low dwellings. London, which has grown from the rudiments of a municipal constitution which Alfred planted to the metropolis of to-day. London, which owes to the same king not only its municipality, but also the defenses which rendered it impregnable to the later attacks of the Danes.

Close by the bridge which had spanned the Thames from Roman times immemorial, at the meeting-places of the roads in that district known as East Cheap, the two found a cottage and there did they dwell. Already possessed of some knowledge of the craft of goldsmith, Siegbert allied himself with foreign workmen and cultivated the craft assiduously, soon becoming an expert. Egwina attended to the duties of the little household and happily the time glided by. All that she had learned of books at the court of the king did she impart to Siegbert, so that in giving to him of her learning she but impressed it the more firmly upon her own mind.

Two years passed thus, and if Egwina's heart ever turned with longing toward that far-off time when, beloved and honored, she dwelt an inmate of the king's household, or if the image of Edward rose before her, none knew of it save herself.

It was spring. Egwina drew back the linen blind that did duty in place of glass, which was in use only by the nobles or churches, and leaned out. The air came soft and fresh against her face. A song thrush on a budding tree near the window trilled forth his merry lay, and the maiden listened with light heart.

"Hail to thee, maiden," said a townsman who was passing, saluting her. "Heardest thou the news?"

"Nay, I have heard naught," answered the maiden, returning the salutation. "What hath happened?"

"King Alfred and Edward the atheling have come against the city, and Dane and Saxon alike have acknowledged him as overlord. Now hath he brought a great army of workmen and prepareth to rebuild the wall with which the Roman once encompassed the city. Fortifications and manors also doth he purpose erecting."

"Is the king himself in the burgh?" questioned the maiden, faint with joy.

"He himself is here," replied the citizen. "Royal doings shall we have amongst us, for the king's son-in-law, Ethelred, the ealdorman of Mercia, and the lady Ethelfleda, his wife, are with him. A goodly company, I trow! I'll warrant that there will be rare doings amongst us," and he passed on.

Here! In the same place! Egwina sank back on a seat almost overcome. Those dear people whom she had not seen for so long! Unknown to them she would gaze upon their faces again. And Siegbert! He, too, should see them. Together would they watch for them, and he should know them at least by sight. Full of excitement, she awaited the return of Siegbert with impatience.

"Thou shalt see them if thou wilt, my sister," said Siegbert, kissing her. "I, too, would see the king, and what manner of man the atheling be. Of excellent taste since he hath fancied thee, Egwina. 'Tis pity 'twere displeasing to the king. Thou art fit mate for any, be he atheling or what not."

"At least my life hath not been preserved twice on account of beauty," retorted the girl, saucily, flushing rosy red at his praise.

Siegbert smiled at her.

"Wottest thou not that Hilda said that we looked alike?" he asked. "Stoodst thou in my place before Dane, I trow that there could be found no Norseman, howe'er fierce, that could find it in his heart to slay thee. List! What was that? Methought that I heard a groan."

Both listened, and plainly there came to their ears the sound of some one moaning as if in pain.

"Some one hath been hurt, or o'ertaken by misease," exclaimed Siegbert, rising. "I will see if it be near. It so sounded." He opened the door. Prone upon the entrance lay the figure of a man.

"Now, who art thou, and what aileth thee, that thou dost utter moan?" asked Siegbert as he bent over the prostrate form.

"Let me enter in pity's name," spoke the man, feebly.

Without more ado the Saxon lifted him in his arms and bore him into the cottage. Egwina hastened forward.

"Bear him to thy bed, Siegbert," she said. "The poor man is ill."

The man whose form Siegbert was supporting turned his head and looked at her.

"Little one, is it thou?" he said.

With a cry, Egwina sprang toward him, and fell upon her knees before him.

"My king! my king!" she cried, covering his hands with kisses.

Alfred tried to raise her, but the effort was too much for him, and he became unconscious.

"Oh, Siegbert, 'tis the king, the king!" cried Egwina as Siegbert laid him on a couch.

"Yes, my sister; but now aid me to bring him from his swound, and then will I go for a leech."

In response to their restoratives the king soon showed signs of returning consciousness. Egwina explained rapidly to Siegbert as they ministered to him. "'Tis the same misease which hath afflicted the king since he was a young man. 'Twas at his wedding feast, I have heard them say, when first it seized upon him. The merriment was at its height when he was taken with it. Some there were, and are yet, who thought that wicca craft had been wrought upon him; but go, my brother, for the leech. See! he openeth his eyes."

Siegbert left hastily, and soon returned with the physician, who examined the king carefully.

"It needeth blood-letting," said he, sagely, "but unlucky is the day, and mickle would be the result should I use the vein knife."

The king smiled faintly.

"No blood dost thou need to let, good leech," he said. "The affliction is one to which time hath accustomed me, and naught do I need now but repose, since the sharpness of the attack hath passed."

"Then," said the leech, unwilling to let slip an opportunity to press his service upon the king, "I will leave thee this decoction, and to-morrow will we see about the blood-letting. Then, too, shalt thou be removed to abode more befitting thee."

To all of his entreaties the next day to allow him to remove him to his own dwelling, Alfred turned a deaf ear; nor would he permit Siegbert to inform his own family of his whereabouts.

"'Twill be but a few days until the misease will have left me," he said. "Until then I will stay with thee, little one, if thou wilt let me."

"Gladly, my king," returned the maiden, with shining eyes. "If thou canst abide in our poor dwelling, thou art as welcome as the sunbeam."

Tenderly did Alfred smile at her.

"Egwina," said he gently, when the leech had gone, "tell me of this young man. Art thou wed to him, and is that why thou wouldst not exchange the true-lofa with Edward?"

"No, no," answered Egwina. "This is my brother, my king."

"Thy brother?" and Alfred looked his surprise. "I knew not that thou hadst a brother, little one."

"Nor did I know until but a short time since," returned Egwina. Briefly she recounted the incidents which led to their finding each other.

"It was the providence of God that brought ye to each other," said the king, piously. "Grievously have we mourned for thee, little one. We knew not why thou shouldst have left us. Now that I have found thee, thou shalt not leave us again. Thy brother shall be of us also. Tell me of thyself," and he turned abruptly to Siegbert.

Siegbert told his story, with which we are already familiar.

"Thoughtful is thy brow, and thine eye glows with the light of a scholar," declared the king, regarding the young man with interest. "Thou dost please me well, Siegbert, and agreeable to me will be the task of training thy mind. In a few days we will go together to the palace."

Egwina looked at Siegbert with a distressed face. Siegbert spoke boldly, resigning without a pang the enticing prospect opened up before him, for the sake of that dear sister: "My lord king, prithee do not press us. Thy graciousness warmeth the heart, but we are not of gentle blood, and unbecoming to us would be the ways of the court."

"And thou carest naught for wisdom and learning?" cried Alfred, regarding him with surprise. "Hath my ken of men failed me now?"

A light flashed into Siegbert's eyes, but, loyal to his sister, he opened his lips to deny the desire that possessed him when the king said, smilingly: "There seemeth a paradox. Thy words belie thy looks, friend Siegbert. Gainsay it not that thou dost long for learning."

"I do not gainsay it, my lord," answered the young man in a low voice.

"Then why dost thou not wish to come to the palace? Ah!" catching sight of the downcast face of Egwina. "Come, little one, thou shalt answer. Is it Edward?"

Egwina bowed in silent assent.

"Egwina, tell me truly," and Alfred's voice was grave. "Lovest thou not my son? He told me that thou didst, and that thou didst withhold from him thy true-lofa because thou didst fear that I would be displeased with thee. Gladly did I approve thee, for thou wert near and dear to me already as mine own child. When he sought thee, lo! thou couldst not be found. Vainly have we searched for traces of thee, but none could be found. Edward hath grieved without ceasing over thy loss. Tell me why thou didst leave, for in that doth lie the reason of thy wish not to return. Hath Edward been mistaken? Dost thou not love him?"

Egwina looked at him with troubled eyes. Siegbert would have spoken, but she stopped him.

"My brother, I will tell him all," she said in earnest tones. "I do love Edward, my king. I knew not that he did love me until the night I left him. I stood awaiting his coming after he would have seen thee, when I heard footsteps approaching. Wishing not to meet other than Edward at the moment, I retired into the shadow of the trees. It was thou, my king, and the lady Elswitha. She was telling thee that she feared that Edward did look upon me with loving eye. Thou wert surprised, and when the lady said that it had grieved her that I was not gentle, thou didst say, 'True, she comes not of noble blood.' I could bear no more, my king. I feared thy displeasure, and so, as Gyda the seid woman was there and wished me to go with her, I left all and followed after her."

"Thou foolish little one!" The king's voice was very tender. "And thou didst not hear the rest of our talk? I said, 'True, she is not of noble blood, but what do we reck of the blood when the mind is noble? Glad am I that our son hath chosen so wisely.'"

"My king!" gasped the girl. "Saidst thou that?"

"The very same. Now will ye go with me, my children?" Alfred had risen. He held out his hands to them with his most winning smile. With an inarticulate cry Egwina sprang to him, and Siegbert's eyes were wet as he kissed the hand of Britain's gentle king.