Then came the news how the very first day that he had gone
out against the Count of Guisnes he had gallantly rescued a
wounded man. A day or two after came fresh news of some
doughy deed; and then another, and another. And when Here-
ward returned, after a week's victorious fighting, all St. Omer
was in the street to stare at him.
Then Torfrida heard enough, and, had it been possiblo^ more
than enough, of Hereward and his prowess.
And when they came riding in, the great Marquis at the head
of ibem aU, with Bobert le Frison oa one aide of him, and on
the other Hereward, looking <<aa fi^sh as flowers in May," sha



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HEBKWARD, THE LAST OF THE EKGUSH. 101

looked down on him out of her little lattice in the gable, and
loved him, once and for all, with all her heart and soul.
And Hereward looked up at h«r and. her dark blue eyes and
dark raven locks, and thought her the fairest thiif^ that he had
ever seen, and asked who she might be, and heard ; and as he
heard he forgot all about the Sultan's daughter, and the Princess
of Constantinople, and the Fairy of Brocheliaunde, and all the
other pretty birds which were still in the bush about the wide
world ; and thought for many a day of naught but the pretty bird
which he held — so conceited was he of his own powers of win-
ning her — there safe in hand in St. Omer.
