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and screams of joy； enough to have awakened any sleeper but one so wearied out as Osmond。
〃And is it true？ Oh； am I really in Normandy again？〃 cried Richard。
〃Yes； yes！oh； yes； my Lord！ You are at Montemar。 Everything here is yours。 The bar…tailed hawk is quite well； and my mother will be here this evening； she let me ride on the instant we heard the news。〃
〃We rode long and late； and I was very weary；〃 said Richard！ 〃but I don't care； now we are at home。 But I can hardly believe it！ Oh； Alberic； it has been very dreary！〃
〃See here； my Lord！〃 said Alberic； standing by the window。 〃Look here； and you will know you are at home again！〃
Richard bounded to the window； and what a sight met his eyes！ The Castle court was thronged with men…at…arms and horses； the morning sun sparkling on many a burnished hauberk and tall conical helmet； and above them waved many a banner and pennon that Richard knew full well。 〃There！ there！〃 he shouted aloud with glee。 〃Oh； there is the horse…shoe of Ferrieres！ and there the chequers of Warenne！ Oh； and best of all； there isthere is our own red pennon of Centeville！ O Alberic！ Alberic！ is Sir Eric here？ I must go down to him！〃
〃Bertrand sent out notice to them all； as soon as you came； to come and guard our Castle；〃 said Alberic； 〃lest the Franks should pursue you； but you are safe nowsafe as Norman spears can make youthanks be to God！〃
〃Yes； thanks to God！〃 said Richard； crossing himself and kneeling reverently for some minutes； while he repeated his Latin prayer； then； rising and looking at Alberic； he said； 〃I must thank Him； indeed； for he has saved Osmond and me from the cruel King and Queen； and I must try to be a less hasty and overbearing boy than I was when I went away； for I vowed that so I would be； if ever I came back。 Poor Osmond； how soundly he sleeps！ Come； Alberic； show me the way to Sir Eric！〃
And； holding Alberic's hand； Richard left the room； and descended the stairs to the Castle hall。 Many of the Norman knights and barons； in full armour； were gathered there； but Richard looked only for one。 He knew Sir Eric's grizzled hair； and blue inlaid armour； though his back was towards him； and in a moment； before his entrance had been perceived； he sprang towards him； and； with outstretched arms； exclaimed： 〃Sir Ericdear Sir Eric； here I am！ Osmond is safe！ And is Fru Astrida well？〃
The old Baron turned。 〃My child！〃 he exclaimed； and clasped him in his mailed arms； while the tears flowed down his rugged cheeks。 〃Blessed be God that you are safe； and that my son has done his duty！〃
〃And is Fru Astrida well？〃
〃Yes； right well； since she heard of your safety。 But look round； my Lord； it befits not a Duke to be clinging thus round an old man's neck。 See how many of your true vassals be here； to guard you from the villain Franks。〃
Richard stood up； and held out his hand； bowing courteously and acknowledging the greetings of each bold baron； with a grace and readiness he certainly had not when he left Normandy。 He was taller too； and though still pale； and not dressed with much care （since he had hurried on his clothes with no help but Alberic's）though his hair was rough and disordered； and the scar of the burn had not yet faded from his checkyet still； with his bright blue eyes； glad face； and upright form； he was a princely； promising boy； and the Norman knights looked at him with pride and joy； more especially when； unprompted； he said： 〃I thank you； gallant knights； for coming to guard me。 I do not fear the whole French host now I am among my own true Normans。〃
Sir Eric led him to the door of the hall to the top of the steps； that the men…at…arms might see him； and then such a shout rang out of 〃Long live Duke Richard！〃〃Blessings on the little Duke！〃that it echoed and came back again from the hills aroundit pealed from the old towerit roused Osmond from his sleepand； if anything more had been wanting to do so； it made Richard feel that he was indeed in a land where every heart glowed with loyal love for him。
Before the shout had died away； a bugle…horn was heard winding before the gate； and Sir Eric； saying； 〃It is the Count of Harcourt's note；〃 sent Bertrand to open the gates in haste； while Alberic followed； as Lord of the Castle； to receive the Count。
The old Count rode into the court； and to the foot of the steps； where he dismounted； Alberic holding his stirrup。 He had not taken many steps upwards before Richard came voluntarily to meet him （which he had never done before）； held out his hand； and said； 〃Welcome； Count Bernard； welcome。 Thank you for coming to guard me。 I am very glad to see you once more。〃
〃Ah； my young Lord；〃 said Bernard； 〃I am right glad to see you out of the clutches of the Franks！ You know friend from foe now； methinks！〃
〃Yes； indeed I do； Count Bernard。 I know you meant kindly by me； and that I ought to have thanked you； and not been angry； when you reproved me。 Wait one moment； Sir Count； there is one thing that I promised myself to say if ever I came safe to my own dear home。 WalterMauriceJeannotall you of my household； and of Sir Eric's… …I know； before I went away； I was often no good Lord to you； I was passionate； and proud； and overbearing； but God has punished me for it； when I was far away among my enemies； and sick and lonely。 I am very sorry for it； and I hope you will pardon me； for I will strive； and I hope God will help me； never to be proud and passionate again。〃
〃There； Sir Eric；〃 said Bernard； 〃you hear what the boy says。 If he speaks it out so bold and free； without bidding； and if he holds to what he says； I doubt it not that he shall not grieve for his journey to France； and that we shall see him； in all things； such a Prince as his father of blessed memory。〃
〃You must thank Osmond for me；〃 said Richard； as Osmond came down； awakened at length。 〃It is Osmond who has helped me to bear my troubles； and as to saving me； why he flew away with me even like an old eagle with its eaglet。 I say； Osmond； you must ever after this wear a pair of wings on shield and pennon； to show how well we managed our flight。〃 ｛15｝
〃As you will； my Lord；〃 said Osmond； half asleep； 〃but 'twas a good long flight at a stretch； and I trust never to have to fly before your foes or mine again。〃
What a glad summer's day was that！ Even the three hours spent in council did but renew the relish with which Richard visited Alberic's treasures； told his adventures； and showed the accomplishments he had learnt at Laon。 The evening was more joyous still； for the Castle gates were opened； first to receive Dame Yolande Montemar； and not above a quarter of an hour afterwards； the drawbridge was lowered to admit the followers of Centeville； and in front of them appeared Fru Astrida's own high cap。 Richard made but one bound into her arms； and was clasped to her breast； then held off at arm's…length； that she might see how much he was grown； and pity his scar； then hugged closer than ever： but； taking another look； she declared that Osmond left his hair like King Harald Horrid…locks； ｛16｝ and； drawing an ivory comb from her pouch； began to pull out the thick tangles； hurting him to a degree that