Page:The Sundering Flood - Morris - 1898.djvu/81

 befell a knocking on the house-door, and Stephen went thereto and opened it, and came back with a man all dripping and tousled with the storm. He was a tall man, yellow-haired, and goodly both of face and body, but his face much hidden with a beard untrimmed; and he was clad in rags which scarce held together, and never a shoe had he to his foot. Yet was he bold and free of mien despite his poor attire. He carried some long thing under his arm wrapped up in cloth, which was bound about with twine, and sealed every here and there with yellow wax.

The goodman started up when he came in, and made as if he would have the newcomer put out, and he muttered: We keep no house for the harbouring of runagates. Yet he looked at Osberne withal, for he was now grown so masterful that nought was done in the house without him; and the lad stood up straightway and came to the newcomer and bade him welcome from out the storm. Then he took him by the hand and led him up to the hearth, and spake to his grandame: Goodwife, this our guest has been in rough weather without, and ere he sits down to meat with us, it were well to take him into the inner chamber and wash his feet, and find him dry raiment. The goodwife looked kindly on the guest and bade him come with her, and he went; but ere his back was turned Osberne looked on him and caught a glance of his eye, and therewith he was sure that, despite his rags and wretchedness, this was his friend Steelhead. In a while he