"Why, this is well," he said. "Good it is to see a master helping his
man, and a soldier ready to back a comrade of a sort. Now we have
witnesses. Let us go on with the wedding."

Now the golden loving cup that was used at the feasts had been filled
and set at a little side table that stood there, and it was to be the
bride cup that should be drunk between the twain when all was settled.
So Alsi took this cup and held it, while he sat in the place of the
father of the bride. Now, I knew nothing of what should he done, but
Berthun did so, and well he took my brother's part, having undertaken
for him thus.

"It is the custom," said Alsi, "that the bridegroom should state what he
sets forth of the dowry to the bride."

Whereat Berthun, without hesitation, spoke hastily to Havelok, and told
him to let him answer, meaning, as I have not the least doubt, to
promise all that he had saved in long years of service. But Havelok
smiled a little, and set his hand to his neck, and I remembered one
thing that he had--a ring which had always hung on a cord under his
jerkin since he came to Grimsby, and which my father had bidden him keep
ever.

"This give I," he said, setting it on the floor at his feet, "and with
it all that I am, and all that I shall hereafter be, and all that shall
be mine at any time."

Alsi looked at the ring as it flashed before him, and his face changed.
No such jewel had he in all his treasures, for it was of dwarf work in