"Never saw I one with a face like that who harmed any man, either
in word or deed."
Now when Havelok had set down his load in the kitchen, he straightened
himself and said to Berthun, who was, as one may say, waiting his pleasure.
"This is today's task; but it is in my mind that I would stay up here
and work."
"What would you do?"
"There are men yonder who will miss the carrying if I am market porter
always. But here are things I can earn my keep at, and help the other
servants with at the same time. Water drawing there is, and carrying of
logs for the fire, and cleaving them also, and many other things that
will be but hardening my muscles, while they are over heavy to be
pleasant for other folk."
"Well," answered Berthun, "that is all I could wish, and welcome to some
here will you be. Let it be so."
"Now, I do not think that you would make a gain by my work this morning?"
"Truly not, if any one is wronged by my doing so," the puzzled steward said.
Then Havelok asked how many men would have been needed to carry up the
goods that he had brought, and Berthun said that he was wont to send one
at least from each stall, and more if the burden was heavy.
"Then today four poor knaves must go dinnerless by reason of my
strength, and that does not please me altogether," said Havelok gravely.
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