CHAPTER XL. 

HOW HEREWARD BEGAN TO GET HIS SOUL'S PRICE. 

And now behold Hereward at home again, fat with the wages of sin, and not knowing that they are death. 

He is once more "Dominus de Brunune cum Marisco," (Lord of Bourne with the fen), "with all returns and liberties and all other things adjacent to the same vill which are now held as a barony from the Lord King of England." He has a fair young wife, and with her farms and manors, even richer than his own. He is still young, hearty, wise by experience, high in the king's favor, and deservedly so. 

Why should he not begin life again? 

Why not? Unless it be true that the wages of sin are, not a new life, but death. 

And yet he has his troubles. Hardly a Norman knight or baron round but has a blood-feud against him, for a kinsman slain. Sir Aswart, Thorold the abbot's man, was not likely to forgive him for turning him out of the three Mainthorpe manors, which he had comfortably held for two years past, and sending him back to lounge in the abbot's hall at Peterborough, without a yard of land he could call his own. Sir Ascelin was not likely to forgive him for marrying Alftruda, whom he had intended to marry himself. Ivo Taillebois was not likely to forgive him for existing within a hundred miles of Spalding, any more than the wolf would forgive the lamb for fouling the water below him. Beside, had he (Ivo) not married Hereward's niece? and what more grievous offence could Hereward commit, than to be her uncle, reminding Ivo of his own low birth by his nobility, and too likely to take Lucia's part, whenever it should please Ivo to beat or kick her? Only "Gilbert of Ghent," the pious and illustrious earl, sent messages of congratulation and friendship to Hereward, it being his custom to sail with the wind, and worship the rising sun--till it should decline again. 
was Hereward burdened with sin?
Who was the abbots man?
Whas he knighted?
How long had he stayed in the Manors which he was thrown out of?
Who would be upset with him just for existing within a hundred miles of him?
Who was the only one to send messages of congratulation and friendship to Hereward?
was Hereward high in the kings favor?
Was Gilbet of ghent considered pious and illustrious?
Was hereward questioning his life and trying to give things rationel?
Were there lots of people disguntled or in blood fued with him?
sin
sin
Thorold
Thorold
Sir  yes
Sir 
two years
 two years
Ivo Taillebois
Ivo Taillebois
Gilbert of Ghent
Gilbert of Ghent
high in the king's favor  yes he was
high in the king's favor
the pious and illustrious earl yes he was
the pious and illustrious earl
Why should he not begin life again yes
Why should he not begin life again
Hardly a Norman knight or baron round but has a blood-feud against him
Hardly a Norman knight or baron round but has a blood-feud against him