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Page 169
most of them inanimate. It was funny and painful at the same time to hear the words applied to himself.
"There is no need for that, and no danger to us more than to any other," he said, "but I am heartsick. It was I who urged the burning of Bangor, and it was done, and Llewelyn yielded. I hated it, but I thought it would be worth all if it brought a long peace between England and Wales and among the Welsh themselves. Instead, between all those wise menthe king, my father, FitzPeter, all of themthey are sowing the seeds of a worse hatred for England and a more violent rebellion in Wales than tore the land free after the first Henry had conquered it."
"When?" Joanna asked. "Should I leave the extra supplies stored here? Should I tell Sir Peter to hire more men?"
Then Geoffrey did laugh. Joanna's total preoccupation with the particular was refreshing, and her absolute reliance upon his knowledge and judgment was soothing. "I might be mistaken," he warned.
Joanna shook her head. "I do not think it. You are clever, Geoffrey. You see, you remember, you learn, you add things together. Even if matters mend themselves so that what you foresee now does not come about, you will have been mistaken in the right way. There is no hurt in being prepared for trouble that does not come."
"Well, in any case it will not come until spring. The Welsh who fought against Llewelyn have not yet tasted John's justice to those he fears may do him hurt, and Llewelyn's rage against them is still too hot for them to run to him in the next few months. Then it will be winter. They will not fight while the snow lies in the mountains and closes their secret paths."
"Good. Then there is time to think and talk about what to do. Come now and let me unarm you." Joanna watched Geoffrey as he sighed and rose to follow her. She saw that he was very tired, but there was something else also. Her heart smote her. If he was grieving over a stupid piece of scandal, she could at least ease him of that. "I fear," she

 
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