The Brethren

From the sea-wall on the coast of Essex, Rosamund looked out across the ocean eastwards. To right and left, but a little behind her, like guards attending the person of their sovereign, stood her cousins, the twin brethren, Godwin and Wulf, tall and shapely men. Godwin was still as a statue, his hands folded over the hilt of the long, scabbarded sword, of which the point was set on the ground before him, but Wulf, his brother, moved restlessly, and at length yawned aloud. They were beautiful to look at, all three of them, as they appeared in the splendour of their youth and health. The imperial Rosamund, dark-haired and eyed, ivory skinned and slender-waisted, a posy of marsh flowers in her hand; the pale, stately Godwin, with his dreaming face; and the bold-fronted, blue-eyed warrior, Wulf, Saxon to his finger-tips, notwithstanding his father's Norman blood. At the sound of that unstifled yawn, Rosamund turned her head with the slow grace which marked her every movement. "Would you sleep already, Wulf, and the sun not yet down?" she asked in her rich, low voice, which, perhaps because of its foreign accent, seemed quite different to that of any other woman.

Sir Henry Rider Haggard, born on June 22, 1856, in Bradenham, United Kingdom, was a prominent English writer known for his adventure fiction, particularly those set in exotic locations like Africa. His novels often blend thrilling adventures with elements of fantasy and exploration. Haggard was also active in land reform efforts across the British Empire, advocating for improvements in the lives of indigenous peoples. He married Mariana Louisa Margitson in 1880, with whom he had two daughters. Haggard's parents were William Meybohm Rider Haggard and Ella Doveton.
Andrew Lang, born March 31, 1844, in Selkirk, United Kingdom, was a Scottish poet, novelist, and literary critic, best known for collecting folk and fairy tales. A scholar with a broad range of interests, Lang contributed to anthropology and was a notable figure at the University of St Andrews, where the Andrew Lang lectures were named in his honor. Lang's marriage to Leonora Blanche Alleyne in 1875 marked a personal chapter in his life. His legacy is deeply embedded in children's literature, with his fairy tale collections remaining influential. Lang passed away on July 20, 1912, in Banchory, United Kingdom.