better clear up that. Now, you come
and sit on my knee by the fire, and let me hear all about it." She did
not decline that seat, but still she chose another. He sat in Eric's
great chair, and she brought up a stool. He noticed that, and approved
of it. "This is a girl who is not for the mere asking," he thought.

When she had told him all about Thorberg, he did not scoff, nor laugh,
nor take it seriously either. He just considered it, with one large
hand grasping his beard. "Well," he said, "some people have the gift,
there's no doubt, and if your Thorberg had it not, all her mummeries
would avail her nothing. You set them up for a deal, I fancy, but they
are little to me. I am willing to believe her story, but what then?
So long as I am the first husband you have you may have twenty when I
am gone. Likely enough that you will see to the burying of me. I must
be twice your age. So much for your trouble, my dear."

"It was horrible to me," said Gudrid; "I have been unhappy ever since.
It seemed to me that I was accursed, and that no man ought to look at
me."

"But how can they help looking at you, foolish girl, and you like a
rose!" That gave her roses indeed, and a good deal more too.

"You are certainly very kind," she said, and he replied that if that
was kindness, there need be no end to it.

She went away after a time, so free of her shadowy load that she sang
as soon as she was out of the hall. She accepted the exuberant
greeting of the girls with evident pleasure. Her colour was clear, her
eyes shone like stars. They had plenty to tell her of Thore. He was
very rich, they said, and a widower. He had had a querulous and sick
wife, and had always treated her well. He was not exactly "near," but
thought twice about what he spent. He had a stone-built house up the
country. A just man, and one who did not bend his knee to any one.
Eric Red had often quarrelled with him. Except Theodhild he was the
only Christian among the great men. It was a pity he was so much
older, with such a great beard. They wanted to know if it scratched
you, but Gudrid wouldn't say.

It was all very pleasant, except for one small matter. Thorstan
immediately went away, and stopped away for ten days or a fortnight.
No one knew exactly where he was except Thorwald his brother. He was
teasing about it, when Gudrid asked him where Thorstan was. "I shall
tell him you asked me," he said. That made her sorry she had