wet cheeks and trembling lips involved, but they were not hers. Then
she was put up before her father, and away she went.

As for young Arnkel, he no more comes into the tale than he had stayed
in Gudrid's mind.

II

Orme was a friend of Thorbeorn's, and a prosperous man. He lived at
Erne Pillar, which is below Snaefellness, and near the sea. There was
a haven there and a town. Moreover it was a Christian settlement, with
a church and a priest. Most of the houses and land there belonged to
Orme, who lived in a good house of his own with his wife Halldis. They
had no children, which was a grief to them.

Thorbeorn brought Gudrid to the house, and had a good reception from
the goodman and his wife. "Take her with you, good wife, into your
bower," he said, "while I have a word with Orme. He will tell you all
about it, or I will. It is good for me to be sure that it makes no
matter which of us tells you."

Halldis said, it was easy to see that Gudrid was not making a short
stay, and took her with her through the house into the bower. There,
it was not long before she knew all that Thorbeorn or Orme could have
to say, and may be more still.

Meantime, Thorbeorn, after much unnecessary havers, said to Orme: "The
matter is this, neighbour. I ask you and the goodwife to take Gudrid
here in fostership. It will suit me in every way, and I hope you will
agree to it."

Orme said that it would suit him too very well. "Nothing the mistress
would like better than to see herself reflected in a young pair of
eyes." Thorbeorn accepted that as a matter of course; but presently he
asked whether they saw much company at Erne Pillar.

Not such a deal of company, Orme said. Now and again a ship came in,
and there was a bustle, with men coming and going, cheapening the
goods. "Nothing to you at Bathbrink, I daresay," he added. "They tell
me that you keep a great house up there--as is fitting you should."

"I have to remember what is expected of me," Thorbeorn said, and felt
that he was no nearer what he wanted to say than he had been.

"Gudrid is young," he said, beginning again.

"She's a beauty, it's evident," Orme said briskly, and instantly
Thorbeorn felt himself bristling down the backbone.

"She is sought after on all hands--but not by any who is to my liking.
I hope that Halldis will look after her well."

"She will look after her like one of her own," said Orme. Thorbeorn
had rather he had said m