. Frey had been the
chief God at Bathbrink and in all the country round. Thorbeorn had
been Frey's priest at one time, but now would have nothing to say to
him; and as for Gudrid, she had never known anything herself about Frey
or the other gods, but had been sprinkled as soon as she could be
carried down to Erne Pillar. That, so far, had been the utmost of her
Christianity. But she had heard plenty of talk about the old gods; and
now she was to hear more about them, and something of the new gods too.

Orme and Halldis had both been heathens and knew a deal about Frey and
Redbeard, as they called Thor. Orme was not interested in religion at
all; but Halldis was. Halldis kept well with the priest, but on
certain nights of the year--on the night they called The Mother Night,
for instance--she was restless, and used to go to the door and stand
there looking out at the moonlight, as if she would be off with the
others if she dared. That, too, was what plenty other women at Erne
Pillar were doing; but none of them went. The priest saw to it.
Halldis taught Gudrid numberless songs--charms, incantations, love
spells, and long, terrible tales about Valkyrs and their human lovers.
The girl came to understand that love might become a tearing, wringing
business, and marriage a tame road for life to take. Halldis's songs
were seldom about marriage, but always about love. The two only came
together in the same song when it was a case of a giant with a woman
for his wife, or a Valkyr with a man for her husband. These cases, it
seems, had often occurred. They were exciting and ended in tears--but
not often in marriage as well.

She went to Mass first of all with Halldis, but afterwards, as often as
not, she went alone. Halldis had plenty to do at home. If she kept to
what was of obligation she thought she did very well. But Gudrid liked
the quiet and darkness; she used to stare at the lights till they
multiplied themselves and danced like shooting stars. She liked the
murmur of the words, and the mysterious movements and shiftings of the
priest. When he lifted up the Host, she bowed her head, and used to
hear her heart beating. She supposed that something was happening
overhead, and used to listen for the rushing sound of wings. This was
a constantly renewed excitement; it never failed her when she was
well--and that was always.

The priest, who was a serious priest, and came from the south, was
interested in Gud