estates, pay his debts, and go
abroad. That would be at once just and of good appearance in the world.

But he would not go east where he would find a life ready made for him,
with the same state to maintain, and be no better off than he had been
at home. It was for Greenland he intended, a new country with but few
settlers in it yet. An old friend of his, one Eric Red, had gone out
there for good reasons some years ago, and had often sent him messages
begging him to join his colony. Now he would do it. The thought
warmed him.

He set the business afoot at once, and sold the whole of his estate for
a good price. When he had paid his creditors, which he did very
particularly and with a great air, he had a good sum over and above the
cost of his ship. His spirits rose, his taste for splendid hospitality
revived. He resolved to give a great feast to all his friends and
acquaintances, such a feast as should make men say that nobody had ever
confronted misfortune more gallantly than Thorbeorn of Bathbrink.

It was a noble feast, lasting three days and nights; the greatest there
had been made within the memory of men. Everybody came, for enmities
were all forgotten. Orme was there from Erne Pillar, and Halldis was
with him. Good Halldis embraced Gudrid, kissed her on both cheeks, and
held her closely, very ready to revive memories. "And what have you to
say to it? And how will you face the hardships of the strange land?"
Gudrid was very guarded in her answers. "I shall like to see
Greenland," she said; "we used to talk about it at Erne Pillar." It
was true, Einar had told them of it, and of his friend Biorn who had
found his father out there after seven weeks at sea.

"And you go out there without a husband?" said Halldis, with sympathy
ready and waiting in her kindly eyes.

Gudrid said, "Why not? It is not I who have the wedding of myself."
She would not meet Halldis half-way, nor any part of the way. Halldis
felt the chill.

But Gudrid and her maidens did the last hospitalities of Bathbrink
sweetly and diligently. They say that the qualities of the mistress
are reflected in the maids. Gudrid was owned a beauty on all hands,
but it was agreed that her manners enhanced her good looks, as a fair
setting will show off a jewel. To see her at her service, you would
have thought her without a care in the world. She could laugh and talk
with one and all, she could be grave with the grave and gentle with