those who mourned. But she would not let any know that she mourned
herself. Any hint towards Einar turned her to smooth stone. She had
that kind of pride from her father, the kind that is tender of itself.

As for Thorbeorn, he was splendid, and the more splendid he was the
more he felt himself to be so. On the last night of his feast, when
the hall was full, the horns nearly empty, and the torchlight getting
low, he thumped the high table with the hilt of his dagger, and stood
up in a dead silence.

"Neighbours," he said, "it is time I should bid you farewell. In this
good land, where my fathers have lived before me, I too have lived my
life out, and kept my customs, and good faith with all men; and have
made many friends, and no enemies that I know of. As I have served
mankind, so has mankind served me. To you, friends and guests, I say
that we have proved each other and seen good days. But now, so it is
that I at least must see some doubtful days. I have been pinched and
straitened in many ways. I have had to consider whether I should stay
on here in a mean way of life or move out into freer quarters. Old as
I am, I choose to go abroad; nor do I think you will blame me if I can
go away honourably, leaving no man the worse for my departure. Now my
good friend Eric Red has asked me to share quarters with him in
Greenland, where he has a settlement and keeps a great train--and
thither I intend to go. And I shall go this very summer, if all turn
out as I expect, and take, as I hope, your friendship with me. In any
case let this feast stand to you as a token of my goodwill to every man
here."

He stood for a moment looking forth upon the crowded tables, and at the
women clustered about the doors. He was much moved by the force and
plainness of his own words, and for a while every one kept silence,
thinking that he had more to say. But he had not, and presently sat
down in his seat. That was the signal for uproar. The men stood on
the benches and shouted "Hail" to him; they helped the women up, too,
who waved their hands or scarves, or whatever came handy. Gudrid saw
Orme's hand held out to her, and took it, standing with the rest, with
Orme's arm round her. In the excitement of everybody the emotions get
loose. Orme held Gudrid closely to him and whispered in her ear, "If
he would let you stay with us, Gudrid, how happy we should be!" She
turned him her pale face, smiling into his; but Fate held he