the guests expected, a man was sent out to her
house to bring Thorberg to the feast; and when all the guests were
gathered, but by no means before, in she came. She was a tall fair
woman, blue-eyed, broad-shouldered and of large presence. She had a
wild, rich, comely face. She was dressed in a black robe which gleamed
and reflected light. It clung to her as if she had been dipped in
water. Silver clasps held it under the bosom, and from neck to foot it
was set with large blue stones. Round her neck she had a string of
beads, of red amber, as large as seagulls' eggs. She walked with a
staff, knotted with amber; on her head was a hood of black lambskin,
lined with white. There was a girdle round her loins made of dried
puff-balls strung together, and a fishskin pouch hung from that, in
which were the charms she used in her prophesying. Her shoes were
calfskin with the hair outside, and were bound to her ankles with broad
leather thongs. She had gloves on when she came in--catskin gloves
with the hair turned inwards. So dressed, holding herself high and
queenly, she stood in the doorway, and said, "Hail to this house," in a
deep voice, like a bell. Then she took off her hood and gloves and
gave them to him who attended upon her, while Heriolf came up to her,
took her hands and kissed them, saying, "Sibyl, you are welcome."

After Heriolf all the company came crowding about her and saluted her
as if she were a princess. To some she was gracious, at some she
stared as if she could see through them to the wall beyond, at some she
muttered with her lips and looked about, as if she were uneasy till
they were gone. All the women curtseyed and kissed her hand, and
presently Heriolf brought Gudrid to her. Gudrid did not kiss her hand,
but curtseyed and spoke her fairly. Thorberg frowned, not unkindly.

"And who art thou, my child?"

Gudrid said, "I am a stranger, not long come to Greenland. I am
Thorbeorn's daughter, of Bathbrink in Iceland."

"You have a good face, and a fair one," said Thorberg, "and yet you
will not kiss my hands." Gudrid coloured and looked down. "Perhaps
the day will come when you will kiss them," Thorberg said. "It would
be no shame to you to do it."

Gudrid then said, "I will do it now if you will let me." But Thorberg
patted her cheek and said, "By and by." The people thought that Gudrid
had shown good manners by offering and that Thorberg was pleased with
her.

They spread th