our heart as cold.

HALLGERD
Mother, what will you do? Unloose me now---
Your eyes would not look so at me alone.

RANNVEIG
Be still, my daughter....

HALLGERD
And then?

RANNVEIG
Ah, do not fear--
I see a peril nigh and all its blitheness.
Order your limbs--stretch out your length of beauty,
Let down your hands and close those deepening eyes,
Or you can never stiffen as you should.
A murdered man should have a murdered wife
When all his fate is treasured in her mouth.
This wifely hairpin will be sharp enough.

HALLGERD (_starting up as RANNVEIG half loosens her to take a
hairpin from her own head_)
She is mad, mad.... Oh, the bower is barred--
Hallgerd, come out, let mountains cover you.

(_She rushes out to the left._)

RANNVEIG (_following her_)
The night take you indeed....

GIZUR (_as he enters from the left_)
Ay, drive her out;
For no man's house was ever better by her.

RANNVEIG
Is an old woman's life desired as well?

GIZUR
We ask that you will grant us earth hereby
Of Gunnar's earth, for two men dead to-night
To lie beneath a cairn that we shall raise.

RANNVEIG
Only for two? Take it: ask more of me.
I wish the measure were for all of you.

GIZUR
Your words must be forgiven you, old mother,
For none has had a greater loss than yours.
Why would he set himself against us all....

(_He goes out._)

RANNVEIG
Gunnar, my son, we are alone again.

(_She goes up the hall, mounts to the loft, and stoops beside
him._)

Oh, they have hurt you--but that is forgot.
Boy, it is bedtime; though I am too changed,
And cannot lift you up and lay you in,
You shall go warm to bed--I'll put you there.
There is no comfort in my breast to-night,
But close your eyes beneath my fingers' touch,
Slip your feet down, and let me smooth your hands:
Then sleep and sleep. Ay, all the world's asleep.

(_She rises._)

You had a rare toy when you were awake--
I'll wipe it with my hair.... Nay, keep it so,
The colour on it now has gladdened you.
It shall lie near you.

(_She raises the bill: the deep hum follows._)

No; it remembers him,
And other me