burned with envy. So, because
she had so huge a mind to buy, she began to make light of the
merchandise.

"They are good enough things," says she, "though I have better in my
chest at home. It is a good enough cloak, and I am in need of a new
cloak." At that she fingered the scarlet, and the touch of the fine
stuff went to her mind like singing. "Come," says she, "if it were only
for your civility in showing it, what will you have for your cloak?"

"Woman," said Thorgunna, "I am no merchant." And she closed the chest
and locked it, like one angry.

Then Aud fell to protesting and caressing her. That was Aud's practice;
for she thought if she hugged and kissed a person none could say her nay.
Next she went to flattery, said she knew the things were too noble for
the like of her--they were made for a stately, beautiful woman like
Thorgunna; and at that she kissed her again, and Thorgunna seemed a
little pleased. And now Aud pled poverty and begged for the cloak in a
gift; and now she vaunted the wealth of her goodman and offered ounces
and ounces of fine silver, the price of three men's lives. Thorgunna
smiled, but it was a grim smile, and still she shook her head. At last
Aud wrought herself into extremity and wept.

"I would give my soul for it," she cried.

"Fool!" said Thorgunna. "But there have been fools before you!" And a
little after, she said this: "Let us be done with beseeching. The things
are mine. I was a fool to show you them; but where is their use, unless
we show them? Mine they are and mine they shall be till I die. I have
paid for them dear enough," said she.

Aud saw it was of no avail; so she dried her tears, and asked Thorgunna
about her voyage, and made believe to listen while she plotted in her
little mind. "Thorgunna," she asked presently, "do you count kin with
any folk in Iceland?"

"I count kin with none," replied Thorgunna. "My kin is of the greatest,
but I have not been always lucky, so I say the less."

"So that you have no house to pass the time in till the ship return?"
cries Aud. "Dear Thorgunna, you must come and live with us. My goodman
is rich, his hand and his house are open, and I will cherish you like a
daughter."

At that Thorgunna smiled on the one side; but her soul laughed within her
at the woman's shallowness. "I will pay her for that word _daughter_,"
she thought, and she smiled again.

"I will live with you gladly," says she, "for your house ha