handed it back to Snorro.

"No, no, no, read it! Oh, do thou read it! Jan begs thee to read it!
No, no, I will not take it back!"

"I dare not read it, Snorro. It is too late--too late. Tell Jan he
must not come here. It will make more sorrow for me. If he loves me at
all, he will not come. He is not kind to force me to say these words.
Tell him I will not, dare not, see him!"

"It is thou that art unkind. He has been shipwrecked, Margaret
Vedder; bruised and cut, and nearly tossed to death by the waves. He
is broken-hearted about thee. He loves thee, oh, as no woman ever
deserved to be loved. He is thy husband. Thou wilt see him, oh yes,
thou wilt see him!"

"I will not see him, Snorro. My father hath forbid me. If I see Jan,
he will turn me and the child from the house."

"Let him. Go to thy husband and thy own home."

"My husband hath no home for me."

"For thou pulled it to pieces."

"Go away, Snorro, lest worse words come. I will not sacrifice that
little innocent babe for Jan."

"It is Jan's son--thou art ruining Jan--"

"Now, wilt thou go, Michael Snorro, and tell Jan that I say what my
father says: when he is worthy of me I will come to him."

"I will go, but I will tell thee first, that Jan will be worthy of
thee long before thou art worthy of him." Then, ere Margaret could
prevent him, he walked to the cradle, lifted the child, and kissed it
again and again, saying between each kiss, "That is for thy father,
little one."

The child was crying when he laid it down, and Margaret again angrily
ordered him to leave the house. Before she had soothed it to peace,
Snorro was nearly out of sight. Then Thora, who had heard the dispute,
rose from her bed and came into the room. She looked ill and sad, and
asked faintly, "What is this message sent to Jan Vedder? He will not
believe it. Look for him here very soon, and be sure what thou doest
is right."

"My father told me what to do."

"Yet ask thy heart and thy conscience also. It is so easy for a woman
to go wrong, Margaret; it is almost impossible for her to put wrong
right. Many a tear shall she wash it out with."

"I have done no wrong to Jan. Dost thou think so?"

"When one gets near the grave, Margaret, there is a little light from
beyond, and many things are seen not seen before. Oh, be sure thou art
right about Jan! No one can judge for thee. Fear not to do what thy
heart says, for at the end right will come right, and wrong will come
wron