e, and her heart hardened at the sound of Snorro's voice. She
had always despised him; now, for his interference with her, she hated
him. She could not tolerate Jan's attachment to a creature so rude and
simple. It was almost an insult to herself; and yet so truthfully did
she judge his heart, that she was quite certain Michael Snorro would
never tell Jan that she had watched him through Ragon Torr's window.
She blushed a moment at the memory of so mean an action, but instantly
and angrily defended it to her own heart.

Jan came in, with the foolish, good-natured smile of alcoholic
excitement. But when he saw Margaret's white, hard face, he instantly
became sulky and silent. "Where hast thou been, Jan?" she asked. "It
is near the midnight."

"I have been about my own business. I had some words to send by Neil
Bork to my cousin Magnus. Neil sails by the midnight tide."

She laughed scornfully. "Thy cousin Magnus! Pray, what shall he do for
thee? This is some new cousin, surely!"

"Well, then, since thy father keeps thy tocher from me, I must borrow
of my own kin."

"As for that, my father hath been better to thee than thou deservest.
Why didst thou lie to me concerning Snorro? He has had no fever. No,
indeed!"

"A man must ask his wife whether he can speak truth to her, or not.
Thou can not bear it. Very well, then, I must lie to thee."

"Yet, be sure, I will tell the truth to thee, Jan Vedder. Thou hast
been at Ragon Torr's, singing with a light woman, and drinking
with--"

"With my own kin. I advise thee to say nothing against them. As for
Suneva, there is no tongue in Lerwick but thine will speak evil of
her--she is a good girl, and she hath a kind heart. And now, then, who
told thee I was at Torr's?"

He asked the question repeatedly, and instead of answering it,
Margaret began to justify herself. "Have I not been to thee a good
wife? Has not thy house been kept well, and thy meals ever good and
ready for thee? Has any thing, great or little, gone to waste?"

"Thou hast been too good. It had been better if thou had been less
perfect; then I could have spoken to thee of my great wish, and thou
would have said, as others say, 'Jan, it would be a joy to see thee at
the main-mast, or casting the ling-lines, or running into harbor
before the storm, with every sail set, as though thou had stolen ship
and lading.' Thou would not want me to chaffer with old women about
geese-feathers and bird-eggs. Speak no more