n
him, except that of his long white beard. He was keen-eyed, and
well-fashioned of form and face, a great warrior and the strongest of
men. His wife was dead, leaving him no children, and this was a sorrow
to him; but as yet he had taken no other wife, for he would say: "Love
makes an old man blind," and "When age runs with youth, both shall
fall," and again, "Mix grey locks and golden and spoil two heads." For
this earl was a man of many wise sayings.

Now Atli came to Middalhof just as men sat down to meat and, hearing the
clatter of arms, all sprang to their feet, thinking that perhaps Ospakar
had come again as he had promised. But when Asmund saw Atli he knew him
at once, though they had not met for nearly thirty years, and he greeted
him lovingly, and put him in the high seat, and gave place to his men
upon the cross-benches. Atli told all his story, and Asmund bade him
rest a while at Middalhof till the weather grew clearer.

Now the Earl saw Swanhild and thought the maid wondrous fair, and so
indeed she was, as she moved scornfully to and fro in her kirtle of
white. Soft was her curling hair and deep were her dark blue eyes, and
bent were her red lips as is a bow above her dimpled chin, and her teeth
shone like pearls.

"Is that fair maid thy daughter, Asmund," asked Atli.

"She is named Swanhild the Fatherless," he answered, turning his face
away.

"Well," said Atli, looking sharply on him, "were the maid sprung from
me, she would not long be called the 'Fatherless,' for few have such a
daughter."

"She is fair enough," said Asmund, "in all save temper, and that is bad
to cross."

"In every sword a flaw," answers Atli; "but what has an old man to do
with young maids and their beauty?" and he sighed.

"I have known younger men who would seem less brisk at bridals," said
Asmund, and for that time they talked no more of the matter.

Now, Swanhild heard something of this speech, and she guessed more; and
it came into her mind that it would be the best of sport to make this
old man love her, and then to mock him and say him nay. So she set
herself to the task, as it ever was her wont, and she found it easy. For
all day long, with downcast eyes and gentle looks, she waited upon the
Earl, and now, at his bidding, she sang to him in a voice soft and low,
and now she talked so wisely well that Atli thought no such maid had
trod the earth before. But he checked himself with many learned saws,
and on a day whe