ng would have given him a certain great lady of royal
blood in marriage, and how Edmund had been angered because he would not
stay in England.

"Tell me of this lady," said Gudruda, quickly. "Is she fair, and how is
she named?"

"She is fair, and her name is Elfrida," said Eric.

"And didst thou have speech with her on this matter?"

"Somewhat."

Now Gudruda drew herself away from Eric's side.

"What was the purport of thy speech?" she said, looking down. "Speak
truly, Eric."

"It came to little," he answered. "I told her that there was one in
Iceland to whom I was betrothed, and to Iceland I must go."

"And what said this Elfrida, then?"

"She said that I should get little luck at the hands of Gudruda the
Fair. Moreover, she asked, should my betrothed be faithless to me, or
put me from her, if I should come again to England."

Now Gudruda looked him in the face and spoke. "Say, Eric, is it in thy
mind to sail for England in the spring, if thou canst escape thy foes so
long?"

Now Eric took counsel with himself, and in his love and doubt grew
guileful as he had never been before. For he knew well that Gudruda had
this weakness--she was a jealous woman.

"Since thou dost put me from thee, that is in my mind, lady," he
answered.

Gudruda heard. She thought on the great and beauteous Lady Elfrida, far
away in England, and of Eric walking at her side, and sorrow took hold
of her. She said no word, but fixed her dark eyes on Brighteyes' face,
and lo! they filled with tears.

Eric might not bear this sight, for his heart beat within him as though
it would burst the byrnie over it. Suddenly he stretched out his arms
and swept her to his breast. Soft and sweet he kissed her, again and yet
again, and she struggled not, though she wept a little.

"It is small blame to me," she whispered, "if thou dost hold me on thy
breast and kiss me, for thou art more strong than I. Bjoern must know
this if his dead eyes see aught. Yet for thee, Eric, it is the greatest
shame of all thy shames."

"Talk not, my sweet; talk not," said Eric, "but kiss thou me: for thou
knowest well that thou lovest me yet as I love thee."

Now the end of it was that Gudruda yielded and kissed him whom she had
not kissed for many years.

"Loose me, Eric," she said; "I would speak with thee," and he loosed
her, though unwillingly.

"Hearken," she went on, hiding her fair face in her hands: "it is true
that for life and death I love thee now