thou has proved thyself proud and high-souled;
hast claimed honour of all, that Sigurd might be honoured in thee--
is it not so?

DAGNY. Nay, Hiordis, but----

HIORDIS. Thou hast egged him on to great deeds, followed him in war-
weed, and joyed to be where the strife raged hottest--hast thou not?

DAGNY (deeply moved). No, no!

HIORDIS. Hast thou, then, been faint of heart, so that Sigurd has
been put to shame?

DAGNY (overpowered). Hiordis, Hiordis!

HIORDIS (smiling scornfully). Yet thy lot has been a happy one all
these years;--think'st thou that Sigurd can say the same?

DAGNY. Torture me not. Woe is me! thou hast made me see myself
too clearly.

HIORDIS. A jesting word, and at once thou art in tears! Think no
more of it. Look what I have done to-day. (Takes some arrows from
the table.) Are they not keen and biting--feel! I know well how to
sharpen arrows, do I not?

DAGNY. And to use them too; thou strikest surely, Hiordis! All
that thou hast said to me--I have never thought of before. (More
vehemently.) But that Sigurd----! That for all these years I should
have made his life heavy and unhonoured;--no, no, it cannot be true!

HIORDIS. Nay now, comfort thee, Dagny; indeed it is not true. Were
Sigurd of the same mind as in former days, it might be true enough;
for then was his whole soul bent on being the foremost man in the
land;--now he is content with a lowlier lot.

DAGNY. No, Hiordis; Sigurd is high-minded now as ever; I see it
well, I am not the right mate for him. He has hidden it from me;
but it shall be so no longer.

HIORDIS. What wilt thou do?

DAGNY. I will no longer hang like a clog upon his feet; I will be
a hindrance to him no longer.

HIORDIS. Then thou wilt----?

DAGNY. Peace; some one comes!

(A House-carl enters from the back.)

THE CARL. Sigurd Viking is coming to the hall.

HIORDIS. Sigurd! Then call Gunnar hither.

THE CARL. Gunnar has ridden forth to gather his neighbours
together; for Kare the Peasant would----

HIORDIS. Good, good, I know it; go! (The Carl goes. To DAGNY, who
is also going.) Whither wilt thou?

DAGNY. I will not meet Sigurd. Too well I feel that we must part;
but to meet him now--no, no, I cannot!

(Goes out to the left.)

HIORDIS (looks after her in silence for a moment). And it was she
I would have---- (completes her thought by a glance at the bow-string).
That would have been a poor revenge;