ssula's heart.

"How it throbs!" she murmured. Then, raising her left hand, as if to
keep the youth back, her right drew the folds of her ample cloak over
the brushing girl's sweet face. "Go," she said warningly. "Suspicion
seizes me also. It is ignoble for you to dare utter the words of wooing
to two defenceless women, confusing the girl, and inspiring vain, idle
thoughts. That is not the honorable custom of our people. If your suit
was serious you ought first to have spoken to Suomar, the guardian: he
gives my granddaughter's hand, not she herself. Whoever means marriage
deals with the guardian; whoever seeks mere amusement and dallying
coaxes the girl. Go! I doubt you!"

Adalo laid his hand upon his breast with a gesture of protest, but ere
he could speak Bissula glided from beneath the shelter of her
grandmother's cloak. Her cheeks were glowing; her red locks fairly
bristled; it seemed as if one could almost hear them crackle; her angry
eyes blazed, and springing forward, she pushed the youth with both
hands, but had no power to stir the tall figure.

"Yes, go!" she cried. "I do not doubt. Even Waldrun, who always speaks
in your behalf, distrusts you, and she cannot see your arrogant face,
the victorious smile on your proud lips, the light in your sparkling
eyes! There--see how the feigned expression of good-will vanishes from
your features; how resentfully you rear your head! Ay, that is the
noble, the swift, strong, handsome man, who believes that the god of
wishes must grant every whim, every caprice of his favorite. _You_ mate
with a poor girl! _you_ lead red-haired Bissula to your home! Besides,
I am called Bissula only by my friends; to strangers my name is
Albfledis. Waldrun is right: the blind woman has seen. If you were in
earnest you would have gone to the guardian."

She drew back and seized her grandmother's arm. "Come! let us return to
the house."

But Adalo, his tall figure drawn up to its full height, barred their
way. Grief and anger were contending for the mastery in the expression
of his handsome face.

"I was in earnest, the deepest earnest. Freya knows it. Soon Frigga
will know also. I did not speak to Suomar, because I did not wish, like
most men, to obtain the girl solely by her guardian's command; I
desired not only her hand and her person, but her heart, her love. I
was sure of Suomar."

"Do you hear his arrogance, grandmother?"

"It is not arrogance. What can your uncle bring again