appen for a year, lady. And in--"

She raised her head quickly. "Why can it not happen for a year?"

"Because Gilli is away on a trading voyage, and will not be back until
fall, when it will be too late to start for Greenland. Nor will he come
early in spring and so lose the best of his trading season. It is sure
to be more than a year."

Youth can construct a lifeboat out of a straw. Hope crept back to
Helga's eyes.

"A year is a long time. Many things can happen in a year. Gilli may be
slain,--for every man a mistletoe-shaft grows somewhere. Or I may marry
someone in Greenland. Already two chiefs have asked my hand of Leif, so
it is not likely that I shall lack chances."

"That is true; and it may also happen that the Lady Bertha will never
get my runes. She was absent on a visit when Valbrand left them at her
farm. Or even if she gets them, she may lack courage to tell the news to
Gilli. Or he may dislike the expense of a daughter. Surely, where there
are so many holes, there are many good chances that the danger will fall
through one of them."

Helga flung up her head with a gallant air. "I will heed your advice in
this matter. I will not trouble myself another moment; and I will love
Brattahlid as a bird loves the cliff that hides it! And Thorhild? What
if her nature is such that she is cross? She is no coward. She would
defend those she loved, though she died for it. I should like to see
Eric bid her to abandon a child. There would not be a red hair left in
his beard. Better is it to be brave and true than to be gentle like your
Lady Bertha. Is it because she is my mother that you give that title to
me also?"

Alwin hesitated and reddened. "Yes. And because I like to remember that
there is English blood in you."

Helga paused in the midst of her excitement, and her face softened. She
looked at him, and her starry eyes were full of frank good-will.

She said slowly, "Since there is English blood in me, it may be that you
will some time ask for the friendship I have offered you."

At that moment, it seemed to Alwin that such simplicity and frankness
were worth more than all the gentle graces of his country-women. He put
out his hand.

"You need not wait long for me to ask that," he said. "I would have
asked it a week ago, but I could not think it honorable to call myself
your friend when I had injured you so."

Helga's slim fingers gave his a firm clasp, but she laughed merrily.

"That is where you a