ill I will come to the feast if thou thinkest it will add any honour
to thee."

"Of course I think so," said Hauskuld, and rode off home.

Oswif and Thorwald also asked men to come, so that no fewer than one
hundred guests were asked.

There was a man named Swan, who dwelt in Bearfirth, which lies north
from Steingrimsfirth. This Swan was a great wizard, and he was
Hallgerda's mother's brother. He was quarrelsome, and hard to deal with,
but Hallgerda asked him to the feast, and sends Thiostolf to him; so he
went, and it soon got to friendship between him and Swan.

Now men come to the feast, and Hallgerda sat upon the cross-bench, and
she was a very merry bride. Thiostolf was always talking to her, though
he sometimes found time to speak to Swan, and men thought their talking
strange. The feast went off well, and Hauskuld paid down Hallgerda's
portion with the greatest readiness. After he had done that, he said to
Hrut--

"Shall I bring out any gifts beside?"

"The day will come," answered Hrut, "when thou wilt have to waste thy
goods for Hallgerda's sake, so hold thy hand now."

CHAPTER XI.

THORWALD'S SLAYING.

Thorwald rode home from the bridal feast, and his wife with him, and
Thiostolf, who rode by her horse's side, and still talked to her in a
low voice. Oswif turned to his son and said--

"Art thou pleased with thy match? and how went it when ye talked
together?"

"Well," said he, "she showed all kindness to me. Thou mightst see that
by the way she laughs at every word I say."

"I don't think her laughter so hearty as thou dost," answered Oswif,
"but this will be put to the proof by and by."

So they ride on till they come home, and at night she took her seat by
her husband's side, and made room for Thiostolf next herself on the
inside. Thiostolf and Thorwald had little to do with each other, and few
words were thrown away between them that winter, and so time went on.
Hallgerda was prodigal and grasping, and there was nothing that any of
their neighbours had that she must not have too, and all that she had,
no matter whether it were her own or belonged to others, she waited. But
when the spring came there was a scarcity in the house, both of meal
and stock fish, so Hallgerda went up to Thorwald and said--

"Thou must not be sitting indoors any longer, for we want for the house
both meal and fish."

"Well," said Thorwald, "I did not lay in less for the house this year
than I laid in be