MARGIT.

I'd fain fling it down to the neckan hard by,
Who so often has made my dull hours fleet
With his harping and songs, so strange and sweet.
Give it me!
[Takes the phial from his hand.

There!

[Feigns to throw it into the river.

GUDMUND. [Goes to the right, and looks down into the ravine.]

Have you thrown it away?

MARGIT. [Concealing the phial.]

Aye, surely! You saw--
[Whispers as she goes towards the house.

Now God help and spare me!
[Aloud.

Gudmund!

GUDMUND. [Approaching.]

What would you?

MARGIT.

Teach me, I pray,
How to interpret the ancient lay
They sing of the church in the valley there:
A gentle knight and a lady fair,
They loved each other well.
That very day on her bier she lay
He on his sword-point fell.
They buried her by the northward spire,
And him by the south kirk wall;
And theretofore grew neither bush nor briar
In the hallowed ground at all.
But next spring from their coffins twain
Two lilies fair upgrew--
And by and by, o'er the roof-tree high,
They twined and they bloomed the whole year through.
How read you the riddle?

GUDMUND. [Looks searchingly at her.]

I scarce can say.

MARGIT.

You may doubtless read it in many a way;
But its truest meaning, methinks, is clear:
The church can never sever two that hold each other dear.

GUDMUND. [To himself.]

Ye saints, if she should--? Lest worse befall,
'Tis time indeed I told her all!
[Aloud.

Do you wish for my happiness--Margit, tell!

MARGIT. [In joyful agitation.]

Wish for it! I!

GUDMUND.

Then, wot you well,
The joy of my life now rests with you--

MARGIT. [With an outburst.]

Gudmund!

GUDMUND.

Listen! 'tis the time you knew--

[He stops suddenly.
[Voices and laughter are heard by the river bank. SIGNE and
other GIRLS enter from the right, accompanied by KNUT,
ERIK, and several YOUNGER MEN.

KNUT.

[Still at a distance.] Gudmund Alfson! Wait; I must speak a word
with you.

[He stops, talking to ERIK. The other GUESTS in the meantime
enter the house.

MARGIT.

[To herself.] The joy of his life--! What else can he mean
but--! [Half aloud.] Signe--my dear, dear sister!

[She puts her arm round SIGNE's waist, and they go towards
the ba