Part 5 (1/2)

Elsalill stood many a time at the cottage door and followed with her eyes the men who mounted the ridge. She was sick at heart from the great sorrow that had befallen her, and she said to herself: ”I think everyone is happy who has something to look for. But I have nothing in the wide world on which to fix my hopes.”

One evening Elsalill saw a tall man, who wore a broad-brimmed hat with a great feather, standing upon the rocks and gazing westward over the sea like all the others.

And Elsalill knew at once that the man was Sir Archie, the leader of the Scots, who had talked with her on the quay.

As he pa.s.sed the cabin on his way home to the town, Elsalill was still standing in the doorway, and she was weeping.

”Why do you weep?” he asked, stopping before her.

”I weep because I have nothing to long for,” said Elsalill. ”When I saw you standing upon the rocks and looking out over the sea, I thought: 'He has surely a home beyond the water, and there he is going.'”

Then Sir Archie's heart was softened, and it made him say: ”It is many a year since any spoke to me of my home. G.o.d knows how it fares with my father's house. I left it when I was seventeen to serve in the wars abroad.”

On saying this Sir Archie entered the cottage with Elsalill and began to talk to her of his home.

And Elsalill sat and listened to Sir Archie, who spoke both long and well. Each word that came from his lips made her feel happy.

But when the time drew on for Sir Archie to go, he asked if he might kiss her.

Then Elsalill said No, and would have slipped out of the door, but Sir Archie stood in her way and would have made her kiss him.

At that moment the door of the cottage opened, and its mistress came in in great haste.

Then Sir Archie drew back from Elsalill. He simply gave her his hand in farewell and hurried away.

But Torarin's mother said to Elsalill: ”It was well that you sent for me, for it is not fitting for a maid to sit alone in the house with such a man as Sir Archie. You know full well that a soldier of fortune has neither honour nor conscience.”

”Did I send for you?” asked Elsalill, astonished.

”Yes,” answered the old woman. ”As I stood at work on the quay there came a little maid I had never seen before, and brought me word that you begged me to go home.”

”How did this maid look?” asked Elsalill.

”I heeded her not so closely that I can tell you how she looked,”

said the old woman. ”But one thing I marked; she went so lightly upon the snow that not a sound was heard.”

When Elsalill heard this she turned very pale and said: ”Then it must have been an angel from heaven who brought you the message and led you home.”

II

Another time Sir Archie sat in Torarin's cabin and talked with Elsalill.

There was no one beside them; they talked gaily together and were very cheerful.

Sir Archie was telling Elsalill that she must go home with him to Scotland. There he would build her a castle and make her a fine lady. He told her she should have a hundred serving-maids to wait upon her, and she should dance at the court of the King.

Elsalill sat silently listening to every word Sir Archie said to her, and she believed them all. And Sir Archie thought that never had he met a damsel so easy to beguile as Elsalill.

Suddenly Sir Archie ceased speaking and looked down at his left hand.

”What is it, Sir Archie? Why do you say no more?” asked Elsalill.