Part 3 (2/2)
Meanwhile Eric and Gudruda careeted thehter, and very glad to know her living, seeing that un to search for her, because of the snow and the darkness
Now Gudruda told her tale, but not all of it, and Asmund bade Eric to the house Then one asked about Swanhild, and Eric said that he had seen nothing of her, and Asmund was sad at this, for he loved Swanhild But as he told all o and search, an old wife came and said that Swanhild was in the kitchen, and while the carline spoke she came into the hall, dressed in white, very pale, and with shi+ning eyes and fair to see
”Where hast thou been, Swanhild?” said As with Gudruda in the snow, and now all hts burn”
”Nay, foster-father, I have been to the Te
”So Gudruda has but narrowly escaped the snow, thanks be to Brighteyes yonder! Surely I aoing up to her, she kissed her But Gudruda saw that her eyes burned like fire and felt that her lips were cold as ice, and shrank back wondering
III
HOW ASMUND BADE ERIC TO HIS YULE-FEAST
Noas supper-time and men sat at meat while the women waited upon them But as she went to and fro, Gudruda always looked at Eric, and Swanhild watched theathered round the hearth, and, having finished her service, Gudruda caht touch his They spoke no word, but there they sat and were happy Swanhild saw and bit her lip Now, she was seated by Asmund and Bjorn his son
”Look, foster-father,” she said; ”yonder sit a pretty pair!”
”That cannot be denied,” answered Asmund ”One hteyes, and no such maid as Gudruda flowers between Middalhof and London town, unless it be thou, Swanhild Well, so her mother said that it should be, and without doubt she was foresighted at her death”
”Nay, naoose by thy white swan But these shall be ed and that will be a good ue run on so fast,” said Asmund sharply ”Who told thee that Eric should have Gudruda?”
”None told rew certain of it,” said Swanhild ”Look at them now: surely lovers wear such faces”
Now it chanced that Gudruda had rested her chin on her hand, and was gazing into Eric's eyes beneath the shadow of her hair
”Methinks h he is large as two other men,” said Bjorn with a sneer Now Bjorn was jealous of Eric's strength and beauty, and did not love hi that thou seest and little that thou hearest, girl,” said Asood
Eric, come here and tell us how thou didst chance on Gudruda in the snow”
”I was not so ill seated but that I could bear to stay,” grumbled Eric beneath his breath; but Gudruda said ”Go”
So he went and told his tale; but not all of it, for he intended to ask Gudruda in h his heart prophesied no luck in the matter, and therefore he was not oversith it
”In this thing thou hast doneEric's face with his blue eyes ”It had been said if hter had perished in the snow, for, know this: I would set her high in e, for her honour and the honour of reat joy But take thou this gift in ive thee another such upon the day that heoff his arm
Now Eric's knees treh with fear But he answered clear and straight:
”Thy gift had been better without thy words, ring-giver; but I pray thee to take it back, for I have done nothing to win it, though perhaps the tiifts have never been put away before,” said Asood gold of little worth It is foolish to take fish to the sea, my father,” sneered Bjorn
”Nay, Bjorn, not so,” Eric answered: ”but, as thou sayest, I arione too well on Ran River But at the least I aifts that I cannot repay worth for worth Therefore I will not have the ring”
”As thou wilt,” said Asood horse if thou ridest wisely,” and he thrust the ring back upon his arm