Part 45 (1/2)

”And didst thou have speech with her on this matter?”

”Somewhat”

Now Gudruda drew herself away from Eric's side

”What was the purport of thy speech?” she said, looking down ”Speak truly, Eric”

”It came to little,” he answered ”I told her that there was one in Iceland to whoo”

”And what said this Elfrida, then?”

”She said that I should get little luck at the hands of Gudruda the Fair Moreover, she asked, should my betrothed be faithless to land”

Now Gudruda looked him in the face and spoke ”Say, Eric, is it in thy , if thou canst escape thy foes so long?”

Now Eric took counsel with hiuileful as he had never been before For he kneell that Gudruda had this weakness--she was a jealous woman

”Since thou dost put me from thee, that is in ht on the great and beauteous Lady Elfrida, far away in England, and of Eric walking at her side, and sorrow took hold of her She said no word, but fixed her dark eyes on Brighteyes' face, and lo! they filled with tears

Eric ht, for his heart beat within hih it would burst the byrnie over it Suddenly he stretched out his arms and swept her to his breast Soft and sweet he kissed her, again and yet again, and she struggled not, though she wept a little

”It is small blame to me,” she whispered, ”if thou dost holdthan I Bjorn ht Yet for thee, Eric, it is the greatest shame of all thy shames”

”Talk not, my sweet; talk not,” said Eric, ”but kiss thou me: for thou knoell that thou lovest me yet as I love thee”

Now the end of it was that Gudruda yielded and kissed him whom she had not kissed for many years

”Loose me, Eric,” she said; ”I would speak with thee,” and he loosed her, though unwillingly

”Hearken,” she went on, hiding her fair face in her hands: ”it is true that for life and death I love thee now as ever--how h Bjorn be dead at thy hands, yet I love thee; but how I reatest sha, that we may not bide here in Iceland Now if, indeed, thou lovest me, listen to my rede Get thee back to Mosfell, Eric, and sit there in safety through this winter, for they may not co, in the spring I will make ready a shi+p, for I have no shi+p now, and,all oods, I will take thy hand, Eric, and ill fare together to England, seeking such fortune as the Norns ood rede, and would that the spring were co were coo ith us at the last And now thou -women will couard thyself, and beware of Swanhild!” Then once , and Eric went

But Gudruda sat a while behind the screen of reeds, and was very happy for a space For it was as though the winter were past and suain

XXVII

HOW GUDRUDA WENT UP TO MOSFELL

Eric walked warily till he carim and the horses It was the saht for Ashter

”What news, lord?” said Skallagri thee Hast thou seen Gudruda?”