XI

Biorn stayed on some time longer with Eric Red, and had some talk with

Gudrid. He had had his eye on her from the beginning, with curious,

considering looks. After several attempts, swallowed down by himself

with abrupt decision, he did manage to speak out. "It was of you that

Thorberg prophesied at the Ness, I expect," he said.

"Yes, it was," said rueful Gudrid.

He tossed his foot from the knee, and looked at it swinging. "Such

things as that make a man thoughtful."

Gudrid bent over her needlework. "You may be sure that she made me

thoughtful."

"Well," said Biorn, "it is a glory to a woman to hear the like of that.

But it makes a man think twice. Now, I daresay my father spoke to you

about me, with a nod and wink, as we say? He is fond of me, is my

father."

"And you, certainly, of him," Gudrid said. "You seem to be a loving

couple."

"He spoke to me about you," Biorn went on, pursuing his own thoughts.

"He was much taken with you, and seemed to think you were singled out

for great honour. And clearly you are. But I value my life--and so I

told my father. And then he spoke scornfully to me, and hurt my

feelings." Gudrid found something to smile at in this.

But while she scared Biorn she attracted the brothers at Brattalithe,

and others besides them. Thorstan Ericsson was exceedingly shy, and

would never go into the bower to talk to the girls, nor into kitchen or

wash-house when they were working there if he could help it. So he saw

very little of Gudrid, and had nothing to say to her when he did see

her. Yet he loved her deeply within himself, in an honourable way of

worship, with no jealousy about it. Thorwald, his younger brother, was

always in and out of the women's quarters, teasing the girls, getting

in their way, and making them laugh. He was often outrageous, but they

all liked him, and Thorstan trusted in his loyalty. He told Gudrid

that Thorstan thought a great deal about her; but she knew that

already. She used to sing in the evenings when the hall was full, and

everybody praised her except Thorstan; yet she knew that he was more

affected than any one. She felt his heavy eyes on her, and used to

think of songs which would please him.

But Thorstan was dumb, and others were not. One day in the spring

Gudrid was sent for. She was in the wash-house, up to the elbows in

lather and foam, in no state for company. All the girls stopped work,

and one said, "A wooer for Gudrid," and another, "Thorstan has found

his voice." But they all helped her to make herself tidy, and wished

her joy. She went out with all her colours flying. Her father was by

the fire in the hall; Eric Red with him; and another man was standing

there, tall and heavily made, in a red cloak. She had not seen him

before. He was a dark-hued man, with bent brows, rather shaggy, and

had a black beard. He kept his head bent, and his hands behind his

back, but looked at her as she came in. So did Eric, in a kindly way.

Thorbeorn only looked at the fire.

She went up to her father and put her hand on his shoulder. There was

a short silence--but not enough time for her to collect her thoughts.

Indeed, she had no thoughts.

"Gudrid," said Thorbeorn, "we think it is time for you to be settled,

and have here an honourable man who has asked for you. He is our

friend, Thore Easterling. He is well-descended and of good estimation

with our host. His family is of Ramfirth in Iceland, and he has a fine

estate here in Ericshaven. He has the new faith which we believe to be

the true faith. Now we think you ought to feel yourself happy, being

sure that you have every reason to be so. It will be a good marriage

for you."

Gudrid said nothing, and kept her eyes fixed on the ground. Presently

she removed her hand from her father's shoulder, let it fall to her

side, and stood alone. It was a painful pause, felt to be so by all

four, and broken presently by Thore himself. "Lady," he said, "I hope

to have your good will in this. I have few pretentions to a lady's

liking, but believe I am an honest and friendly man. If you will

accept of my love and service I am content to trust myself to win

yours."

Gudrid's throat was dry. She had difficulty in speaking. "I shall do

my duty," she said. And then, "I shall obey my father in all things,

as I ought."

Eric went over to her and took her hand. "I won't deny I shall be

sorry to see you leave Brattalithe," he said. "I tell Thore here that

if my Leif had been at home there's no saying what might have

happened--but as it is, he's the lucky one. He will have a sweet wife,

and owe it to us that she is as happy as she is good." She gave him a

swift and searching look, a flash of gratitude in it for his humanity,

but resumed her searching of the floor. Thorbeorn rose from his chair

and said to Eric that they had better leave the pair together--but then

Gudrid looked wild. "May I not go now? Must I stay here?" Her eyes

asked so of Eric, but he only smiled. She caught at her father's

sleeve. Then Thorbeorn kissed her forehead and said a few words of

blessing. He and Eric went out together.

When they were gone Thore went over to Gudrid and put his arm firmly

round her. "I see, my dear, that you are upset by this news of ours.

Be sure that I understand it. My belief is, that you will be happy

with me. I have a good house, warm and dry. You will see company, you

will have your maids to see after; and when we have settled down

together--maybe before the end of the summer, we will take ship to

Iceland and pay a visit to my old mother who is in charge of my

property out there. Now let me hear your voice. I know how sweetly

you can talk--for I've heard you. And your singing makes me younger: a

dreamer of dreams."

He seemed kind; his arm was strong and temperate. She imagined him

much older than he was. But she didn't in the least know what to say

to him. He waited for her, still holding her close, but she said

nothing. So then: "Come, come," he said, "just a word or two"; and

when she looked up and saw him laughing, she laughed too; and then he

kissed her. "There," he said, "that is better," and drew her closer.

"You seem kind," she said.

"Ah," said Thore, "you will find me so. The fonder I grow the kinder I

shall be." He gave her a very friendly squeeze, and she began at once

to be sorry for this strong, gentle-hearted man as she thought him.

Her face was now against his shoulder, his black beard brushed and

tickled her forehead. She was rather breathless, but quite determined

to tell him her trouble. "There is something which I ought to tell

you."

"Is there, indeed? I thought that you might find your tongue perhaps,

if I gave you time."

"But I should have found it before," she said, "if it had not been for

my trouble."

"Well," he said, "and now for your trouble. Mind you, I've seen a good

deal of the world, and don't expect miracles out of the church. So if

you have had a sweetheart or two, think no more about it. Bless

you--do you think I don't know?"

"No," she said, "it's not that. But it is that I have heard prophecies

about myself. I am not a fortunate woman at all."

"Hum," he said. "Perhaps we had better clear up that. Now, you come

and sit on my knee by the fire, and let me hear all about it." She did

not decline that seat, but still she chose another. He sat in Eric's

great chair, and she brought up a stool. He noticed that, and approved

of it. "This is a girl who is not for the mere asking," he thought.

When she had told him all about Thorberg, he did not scoff, nor laugh,

nor take it seriously either. He just considered it, with one large

hand grasping his beard. "Well," he said, "some people have the gift,

there's no doubt, and if your Thorberg had it not, all her mummeries

would avail her nothing. You set them up for a deal, I fancy, but they

are little to me. I am willing to believe her story, but what then?

So long as I am the first husband you have you may have twenty when I

am gone. Likely enough that you will see to the burying of me. I must

be twice your age. So much for your trouble, my dear."

"It was horrible to me," said Gudrid; "I have been unhappy ever since.

It seemed to me that I was accursed, and that no man ought to look at

me."

"But how can they help looking at you, foolish girl, and you like a

rose!" That gave her roses indeed, and a good deal more too.

"You are certainly very kind," she said, and he replied that if that

was kindness, there need be no end to it.

She went away after a time, so free of her shadowy load that she sang

as soon as she was out of the hall. She accepted the exuberant

greeting of the girls with evident pleasure. Her colour was clear, her

eyes shone like stars. They had plenty to tell her of Thore. He was

very rich, they said, and a widower. He had had a querulous and sick

wife, and had always treated her well. He was not exactly "near," but

thought twice about what he spent. He had a stone-built house up the

country. A just man, and one who did not bend his knee to any one.

Eric Red had often quarrelled with him. Except Theodhild he was the

only Christian among the great men. It was a pity he was so much

older, with such a great beard. They wanted to know if it scratched

you, but Gudrid wouldn't say.

It was all very pleasant, except for one small matter. Thorstan

immediately went away, and stopped away for ten days or a fortnight.

No one knew exactly where he was except Thorwald his brother. He was

teasing about it, when Gudrid asked him where Thorstan was. "I shall

tell him you asked me," he said. That made her sorry she had asked,

but she did not like to say tell him by all means, nor beg him not to

tell. It turned out that Thorwald did tell him.

Freydis said, "If you must marry, that is the man you should choose.

Not a half-skald like my brother Thorstan, nor a pranking pie like

Thorwald. You will have a master in Thore, and most women like that.

He might beat you."

"I think he will not," said Gudrid. Freydis looked at her with

narrowed eyes.

"And I think that you are right. You know how to make yourself

respected, I believe. But many women like to be beaten. I know that I

should love the man who could beat me. But he would have to fight with

me first. My husband is as timid as a Norway rat. You don't see him

here often." Gudrid had never seen him. "He comes when I send for

him," said Freydis.

After that she saw Theodhild at Mass, and went home with her to her

hermitage and told her the news. Theodhild said little, but one thing

she said struck Gudrid. She said: "You will have much trouble, and

give more of yourself than you can afford. But you will leave

something to give to God at the end--more than I have left." Gudrid

said: "It is foretold of me that I shall have three husbands, then go

to Iceland and live as pleases me best." "It may well be so," said

Theodhild. "Love is all to women, but if they can love God they are

happiest. Love of man is more sorrow than joy. Love of God is pure

joy. You will find it so."

Gudrid was young enough to wonder if that was true.