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024 - Book 3 Chapter 3 Part 2 · Bridal Wreath

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Speaker 1: Book three, Chapter three, Part two of the Bridal Wreath
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Speaker 1: by Sir Gourdunset. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
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Speaker 1: Chapter three, Part two. The door was opened from without.
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Speaker 1: The woman who came in thrust ulf aside and came
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Speaker 1: forward into the light. Kristen looked at Arelon. At first
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Speaker 1: he seemed to shrivel and shrink together. Then he drew
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Speaker 1: himself up with a dark flesh on his face. In
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Speaker 1: the devil's name, Where come you from? What would you hear?
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Speaker 1: Lady Osilt stepped forward and spoke, you must come with
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Speaker 1: us to the hall Elina ORMs daughter, so much manners
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Speaker 1: at least we have in this house that we welcome,
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Speaker 1: not our guests in the kitchen. I look not, Lady Osilt,
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Speaker 1: said the other, to be welcomed as a guest by
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Speaker 1: Arland's kinsfolk. Asked you from whence I came? I come
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Speaker 1: from Hussebye, as you might know, I bear you greetings
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Speaker 1: from Orm and Margaret. They are well. Arlon made no answer.
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Speaker 1: When I heard that you had had Gisser Arnfinson raise
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Speaker 1: money for you, and that you were for the south again,
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Speaker 1: she went on, I thought twas like you would bide
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Speaker 1: awhile this time with your kinsfolk in gudbransdall I knew
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Speaker 1: that you had made suit for the daughter of a
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Speaker 1: neighbor of theirs. She looked across at Kristin for the
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Speaker 1: first time and matched the girl's eyes. Kristin was very pale,
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Speaker 1: but she looked calmly and keenly at the other. She
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Speaker 1: was stony, calm. She had known it from the moment
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Speaker 1: she heard who was come. This was the thought she
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Speaker 1: had been fleeing from. Always, this thought. It was she
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Speaker 1: had tried to smother under impatience, restlessness, and defiance. The
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Speaker 1: whole time. She had been striving not to think whether
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Speaker 1: Erelon had freed himself wholly and fully from his former paramour.
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Speaker 1: Now she was overtaken, useless to struggle any more, but
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Speaker 1: she begged, not nor beseeched for herself. She saw that
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Speaker 1: Elina Orm's daughter was fair. She was young, no longer,
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Speaker 1: but she was fair once. She must have been exceeding fair.
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Speaker 1: She had thrown back her hood. Her head was round
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Speaker 1: as a ball and hard. The cheek bones stood out,
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Speaker 1: but none the less, it was plain to see once
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Speaker 1: she had been very fair, Her crooff covered but the
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Speaker 1: back part of her head. While she was speaking, her
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Speaker 1: hands kept smoothing the waving bright gold front hair beneath
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Speaker 1: the linen. Kristen had never seen a woman with such
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Speaker 1: great eyes. They were dark brown, round and hard, but
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Speaker 1: under the narrow, coal black eyebrows and the long lashes
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Speaker 1: they were strangely beautiful against her golden hair. The skin
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Speaker 1: of her cheeks and lips was chafed and raw from
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Speaker 1: her ride in the cold, but it could not spoil
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Speaker 1: her much. She was too fair for that. The heavy
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Speaker 1: riding dress covered up her form, but she bore herself
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Speaker 1: in it, as does only a woman most proud and
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Speaker 1: secure in the glory of a fair body. She was
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Speaker 1: scarce as tall as Christin, but she held herself so
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Speaker 1: well that she seemed yet taller than the slender, spare
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Speaker 1: limbed girl. Has she been with you at Hussby the
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Speaker 1: whole time, asked Kristin in a low voice. I have
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Speaker 1: not been at Hussby, said Herln, curtly, flushing red again.
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Speaker 1: I have dwelt at Hesnes the most of the summer.
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Speaker 1: Here now are the tidings they came to bring you Herelon,
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Speaker 1: said Elina. You need not any longer. Take shelter with
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Speaker 1: your kinsfolk and try their hospitality. For that, I am
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Speaker 1: keeping your house since this autumn. I have been a widow.
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Speaker 1: Ere Loon stood motionless. It was not I that bade
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Speaker 1: you come to ussebye last year to keep my house,
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Speaker 1: said he, with effort. I heard that all things were
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Speaker 1: going to waste there, said Elina. I had so much
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Speaker 1: kindness left for you from old days, ere Lon, that
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Speaker 1: methought I should lend a hand to help you. Although
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Speaker 1: God knows you have not dealt well with our children
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Speaker 1: or with me. For the children, I have done what
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Speaker 1: I could, said ere Lon. And well you know twas
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Speaker 1: for their sake. I suffered you to live on at
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Speaker 1: toussiby that you profited them or me by it? You
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Speaker 1: scarce can think yourself, I trow, he added, smiling scornfully.
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Speaker 1: Gisser could guide things well enough without your help. I
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Speaker 1: you have ever had such mighty trust in Gisser, said Elena,
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Speaker 1: laughing softly. But now the thing is this, Aarlon. Now
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Speaker 1: I am free, and if so be you will you
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Speaker 1: can keep the promise now you made me once. Earlon
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Speaker 1: stood silent, mind you asked Elena. The night I bore
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Speaker 1: your son. You promised then that you would wed me
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Speaker 1: when Sigur died. Allon passed his hand up under his
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Speaker 1: hair that hung damp with sweat. Aye, I remember, he said.
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Speaker 1: Will you keep that promise now, asked Elena. No, said Arlen.
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Speaker 1: Elina ormsdaughter looked across at Kristin, then smiled a little
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Speaker 1: and nodded. Then she looked again at Arleon. It is
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Speaker 1: ten years since, Elena, said the man, and since that
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Speaker 1: time you and I have lived together. You're in and
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Speaker 1: you're out, like two damned souls in hell. But not
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Speaker 1: only so, I trow, said she, with the same smile.
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Speaker 1: It is years and years since auti else has been
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Speaker 1: said hereln dully. The children would be none the better off.
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Speaker 1: And you know, you know, I can scarce bear to
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Speaker 1: be in a room with you any more. He almost screamed.
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Speaker 1: I mark not of that. When you were at home
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Speaker 1: in the summer, said Eilina, with a meaning smile. Then
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Speaker 1: we were not unfriends always if you deem that we
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Speaker 1: were friends, have it as you will for me, said
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Speaker 1: Arlon wearily. Will you stand here without end, broke in,
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Speaker 1: Lady Osild. She poured the porridge from the pot into
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Speaker 1: two great wooden dishes, and gave one to Christen. The
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Speaker 1: girl took it bear to the hall, and you ulf
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Speaker 1: take the other and set them on the board. Supper
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Speaker 1: we must have, whether it be so or so. Kristin
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Speaker 1: and the man went out with the dishes. Lady Osild
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Speaker 1: said to the two others, come now, you two, what
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Speaker 1: boots it that you stand here barking at each other?
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Speaker 1: Tis best that Elena and I have our talk out together, now,
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Speaker 1: said herlon. Lady Osild said no more, but went out
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Speaker 1: and left them in the hall. Kristin had laid the
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Speaker 1: table and fetched ale from the cellar. She sat on
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Speaker 1: the outer bench, straight as a wand and calm of face.
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Speaker 1: But she ate nothing, nor had the others much stomach
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Speaker 1: to their food. Neither Bjorne nor Hearlon's men. Only the
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Speaker 1: man that had come with Elena and Bjorn's hired man
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Speaker 1: ate greedily. Lady Osild sat herself down and ate a
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Speaker 1: little of the porridge. No one spoke a word. At length,
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Speaker 1: Elena Orm's daughter came in alone. Lady Osiald bade her
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Speaker 1: sit between Kristen and herself. Alena sat down and ate
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Speaker 1: a little. Now and again a gleam as of a
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Speaker 1: hidden smile, flitted across her face, and she stole a
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Speaker 1: glance at Kristen. A while after, Lady Osiald went out
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Speaker 1: to the kitchen house. The fire in the hearth was
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Speaker 1: almost burnt out. Ereleon sat by it on his stool,
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Speaker 1: crouched together, his head down between his arms. Lady Osilt
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Speaker 1: went to him and laid her hand on his shoulder.
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Speaker 1: God forgive you, Erelon, that you have brought things to
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Speaker 1: this pass. Erelon turned up to her, a face besmeared
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Speaker 1: with wretchedness. She is with child, he said, and shut
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Speaker 1: his eyes. Lady Osilt's face flamed up. She gripped his
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Speaker 1: shoulder hard. Which of them? She asked, roughly and scornfully,
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Speaker 1: My child, it is not, said Erelen in the same
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Speaker 1: dead voice. But like enough, you will not believe me.
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Speaker 1: None will believe me. He sank together again. Lady Osilt
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Speaker 1: sat down in front of him on the edge of
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Speaker 1: the hearth. Now you must try to play the man, Ereleon.
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Speaker 1: Tis not so easy to believe you in this matter.
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Speaker 1: Do you swear it is not yours? Herlon lifted his
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Speaker 1: ravaged face as surely as I needed God's mercy as
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Speaker 1: surely as I hope that God in heaven has comforted
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Speaker 1: mother for all she suffered here. I have not touched
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Speaker 1: Elena since first I saw Christen. He cried out the words,
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Speaker 1: so that Lady Osilt had to hush him. Then I
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Speaker 1: see not that this is so great a misfortune. You
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Speaker 1: must find out who the father is and make it
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Speaker 1: worth his while to wed her. Tis in my mind
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Speaker 1: that it is gisser Arnfinsen, my steward at Huissseby, said
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Speaker 1: Erelon wearily. We talked together last year, and since then too,
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Speaker 1: Sigurd's death has been looked for this long time past.
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Speaker 1: He was willing to wed her when she was a widow,
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Speaker 1: if I would give her a fitting portion, well, said
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Speaker 1: lady Osilt. Erlon went on, she swear with great oaths
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Speaker 1: she will have none of him. She will name me,
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Speaker 1: asked the father. And if I swear, I am not
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Speaker 1: think you any will believe aught, but that I am forsworn.
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Speaker 1: You must sure be able to turn her purpose, said
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Speaker 1: lady Osild. There is no other way now but that
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Speaker 1: you go home with her to Hussebye, no later than tomorrow.
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Speaker 1: And there must you harden your heart and stand firm
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Speaker 1: till you have this marriage fixed between your steward and Elena, Aye,
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Speaker 1: said Rln. Then he threw himself forward again and groaned aloud,
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Speaker 1: Oh can you not see muster? What think you? Kristen
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Speaker 1: will believe? At night, Ereln lay in the kitchen house
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Speaker 1: with the men in the hall. Kristin slept with Lady
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Speaker 1: Osild in the lady's bed, and the Lena ormsdaughter in
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Speaker 1: the other bed that was there. Bjorn went out and
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Speaker 1: lay in the stable. The next morning, Kristen went out
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Speaker 1: with Lady Osild to the buyer, while the lady went
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Speaker 1: to the kitchen to make ready the breakfast. Kristin or
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Speaker 1: the milk. Up to the hall. A candle stood burning
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Speaker 1: on the table. Elena was sitting dressed on the edge
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Speaker 1: of her bed. Kristin greeted her silently, then fetched a
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Speaker 1: milk pan and poured the milk into it. Will you
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Speaker 1: give me a drink of milk, asked Elena. Kristin took
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Speaker 1: a wooden ladle, filled it and handed it to the other.
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Speaker 1: She drank eagerly, looking at Kristin over the rim of
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Speaker 1: the cup. So you are that Kristin Lavrin's daughter, that
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Speaker 1: hath stolen from me Arlen's love, she said, as she
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Speaker 1: gave back the ladle. You should know best if there
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Speaker 1: was any love to steal, said the girl. Elena bit
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Speaker 1: her lip. What will you do? She said? If Rilen
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Speaker 1: one day grow weary of you and offered to wed
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Speaker 1: you to his serving man, will you do his will?
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Speaker 1: And that as well? Kristin made no answer. Then the
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Speaker 1: other laughed and said, you do his will in all things. Now,
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Speaker 1: I well believe what think you, Christin? Shall we throw dice?
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Speaker 1: Were our man? We two paramours of Arelon Nicholson. When
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Speaker 1: no answer came, she laughed again and said, are you
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Speaker 1: so simple that you deny not? You are his paramour
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Speaker 1: to you? I care not to lie, said Kristin. Twould
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Speaker 1: profit you but little if you did, answered Elena, still laughing.
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Speaker 1: I know the boy too well. He flew at you
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Speaker 1: like a black cock. I trow the second time you
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Speaker 1: were together. Tis pity of you two, fair child that
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Speaker 1: you are. Christen's cheeks grew white. Sick with loathing, she said, lo,
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Speaker 1: I will not speak with you. Think you he is
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Speaker 1: like to deal with you better than with me, went
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Speaker 1: on Elena. Then Kristin answered sharply. No blame will I
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Speaker 1: ever cast on Erellon, whatever he may do, I went
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Speaker 1: astray of my own will. I shall not whimper or
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Speaker 1: wail if the path lead out on to the rocks.
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Speaker 1: Elena was silent for a while. Then she said, unsteadily,
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Speaker 1: flushing red, I was a maid too when he came
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Speaker 1: to me, Christin, even though I had been wife in
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Speaker 1: name to the old man for seven years. But like enough,
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Speaker 1: you could never understand what the misery of that life was.
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Speaker 1: Christin began to tremble violently. Elena looked at her. Then,
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Speaker 1: from her traveling case that stood by her on the
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Speaker 1: step of the bed, she took a little horn. She
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Speaker 1: broke the seal that was on its mouth, and said, softly,
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Speaker 1: you are young and I am old. Christin. I know
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Speaker 1: well it boots not for me to strive against you.
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Speaker 1: Your time is now. Will you drink with me? Christin?
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Speaker 1: Kristin did not move. Then the other raised the horn
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Speaker 1: to her own lips, but Kristin marked that she did
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Speaker 1: not drink. Elina said, so much honor you sure can
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Speaker 1: do me to drink to me, and promise you will
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Speaker 1: not be a hard stepmother to my children. Christin took
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Speaker 1: the horn. At that moment, ere Lon opened the door.
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Speaker 1: He stood a moment, looking from one to the other
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Speaker 1: of the women. What is this, he asked, Kitsten answered,
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Speaker 1: and her voice was wild and piercing. We are drinking
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Speaker 1: to each other. We your paramour's. He gripped her wrist
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Speaker 1: and took the horn from her. Be still, he said, harshly,
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Speaker 1: you shall not drink with her. Why not, cried Christin?
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Speaker 1: As before she was pure as I was when you
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Speaker 1: tempted her. That hath she said so often that I
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Speaker 1: trow She is come to believe it herself, said Erlen.
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Speaker 1: Mind you, Elena, when you made me go to Sigurd
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Speaker 1: with that tale, and he brought forth witness that he
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Speaker 1: had caught you before with another man. White with loathing,
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Speaker 1: Kristen turned away. Elena had flushed darkly. Now, she said defiantly,
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Speaker 1: Yet will it scarce bring leprosy on the girl if
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Speaker 1: she'd drink with me? Ere Loon turned on Eilena in wrath.
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Speaker 1: Then of a sudden his face seemed to grow long
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Speaker 1: and hard as stone, and he gasped with horror. Jesus,
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Speaker 1: he said, below his breath. He gripped Elena by the arm.
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Speaker 1: Drink to her. Then, he said, in a harsh and
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Speaker 1: quivering voice, drink you first, then she shall drink to you.
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Speaker 1: Elena wrenched herself away with a groan. She fled backwards
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Speaker 1: through the room. The man after her drink, he said.
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Speaker 1: He snatched the dagger from his belt and held it
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Speaker 1: as he followed. Drink out the drink you have brewed
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Speaker 1: for Christen. He seized Eilena's arm again and dragged her
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Speaker 1: to the table, then forced her head forward toward the horn.
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Speaker 1: Helena shrieked once and buried her face on her arm.
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Speaker 1: Ereleon released her and stood trembling. A hell was mine
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Speaker 1: with sigurd, shrieked Elena. You you promised, but you have
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Speaker 1: been worse to me of all. Erelon then came Christen
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Speaker 1: forward and grasped the horn. One of us two must drink.
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Speaker 1: Both of us you cannot keep. Erelon wrenched a horn
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Speaker 1: from her and flung her from him, so that she
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Speaker 1: reeled and fell near by Lady Osild's bed. Again, he
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Speaker 1: pushed the horn against elena Ormsdaughter's mouth with one knee
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Speaker 1: on the bench. She stood by her side, and with
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Speaker 1: a hand round her head, tried to force the drink
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Speaker 1: between her teeth. She reached out under his arm, snatched
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Speaker 1: his dagger from the table, and struck hard at the man.
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Speaker 1: The blow did but scratch his flesh through the clothes.
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Speaker 1: Then she turned to point against her own breast, and
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Speaker 1: the instant after sank Sidelong down into his arms. Kristin
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Speaker 1: rose and came to them. Ereleon was holding Elena, her
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Speaker 1: head hanging back over his arm. The rattle came in
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Speaker 1: her throat almost at once. Blood welled up and ran
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Speaker 1: out of her mouth. She spat some of it out
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Speaker 1: and said, twas for you. I meant that drink for
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Speaker 1: all the times you deceived me. Bring Lady Oshild hither,
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Speaker 1: said Erelen in a low voice. Kristen stood immovable. She
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Speaker 1: is dying, said Arlen. As before then is she better
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Speaker 1: served than we? Said Kristin. Ereleon looked at her. The
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Speaker 1: despair in his eyes softened her. She left the room.
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Speaker 1: What is it? Asked lady Oshilt, when Kristen called her
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Speaker 1: out from the kitchen. We have killed Elena Orm's daughter,
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Speaker 1: said Kristin. She is dying. Lady Oslilt set off running
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Speaker 1: to the hall, but Elena breathed her last as the
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Speaker 1: lady crossed the threshold. Lady Osilt had laid out the
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Speaker 1: dead woman on the bench, wiped the blood from her face,
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Speaker 1: and covered it with the linen of her cloth. Ereloun
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Speaker 1: stood leaning against the wall behind the body. No, you,
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Speaker 1: said Osilt, that this was the worst thing that could befall.
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Speaker 1: She had filled the fireplace with twigs and firewood. Now
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Speaker 1: she thrust the horn into the midst of them and
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Speaker 1: blew them into a blaze. Can you trust your men,
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Speaker 1: asked the lady again. Ulf and Hafdor are trusty? Methinks
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Speaker 1: of Yon and the man with Elena. I know, but
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Speaker 1: little you know, belike, said the lady. Should it come
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Speaker 1: out that Kristin and you were together here, and that
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Speaker 1: you too were alone with her when she died, twere
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Speaker 1: as well for Kristin you had let her drink of
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Speaker 1: Elena's brew. And should there be talk of poison, all
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Speaker 1: men will call to mind what was once laid to
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Speaker 1: my charge. Had she any kindred or friends, No, said
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Speaker 1: Erelen in a low voice. She had none but me. Yet,
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Speaker 1: said lady Oshiald again, it may well be a hard
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Speaker 1: matter to cover up this thing and hide the body
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Speaker 1: away without the ugliest of misthought falling on you. She
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Speaker 1: shall rest in hallowed ground, said Erlon. If it cost
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Speaker 1: me huss'by, what say you, Kristin. Kristin nodded lady Aswild
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Speaker 1: sat silent. The more she thought, the more hopeless it
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Speaker 1: seemed to her to find any way out. In the
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Speaker 1: kitchen house were four men. Even if Erelon could bribe
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Speaker 1: them all to keep silence, even if some of them,
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Speaker 1: if Elena's man could be bribed to leave the country,
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Speaker 1: still sure they could never be. And twas known at
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Speaker 1: Uringard that Riston had been here. If Laverns heard of this,
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Speaker 1: she feared to think what he would do and how
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Speaker 1: to bear the dead woman. Hence the mountain path to
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Speaker 1: the west was not to be thought of. Now there
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Speaker 1: was the road to Ramsdaal, or over the hills to Trondheim,
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Speaker 1: or south down the dale. And should the truth come out,
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Speaker 1: it would never be believed, even if folk let it
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Speaker 1: pass for true. I must take counsel with Bjorne in
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Speaker 1: this matter, she said, and rose and went out to
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Speaker 1: call him. Bjorne Gunnerson listened to his wife's story without
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Speaker 1: moving a muscle and without withdrawing his eyes from Erelon's face,
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Speaker 1: Bjorn said, Osild desperately. There is nought for it, but
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Speaker 1: that one must swear. He saw her lay hands upon herself.
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Speaker 1: Bjorne's dead eyes grew slowly dark as life came into them.
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Speaker 1: He looked at his wife, and his mouth drew aside
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Speaker 1: into a crooked smile. And you mean that I shall
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Speaker 1: should be the one? Lady Oshialt crushed her hands together
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Speaker 1: and lifted them towards him. Bjorn, you know well what
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Speaker 1: it means for these two. And you think that whether
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Speaker 1: or no, tis all over with me, he said, slowly,
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Speaker 1: Or think you there is so much left of the
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Speaker 1: man I once was that I dare be forsworn to
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Speaker 1: save that boy there from going down to ruin. I
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Speaker 1: that was dragged down myself all those years ago, dragged down,
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Speaker 1: I say, he repeated. You say it because I am old, now,
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Speaker 1: whispered Oswald. Christen burst out into such weeping that the
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Speaker 1: piercing sound filled the room. She had sat in the
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Speaker 1: corner by Oshiald's bed, stark and silent. Now she began
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Speaker 1: weeping wildly and loud. It was as though Lady Oshilet's
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Speaker 1: voice had torn her heart open. The voice had been
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Speaker 1: heavy with the memories of the sweetness of love. It
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Speaker 1: was as though its sound had made her understand for
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Speaker 1: the first time what her love and Herlon's had been.
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Speaker 1: The memory of hot and passionate happiness swept over all else,
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Speaker 1: swept away the hard despair and hatred of last night.
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Speaker 1: All she knew of now was her love and her
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Speaker 1: will to hold out. They looked at her all three.
22:29
Speaker 1: Then Sir Biorn went across and lifted her chin with
22:32
Speaker 1: his hand and looked at her. Say you, Christin, she
22:35
Speaker 1: did it herself. Every word you have heard is true,
22:40
Speaker 1: said Kristin. Firmly. We threatened her till she did it.
22:45
Speaker 1: She had meant. Kristin should suffer a worst fate, said Osild.
22:51
Speaker 1: Sir Biorn, Let go the girl. He went over to
22:53
Speaker 1: the body, lifted it up into the bed where Lena
22:56
Speaker 1: had lain the night before, and laid it close to
22:59
Speaker 1: the wall. Dry up the coverlings well over it. Yon
23:03
Speaker 1: and the man you do not know. You must send
23:05
Speaker 1: home to hussebye with word that Elena is journeying south
23:09
Speaker 1: with you. Let them ride at midday. Say that the
23:13
Speaker 1: women are asleep in the hall. They must take their
23:16
Speaker 1: food in the kitchen. Afterward, you must speak with ulf
23:20
Speaker 1: and half door hath she threatened before to do this
23:25
Speaker 1: so that you can bring witness to it if such
23:28
Speaker 1: questions should be asked, every soul that was at husseby
23:32
Speaker 1: the last years we lived together there, said Herlon wearily
23:36
Speaker 1: can witness that she threatened to take her own life
23:39
Speaker 1: and mine too. Sometimes when I spoke of parting from her,
23:44
Speaker 1: Biorn laughed harshly. I thought, as much to night. We
23:49
Speaker 1: must clothe her in her riding coats and set her
23:52
Speaker 1: in the sleigh. You must sit beside her. Her loon
23:56
Speaker 1: swayed on his feet where he stood. I cannot God
24:03
Speaker 1: knows how much manhood will be left in you when
24:07
Speaker 1: you have gone your own gait twenty years more, said Bjorn.
24:11
Speaker 1: Think you then you can drive the sleigh. For then
24:15
Speaker 1: will I sit beside her. We must travel by night
24:19
Speaker 1: and by lonely paths till we are come down to
24:22
Speaker 1: Fron in this cold nun can know how long she
24:26
Speaker 1: has been dead. We will drive into the Monk's hospice
24:30
Speaker 1: at Roolstadt. There will you and I bear witness that
24:33
Speaker 1: you two were together in the sleigh, and it came
24:36
Speaker 1: to bitter words betwixt you. There is witness enough that
24:39
Speaker 1: you would not live with her since the ban was
24:42
Speaker 1: taken off you, and that you have made suit for
24:44
Speaker 1: a maiden of birth that fits your own. Ulf and
24:48
Speaker 1: Haft must hold themselves aloof the whole way, so they
24:51
Speaker 1: can swear, if need be, she was alive when last
24:55
Speaker 1: they saw her. You can bring them to do so much.
24:58
Speaker 1: I trow at the monastery. You can have the monks
25:01
Speaker 1: lay her in her coffin, and afterward you must bargain
25:04
Speaker 1: with the priests for grave peace for her and soul's
25:09
Speaker 1: peace for yourself. Ay a fair deed, it is not,
25:13
Speaker 1: But so as you have guided things, no fairer can
25:16
Speaker 1: it be. Stand not there like a breeding woman ready
25:20
Speaker 1: to swoon away? God help you boy. A man can
25:23
Speaker 1: see you have not proved before. What tis to feel
25:27
Speaker 1: the knife edge at your throat? A biting blast came
25:31
Speaker 1: rushing down from the mountains, driving a fine, silvery smoke
25:35
Speaker 1: from the snow wreaths up into the moon blue air.
25:38
Speaker 1: As the men made ready to drive away, two horses
25:42
Speaker 1: were harnessed, one in front of the other. Herelon sat
25:46
Speaker 1: in the front of the sleigh. Kristin went up to him,
25:49
Speaker 1: this time eirlon you must try to send me word
25:52
Speaker 1: how this journey goes, and what becomes of you. After
25:56
Speaker 1: he crushed her hand till she thought the blood must
25:59
Speaker 1: be driven out from under the nails. Dare you still
26:02
Speaker 1: hold fast to me? Christin high still? She said, And
26:08
Speaker 1: after a moment have this deed. We are both guilty.
26:12
Speaker 1: I egged you on, for I willed her death. Lady
26:16
Speaker 1: Oslild and Kristen stood and looked after the sleigh as
26:19
Speaker 1: it rose and dipped over the snow drifts. It went
26:22
Speaker 1: down from sight into a hollow, then came forth again,
26:26
Speaker 1: farther down on a snow slope. And then the men
26:29
Speaker 1: passed into the shadow of a fell and were gone
26:32
Speaker 1: from sight for good. The two women sat by the fireplace,
26:36
Speaker 1: their backs to the empty bed from which Osild had
26:39
Speaker 1: borne away all the bedding and straw. Both could feel
26:42
Speaker 1: it standing there, empty and gaping behind them. Would you
26:46
Speaker 1: rather that we should sleep in the kitchen house to night,
26:50
Speaker 1: asked Lady Oslilt at length. Tis like it will be
26:53
Speaker 1: the same wherever we lie, said Kristen. Lady Osild went
26:58
Speaker 1: out to look at the weather. Aye, should the wind
27:01
Speaker 1: get up or a thaw come on, they will not
27:04
Speaker 1: journey far before it comes out, said Christin. Here at
27:09
Speaker 1: howgen it blows, ever, tis no sign of a change
27:12
Speaker 1: of weather. They sat on as before. You should not forget,
27:18
Speaker 1: said the lady. At last, what fate she had meant
27:21
Speaker 1: for you two? Christon answered lo. I was thinking maybe
27:26
Speaker 1: in her place I had willed the same. Never would
27:29
Speaker 1: you have willed another should be a leper, said Osilt. Vehemently,
27:34
Speaker 1: mind you master, You said to me once that tis
27:37
Speaker 1: well when we dare not do a thing we think
27:40
Speaker 1: is not good and fair. But not so well when
27:43
Speaker 1: we think a thing not good and fair because we
27:46
Speaker 1: dare not do it. You had not dared to do
27:49
Speaker 1: it because twas sin, said lady Osilt. No I believe
27:55
Speaker 1: not so, said Cristin. Much have I done already that
27:58
Speaker 1: I deemed once I dared to do because twas sin?
28:02
Speaker 1: But I saw not till now what sin brings with
28:06
Speaker 1: it that we must tread others underfoot. Erlon would fain
28:11
Speaker 1: have made an end of his ill life long before
28:14
Speaker 1: he met you, said Osilt. Eagerly. All was over between
28:19
Speaker 1: those two. I know it, said Christen, But I trow
28:23
Speaker 1: she had never cause to deem Erlon's purposes so firm
28:27
Speaker 1: that she could not shake them. Christine begged the lady fearfully.
28:33
Speaker 1: Surely you would not give up Erlon now. You cannot
28:38
Speaker 1: be saved now except you save each other. So would
28:43
Speaker 1: a priest's scorn counsel, said Christen, smiling coldly. But well,
28:49
Speaker 1: I know that never can I give up Erlon now,
28:52
Speaker 1: not if I should tread my own father underfoot. Lady
28:56
Speaker 1: Oshilt rose, we had as well put our hands to
29:00
Speaker 1: some work at sit here, Thus, she said, like enough,
29:04
Speaker 1: twould be vain for us to try to sleep. She
29:07
Speaker 1: fetched the butter churn from the closet, then bore in
29:10
Speaker 1: some pans of milk, filled the churn, and made ready
29:13
Speaker 1: to begin churning. Let me do it, Christin asked, my
29:18
Speaker 1: back is younger. They worked without speaking. Kristen stood by
29:23
Speaker 1: the closet door, churning, while Osiled carded wool by the hearth.
29:27
Speaker 1: At last, when Kristin had emptied the churn and was
29:30
Speaker 1: kneading the butter, the girl asked of a sudden master,
29:34
Speaker 1: Oshilt are you never afraid of the day when you
29:37
Speaker 1: must stand before God's judgment? Lady Oshild rose and came
29:42
Speaker 1: and stood before Christen in the light. It may be
29:46
Speaker 1: I shall find courage to ask him that hath made
29:49
Speaker 1: me as I am, if he will have mercy on
29:52
Speaker 1: me in his own good time. For I have never
29:56
Speaker 1: begged for his mercy when I broke his commands, and
29:59
Speaker 1: never where have I begged God or Man to forgive
30:03
Speaker 1: me a farthing of the price I have paid here
30:06
Speaker 1: in this mountain hut. A little while after, she said softly, Monin,
30:12
Speaker 1: my eldest son was twenty years old. He was not
30:17
Speaker 1: such an one then as I know he is now.
30:20
Speaker 1: They were not such ones then, my children. Kristin answered low,
30:26
Speaker 1: But yet have you had Sir borne by your side
30:29
Speaker 1: each day and each night in all these years? Ay?
30:35
Speaker 1: That too, have I had said osilt In a little
30:40
Speaker 1: while after Kristin was done with the butter making, Lady
30:43
Speaker 1: Ozild said then that they must lie down and try
30:47
Speaker 1: to sleep a little inside in the dark bed. She
30:50
Speaker 1: laid her arm round Kristin's shoulders and drew the young
30:53
Speaker 1: head into her breast, and it was not long before
30:56
Speaker 1: she heard, by her even gentle breathing that Kristin was
31:00
Speaker 1: fallen asleep. End of Chapter three, Part two