“Trust nothing that thou seest and little that thou hearest, girl,” said Asmund, raising himself from thought:  “so shall thy guesses be good.  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 marriage on the morrow, though his heart prophesied no luck in the matter, and therefore he was not overswift with it.

“In this thing thou hast done me and mine good service,” said Asmund coldly, searching Eric’s face with his blue eyes.  “It had been said if my fair daughter had perished in the snow, for, know this:  I would set her high in marriage, for her honour and the honour of my house, and so some rich and noble man had lost great joy.  But take thou this gift in memory of the deed, and Gudruda’s husband shall give thee another such upon the day that he makes her wife,” and he drew a gold ring off his arm.

Now Eric’s knees trembled as he heard, and his heart grew faint as though 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 time will come when I shall ask thee for a richer.”

“My gifts have never been put away before,” said Asmund, growing angry.

“This wealthy farmer holds the good gold of little worth.  It is foolish to take fish to the sea, my father,” sneered Bjoern.

“Nay, Bjoern, not so,” Eric answered:  “but, as thou sayest, I am but a farmer, and since my father, Thorgrimur Iron-Toe, died things have not gone too well on Ran River.  But at the least I am a free man, and I will take no gifts that I cannot repay worth for worth.  Therefore I will not have the ring.”

“As thou wilt,” said Asmund.  “Pride is a good horse if thou ridest wisely,” and he thrust the ring back upon his arm.

Then people go to rest; but Swanhild seeks her mother, and tells her all that has befallen her, nor does Groa fail to listen.

“Now I will make a plan,” she says, “for these things have chanced well and Asmund is in a ripe humour.  Eric shall come no more to Middalhof till Gudruda is gone hence, led by Ospakar Blacktooth.”

“And if Eric does not come here, how shall I see his face? for, mother, I long for the sight of it.”

“That is thy matter, thou lovesick fool.  Know this:  that if Eric comes hither and gets speech with Gudruda, there is an end of thy hopes; for, fair as thou art, she is too fair for thee, and, strong as thou art, in a way she is too strong.  Thou hast heard how these two love, and such loves mock at the will of fathers.  Eric will win his desire or die beneath the swords of Asmund and Bjoern, if such men can prevail against his might.  Nay, the wolf Eric must be fenced from the lamb till he grows hungry.  Then let him search the fold and make spoil of thee, for, when the best is gone, he will desire the good.”