(She rises and holds the veil behind her head.)

  I know I dazzled as if I entered in
  And walked upon a windy sunset and drank it,
  Yet must I stammer with such strange uncouthness
  And tear it from me, tangling my arms in it. 
  Why should I so befool myself and seem
  A laughable bundle in each woman’s eyes,
  Wearing such things as no one ever wore,
  Useless ... no head-cloth ... too unlike my fellows. 
  Yet he turns miser for a tiny coif. 
  It would cut into many golden coifs
  And dim some women in their Irish clouts—­
  But no; I’ll shape and stitch it into shifts,
  Smirch it like linen, patch it with rags, to watch
  His silent anger when he sees my answer. 
  Give me thy shears, girl Oddny.

                        ODDNY
  You’ll not part it?

                        HALLGERD
  I’ll shorten it.

                        ODDNY
  I have no shears with me.

                        HALLGERD
  No matter; I can start it with my teeth
  And tear it down the folds.  So.  So.  So.  So. 
  Here’s a fine shift for summer:  and another. 
  I’ll find my shears and chop out waists and neck-holes. 
  Ay, Gunnar, Gunnar!

  (She throws the tissue on the ground, and goes out by
  the dais door.)

      ODDNY (lifting one of the pieces)
  O me!  A wonder has vanished.

                        STEINVOR
  What is a wonder less?  She has done finely,
  Setting her worth above dead marvels and shows.

  (The deep menacing baying of the hound is heard near
  at hand.  A woman’s cry follows it.)

  They come, they come!  Let us flee by the bower!

  (Starting up, she stumbles in the tissue and sinks upon it.  The
  others rise.)

  You are leaving me—­will you not wait for me—­
  Take, take me with you.

  (Mingled cries of women are heard.)

      GUNNAR (outside)
  Samm, it is well:  be still. 
  Women, be quiet; loose me; get from my feet,
  Or I will have the hound to wipe me clear.

      STEINVOR (recovering herself)
  Women are sent to spy.

(The sound of a door being opened is heard.  GUNNAR enters from the left, followed by three beggar-women, BIARTEY, JOFRID, and GUDFINN.  They hobble and limp, and are swathed in shapeless, nameless rags which trail about their feet; BIARTEY’S left sleeve is torn completely away, leaving her arm bare and mud-smeared; the others’ skirts are torn, and JOFRID’S gown at the neck; GUDFINN wears a felt hood buttoned under her chin; the others’ faces are almost hid in falling tangles of grey hair.  Their faces are shriveled and weather-beaten, and BIARTEY’S mouth is distorted by two front teeth that project like tusks.)

                        GUNNAR