Thorarin said—­“There’s no good striving against it, for what must be is sure to happen”.  Glum often talked the matter over with Thorarin, but he put it off a long time.  At last it came about that they gathered men together and rode off ten in company, west to the dales, and came to Hauskuldstede.  Hauskuld gave them a hearty welcome, and they stayed there that night.  But early next morning, Hauskuld sends Hrut, and he came thither at once; and Hauskuld was out of doors when he rode into the “town”.  Then Hauskuld told Hrut what men had come thither.

“What may it be they want?” asked Hrut

“As yet,” says Hauskuld, “they have not let out to me that they have any business.”

“Still,” says Hrut, “their business must be with thee.  They will ask the hand of thy daughter, Hallgerda.  If they do, what answer wilt thou make?”

“What dost thou advise me to say?” says Hauskuld.

“Thou shalt answer well,” says Hrut; “but still make a clean breast of all the good and all the ill thou knowest of the woman.”

But while the brothers were talking thus, out came the guests.  Hauskuld greeted them well, and Hrut bade both Thorarin and his brothers good morning.  After that they all began to talk, and Thorarin said—­

“I am come hither, Hauskuld, with my brother Glum on this errand, to ask for Hallgerda thy daughter, at the hand of my brother Glum.  Thou must know that he is a man of worth.”

“I know well,” says Hauskuld, “that ye are both of you powerful and worthy men; but I must tell you right out, that I chose a husband for her before, and that turned out most unluckily for us.”

Thorarin answered—­“We will not let that stand in the way of the bargain; for one oath shall not become all oaths, and this may prove to be a good match, though that turned out ill; besides Thiostolf had most hand in spoiling it”.

Then Hrut spoke:  “Now I will give you a bit of advice—­this:  if ye will not let all this that has already happened to Hallgerda stand in the way of the match, mind you do not let Thiostolf go south with her if the match comes off, and that he is never there longer than three nights at a time, unless Glum gives him leave, but fall an outlaw by Glum’s hand without atonement if he stay there longer.  Of course, it shall be in Glum’s power to give him leave; but he will not if he takes my advice.  And now this match, shall not be fulfilled, as the other was, without Hallgerda’s knowledge.  She shall now know the whole course of this bargain, and see Glum, and herself settle whether she will have him or not; and then she will not be able to lay the blame on others if it does not turn out well.  And all this shall be without craft or guile.”

Then Thorarin said—­“Now, as always, it will prove best if thy advice be taken”.

Then they sent for Hallgerda, and she came thither, and two women with her.  She had on a cloak of rich blue wool, and under it a scarlet kirtle, and a silver girdle round her waist, but her hair came down on both sides of her bosom, and she had turned the locks up under her girdle.  She sat down between Hrut and her father, and she greeted them all with kind words, and spoke well and boldly, and asked what was the news.  After that she ceased speaking.