“Since you do not remember where it is, I will walk with you, if it is not against your wish.”  He shouted some final directions to the men in the field, then leaped over the fence and strode along beside her.

He appeared to have nothing to say, after they were once started, and they went through lane and pasture and field in silence.  But as soon as she broke out with fresh praise for his kindness, he found his tongue in all its curt vigor.

“Enough has been said about that.  I have been wishing to speak to you of something that happened at the feast the other night.  Do you know that my kinswoman Astrid told Gilli of her wish to buy your bondwoman, and—­”

For a moment there was something wolfish about Helga’s white teeth.  She struck in quickly:  “Yes, I know.  Gilli agreed to sell Editha to her, the day we sail.  It is exactly what I expected of him.  If Astrid should offer a little more, he would be apt to sell me.  He is the lowest-minded—­Bah!” It seemed as though words failed her.  She threw her hands apart in a gesture of utter detestation.  The glow was gone out of her face.

“What I wanted to say is, that if it is your wish, I will persuade my mother to withdraw her offer.”

After a while Helga shook her head.  “No.  He would only sell her to some one else.  It would trouble me to think of her among strangers, and your mother would treat her kindly.”  She paused, at the top of the stile they were climbing over, to look down at him earnestly.  “I should be thankful if you would promise me that, Egil.  You are master now, and can have your will about everything.  Promise me you will see that she is well treated.”

“I promise you.”  Helga threw a grateful look after him, as he went along before her.  “Your word is like a rock, Egil.  One could hold on to it though everything else should roll away.”

The cloud was passing from her face.  By the time she gained his side, the rose-garden was once more radiant in sunlight.

“After all, I do not feel that I have a right to let anything grieve me much, since God has given Alwin back from the dead.  I set my mind to thinking of that, and then everything else seems small and easily remedied.  Even Gilli’s coming it is possible to turn to profit.  I have a fine plan—­”

She broke off abruptly as, through a clump of white-birch trees, she caught sight of a tiny cabin nestled in their green shelter.

“That is Solveig’s house; now I remember it!  How is it possible that it has held such a secret for four months, and still looks just as usual?  Let us hurry!” She seized his arm to pull him along.  Only when he wrenched away and came to a dead stop, did she slacken her pace to stare at him over her shoulder.

“Do you wish to drive me crazy?” he shouted.

She thought him already so, and drew back.