Summary

In Chapter 61, Bjartur’s remaining son Gvendur had turned seventeen and expected to one day inherit Summerhouses. Iceland was experiencing an economic boom due to the continued war in Europe. Bjartur deposited his money in a local Savings Bank, manage by Ingolfur Arnarson. The Bailiff offered to buy Summerhouses for fifteen thousand kronur – a very high sum – but Bjartur declined.

Gvendur received a letter from Nonni containing two hundred dollars, supposedly from their uncle, to allow Gvendur to emigrate to America. Gvendur told Bjartur he was going to America. Bjartur heaped scorn on the idea but Gvendur remained resolute.

In Chapter 62, Gvendur left Summerhouses to go to Fjord on the first leg of his journey to America. Bjartur asked him to recite some lines of poetry, revealing how much he missed Asta Sollilja, if Gvendur should see her while he was in Fjord.

In...