“Do you know the new wife?”
“Well I know her. She was ever a good friend to me, but my wife liked her not.”
“Is she young or old, pretty or otherwise?”
“Few women are so handsome, and she has not yet thirty years.”
“Then it is likely Peter Fae has found a master?”
“That, too, is likely. Snorro says that he hath settled on her the house in which he lives, with much money beside. Perhaps now my Margaret will be poor. I can not think that she will live with Suneva. What then will she do? I wish to see her very much.”
“That you can not possibly do, Lieutenant Vedder. You will be under orders in the morning. To leave your post now, would be desertion. I do not fear for your wife. She knows very well how to look after her own interests. The two women in Peter’s house will be Greek against Greek, and your wife will certainly win some victories.”
“I would not have her suffer, my friend.”
“She will not suffer. It is likely I may be in Lerwick next summer; I will see to that. Have you saved any thing of your salary?”