The girl took her hand, and looked up gratefully, with tearful eyes.
"And you they call hard and severe!" was all that she could say.
"Mild with the good, severe with the bad, Liuta. All that is under my care is the property of my husband, and the inheritance of my boy. Therefore I must be strict."
Just then the old man and Athalwin appeared at the door. The boy wanted to call out, but the old man held his hand over his mouth, and, for a while, observed unremarked the actions of Rauthgundis as she examined the maids' work, praised, scolded, and arranged new tasks.
"Yes," at last said the old man to himself, "she looks very stately, and seems to be mistress in the house--yet, who knows all!"
And now it was no more possible to hold Athalwin back.
"Mother!" he cried, "a strange man! who has bewitched Thursa, and climbed over the fence, and wants to come to thee! I cannot understand it!"
The stately woman turned to the door with dignity, holding her hand over her eyes, to shade them from the dazzling evening sun, which shone full into the doorway.
"Why dost thou lead the guest here? Thou knowest that thy father is not at home. Take him into the men's hall; his place is not here with me."
"But it is, Rauthgundis! Here, with thee, is my place!" cried the old man, coming forward.