Ørlygur went straight up to him.
“I think you had better come with me, after all,” he said. “I feel—I feel lonely today, Ormarr. Never mind the lamb, it will manage till we come back.”
Ormarr looked up. There was something strange about his father’s manner today, something he had not noticed before. He rose up without a word, saddled a horse, and a few minutes later father and son set out.
Where the road was good, they gave their horses rein. But Ormarr noticed that, despite the pace, his father was constantly turning to look back at Borg. A new fancy of his, he thought.
There was a stretch of difficult going just ahead; on reaching it, they slackened speed, and rode on side by side at a walk. Suddenly, and without preamble, Ørlygur said:
“I had a strange dream last night. Curiously distinct it was too. I was standing on the hill outside”—he nodded towards Borg—“and a funeral came along the road—this very way—towards the house. A great procession, the biggest I had even seen. And the strange thing about it was that it was coming from the church towards Borg—instead of the opposite way.”
He paused for a moment, and continued:
“And that was not all. I was quite sure that it was my own corpse the people were following. And yet I stood there on the hill myself, looking on. If it means anything at all, I suppose it should be taken by contraries—to say that I am to be buried alone, without a soul to follow me to the grave.”
They reached the level road as he ceased speaking, and Ørlygur at once galloped on ahead; Ormarr did not overtake him till they had reached the vicarage. Neither spoke.
There was a numerous attendance of people. But it was noticeable that they did not talk together, but busied themselves tidying up after the ride with nervous care. There was none of the customary laughter and easy conversation, all seemed curiously silent. Neighbours did not move to greet one another and shake hands; and none entered the church. All waited, a silent crowd, with their minds at the highest pitch of sinister anticipation.