It had never occurred to him that Snebiorg might be at the funeral; he had not noticed her till now. She had been among those who joined the party at the church. It was a shock to him to see her now, so overcome with grief, and with that look of doubt and fear upon her face—it struck him to the heart.
And here he stood, on a mound by the graveside, with all eyes upon him. All were waiting to hear what he would say. Speak now he must. He pulled himself together, but his heart trembled at the thought of what he must say. She was standing there. Well, she would forgive him, when she heard it all—heard the confession and the promise from his own mouth.
He looked round hesitatingly. His foster-father was looking at him with a strange expression—a look that made him lower his eyes.
Ormarr had seen that Ørlygur was about to speak. He did not know what was in the boy’s mind, but something told him that what he was about to say must not be said. He fixed his gaze on the young man’s face with all his inner power concentrated in his eyes, trying to compel his attention. Ørlygur was looking at Snebiorg; Ormarr saw him hesitate. This seemed further proof that there was something which must be averted. At last Ormarr caught his eye, and Ørlygur bowed his head.
Then Ormarr turned and left the grave. It was a sign for the gathering to disperse.
But the thought which had checked Ørlygur when he met his foster-father’s gaze was the remembrance of his having been found sleeping that morning at his vigil by the dead. With that in his mind, and with that look fixed on his face, he could not say what he had planned. It was impossible.
He stood staring down into the grave.
Those present thought only that the boy was too deeply moved to say the words of affectionate farewell he would have uttered. And all, even the men who had come up to fill in the grave, moved away and left him to himself.
He seemed as if turned to stone.
“Too late,” he thought. “And now—what am I to do? Is all to go on as before? That cannot be—I at least am no longer the same....”