“Say nothing, but go,” she answered: “go before I weep.”
“Weep not, Gudruda, or thou wilt unman me. Say, thou wilt think on me?”
“Ay, Eric, by day and by night.”
“And thou wilt be true to me?”
“Ay, till death and after, for so long as thou cleavest to me I will cleave to thee. I will first die rather than betray thee. But of thee I am not so sure. Perchance thou mayest find Swanhild in thy journeyings and crave more kisses of her?”
“Anger me not, Gudruda! thou knowest well that I hate Swanhild more than any other woman. When I kiss her again, then thou mayst wed Ospakar.”
“Speak not so rashly, Eric,” she said, and as she spoke Skallagrim drew near.
“If thou lingerest here, lord, the tide will serve us little round Westmans,” he said, eyeing Gudruda as it were with jealousy.
“I come,” said Eric. “Gudruda, fare thee well!”
She kissed him and clung to him, but did not answer, for she could not speak.