DAGNY. Surely thou thyself hast known it.
HIORDIS. Ay once, and only once; it was that night when Gunnar sat with me in my bower; he crushed me in his arms till his byrnie burst, and then, then——!
DAGNY (exclaiming). What! Sigurd——!
HIORDIS. Sigurd? What of Sigurd? I spoke of Gunnar—that night when he bore me away——
DAGNY (collecting herself). Yes, yes, I remember—I know well——
HIORDIS. That was the only time; never, never again! I deemed I was bewitched; for that Gunnar could clasp a woman—— (Stops and looks at DAGNY.) What ails thee? Methinks thou turnest pale and red!
DARNY. Nay, nay!
HIORDIS (without noticing her). The merry viking-raid should have been my lot; it had been better for me, and—mayhap for all of us. That were life, full and rich life! Dost thou not wonder, Dagny, to find me here alive? Art not afraid to be alone with me in the hall? Deem'st thou not that I must have died in all these years, and that it is my ghost that stands at thy side?
DAGNY (painfully affected). Come—let us go—to the others.
HIORDIS (seizing her by the arm). No, stay! Seems it not strange to thee, Dagny, that any woman can yet live after five such nights?