ORNULF. That bodes but half vengeance; well well,—we shall see!
GUNNAR (approaching). Ornulf, I know well that all my goods were
naught against thy loss; but crave of me what thou wilt——
ORNULF (sternly interrupting him). Give me Thorolf's body, and let
me go! Where lies he?
(GUNNAR points silently to the back.)
ORNULF (takes a step or two, but turns and says in a voice of thunder to SIGURD, DAGNY, and others who are preparing to follow him, sorrowing). Stay! Think ye Ornulf will be followed by a train of mourners, like a whimpering woman? Stay, I say!—I can bear my Thorolf alone. (With calm strength.) Sonless I go; but none shall say that he saw me bowed. (He goes slowly out.)
HIORDIS (with forced laughter). Ay, let him go as he will; we shall scarce need many men to face him should he come with strife again! Now, Dagny—I wot it is the last time thy father shall sail from Iceland on such a quest!
SIGURD (indignant). Oh, shame!
DAGNY (likewise). And thou canst scoff at him—scoff at him, after all that has befallen?
HIORDIS. A deed once done, 'tis wise to praise it. This morning I swore hate and vengeance against Ornulf;—the slaying of Jokul I might have forgotten—all, save that he cast shame upon my lot. He called me a leman; if it be so, it shames me not; for Gunnar is mightier now than thy father; he is greater and more famous than Sigurd, thine own husband!
DAGNY (in wild indignation). There thou errest, Hiordis—and even now shall all men know that thou dwellest under a weakling's roof!