"I am sorry. Will you do me a favor? When you write to Gunhild tell her that she must come back to me. I need her."
"I will tell her that you have said so."
"That won't be much of a favor, but tell her. And I want you to promise one thing—that you will come to see me, when you are married."
"I'll promise that gladly, and keep it. I am very fond of you."
"Are you?"
"Yes. You said you would like to be the mother of such a son. That was the kindest thing ever said to me. It makes you my mother."
"Oh," she said, falteringly, as he took her hand. "You will understand me better in the time to come. Good-bye."