On saying this Sir Archie entered the cottage with Elsalill and began to talk to her of his home.
And Elsalill sat and listened to Sir Archie, who spoke both long and well. Each word that came from his lips made her feel happy. But when the time drew on for Sir Archie to go, he asked if he might kiss her.
Then Elsalill said No, and would have slipped out of the door, but
Sir Archie stood in her way and would have made her kiss him.
At that moment the door of the cottage opened, and its mistress came in in great haste.
Then Sir Archie drew back from Elsalill. He simply gave her his hand in farewell and hurried away.
But Torarin's mother said to Elsalill: "It was well that you sent for me, for it is not fitting for a maid to sit alone in the house with such a man as Sir Archie. You know full well that a soldier of fortune has neither honour nor conscience."
"Did I send for you?" asked Elsalill, astonished.
"Yes," answered the old woman. "As I stood at work on the quay there came a little maid I had never seen before, and brought me word that you begged me to go home."
"How did this maid look?" asked Elsalill.
"I heeded her not so closely that I can tell you how she looked," said the old woman. "But one thing I marked; she went so lightly upon the snow that not a sound was heard."