“You know her?” asked Kristin mockingly.
“I was never meant to be a monk or a priest,” said Simon reddening. “But I can say at least that I have wronged no maid and no man’s wedded wife. See you not yourself that ’tis no honourable man’s deed to bring you out to go about at night in such company—”
“Erlend did not draw me on,” said Kristin, red with anger, “nor has he promised me aught. I set my heart on him without his doing aught to tempt me—from the first time I saw him, he was dearer to me than all other men.”
Simon sat playing with his dagger, throwing it from one hand to the other.
“These are strange words to hear from a man’s betrothed maiden,” said he. “Things promise well for us two now, Kristin.”
Kristin drew a deep breath:
“You would be ill served should you take me for your wife now, Simon.”
“Aye, God Almighty knows that so it seems indeed,” said Simon Andressön.
“Then I dare hope,” said Kristin meekly and timidly, “that you will uphold me, so that Sir Andres and my father may let this bargain about us be undone?”
“Do you so?” said Simon. He was silent for a little. “God knows whether you rightly understand what you say.”