She rose up and said good-night; but her father bade her stay yet a little.
“I have one more thing to tell,” said Lavrans. “I might have held my peace about it before you—but ’tis better you should know it. This it is, Kristin—the man you have set your heart on, him must you strive to forget.”
Kristin had been standing with arms hanging down and bent head. She looked up now into her father’s face. She moved her lips, but no sound came forth that could be heard.
Lavrans looked away from his daughter’s eyes; he struck out sideways with his hand:
“I wot well you know that never would I set myself against it, could I anyways believe ’twould be for your good.”
“What are the tidings that have been told you on this journey, father?” said Kristin in a clear voice.
“Erlend Nikulaussön and his kinsman, Sir Munan Baardsön, came to me at Tunsberg,” answered Lavrans. “Sir Munan asked for you for Erlend, and I answered him: no.”
Kristin stood a while, breathing heavily.
“Why will you not give me to Erlend Nikulaussön?” she asked.
“I know not how much you know of the man you would have for husband,” said Lavrans. “If you cannot guess the reason for yourself, ’twill be no pleasing thing for you to hear from my lips.”