Kristin did not move. Then the other raised the horn to her own lips; but Kristin marked that she did not drink. Eline said:
“So much honour you sure can do me, to drink to me—and promise you will not be a hard step-mother to my children?”
Kristin took the horn. At that moment Erlend opened the door. He stood a moment, looking from one to the other of the women.
“What is this?” he asked.
Kristin answered, and her voice was wild and piercing:
“We are drinking to each other—we—your paramours—”
He gripped her wrist and took the horn from her.
“Be still,” he said, harshly. “You shall not drink with her.”
“Why not?” cried Kristin as before. “She was pure as I was, when you tempted her—”
“That hath she said so often, that I trow she is come to believe it herself,” said Erlend. “Mind you, Eline, when you made me go to Sigurd with that tale, and he brought forth witness that he had caught you before with another man?”