) Ay, but the arm, the arm that shall do the
deed----?
(GUNNAR enters, silent and thoughtful, from the back.)
HIORDIS (after a short pause). How goes it with thee, my husband?
GUNNAR. Ill, Hiordis; I cannot away with that deed of yesterday; it
lies heavy on my heart.
HIORDIS. Do as I do; get thee some work to busy thee.
GUNNAR. Doubtless I must.
(A pause; GUNNAR paces up and down the hall, notices what HIORDIS
is doing, and approaches her.)
GUNNAR. What dost thou there?
HIORDIS (without looking up). I am weaving a bow-string; canst
thou not see?
GUNNAR. A bow-string--of thine own hair?
HIORDIS (smiling). Great deeds are born with every hour in these
times; yesterday thou didst slay my foster-brother, and I have woven
this since day-break.
GUNNAR. Hiordis, Hiordis!
HIORDIS (looking up). What is amiss?
GUNNAR. Where wast thou last night?
HIORDIS. Last night?
GUNNAR. Thou wast not in the sleeping-room.
HIORDIS. Know'st thou that?
GUNNAR. I could not sleep; I tossed in restless dreams of that--
that which befell Thorolf. I dreamt that he came---- No matter; I
awakened. Then meseemed I heard a strange, fair song through all the
house; I arose; I stole hither to the door; here I saw thee sitting
by the log-fire--it burned blue and red--fixing arrow-heads, and
singing sorceries over them.
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