“Then will I pray God night and day, night and day, that if you change not your will, He may take me away from this earth.” “It boots not to speak more of this to-night,” said her father, with anguish in his voice. “You believe it not now, maybe; but I must needs guide your life so as I may hope to answer it hereafter. Go now, child, and rest.” He held out his hand toward her; but she would not see it and went sobbing from the room. * * * * * The father and mother sat on a while. Then Lavrans said to his wife: “Would you fetch me in a draught of ale?—no, bring in a little wine,” he asked. “I am weary—” Ragnfrid did as he asked. When she came back with the tall wine stoup, her husband was sitting with his face hidden in his hands. He looked up, and passed his hand over her head-dress and her sleeves: “Poor wife, now you are wet—Come, drink to me, Ragnfrid.” She barely touched the cup with her lips. “Nay now, drink with me,” said Lavrans vehemently, and tried to draw her down on his knee. Unwillingly the woman did as he bade. Lavrans said: “You will stand by me in this thing, wife of mine, will you not? Surely ’twill be best for Kristin herself that she understand from the very outset she must drive this man from her thoughts.” “’Twill be hard for the child,” said the mother. “Aye; well do I see it will,” said Lavrans. They sat silent awhile, then Ragnfrid asked: “How looks he, this Erlend of Husaby?” “Oh,” said Lavrans slowly, “a proper fellow enough—after a fashion. But he looks not a man that is fit for much but to beguile women.” They were silent again for a while then Lavrans said: “The great heritage that came to him from Sir Nikulaus—with that I trow he has dealt so that it is much dwindled. ’Tis not for such a son-in-law that I have toiled and striven to make my children’s lives sure.” The mother wandered restlessly up and down the room. Lavrans went on: “Least of all did it like me that he sought to tempt Kolbein with silver—to bear a secret letter to Kristin.” “Looked you what was in the letter?” asked Ragnfrid. “No, I did not choose,” said Lavrans curtly. “I handed it back to Sir Munan, and told him what I thought of such doings. Erlend had hung his seal to it too—I know not what a man should say of such child’s tricks. Sir Munan would have me see the device of the seal; that ’twas King Skule’s privy seal, come to Erlend through his father. His thought was, I trow, that I might bethink me how great an honour they did me to sue for my daughter. But ’tis in my mind that Sir Munan had scarce pressed on this matter for Erlend so warmly, were it not that in this man’s hands ’tis downhill with the might and honour of the Husaby kindred, that it won in Sir Nikulaus’ and Sir Baard’s days—No longer can Erlend look to make such a match as befitted his birth.” Ragnfrid stopped before her husband: