And then you must show whether you have power to bridle your unruly spirit. BENGT. Aye, mark you that. MARGIT. You must lay no hand on your axe—hear you, Knut Gesling? BENGT. Neither on your axe, nor on your knife, nor on any other weapon whatsoever. MARGIT. For then can you never hope to be one of our kindred. BENGT. Nay, that is our firm resolve. KNUT. [_To_ MARGIT.] Have no fear. BENGT. And what we have firmly resolved stands fast. KNUT. That I like well, Sir Bengt Gauteson. I, too, say the same; and I have pledged myself at the feast-board to wed your kinswoman. You may be sure that my pledge, too, will stand fast.—God’s peace till to-night! [_He and_ ERIK, _with their men, go out at the back._ [_BENGT accompanies them to the door. The sound of the bells has in the meantime ceased._ BENGT. [_Returning._] Methought he seemed to threaten us as he departed. MARGIT. [_Absently._] Aye, so it seemed. BENGT. Knut Gesling is an ill man to fall out with. And, when I bethink me, we gave him over many hard words. But come, let us not brood over that. To-day we must be merry, Margit!—as I trow we have both good reason to be. MARGIT. [_With a weary smile._] Aye, surely, surely. BENGT. ’Tis true I was no mere stripling when I courted you. But well I wot I was the richest man for many and many a mile. You were a fair maiden, and nobly born; but your dowry would have tempted no wooer. MARGIT. [_To herself._] Yet was I then so rich. BENGT. What said you, my wife? MARGIT. Oh, nothing, nothing. [_Crosses to the right._] I will deck me with pearls and rings. Is not to-night a time of rejoicing for me? BENGT. I am fain to hear you say it. Let me see that you deck you in your best attire, that our guests may say: Happy she who mated with Bengt Gauteson.—But now must I to the larder; there are many things to-day that must not be overlooked. [_He goes out to the left._ MARGIT. [_Sinks down on a chair by the table on the right._