Aye, by my faith he does. He has a shield-bearer and six armed men in his train. What would you? Gudmund Alfson is a far other man than he was when he set forth to seek his fortune. But I must ride forth and receive him. [_Calls out._] The gilded saddle on my horse! And forget not the bridle with the serpents’ heads! [_Looks out to the back._] Ha, there he is already at the gate! Well, then, my staff—my silver-headed staff! Such a lordly knight—Heaven save us!—we must receive him with honour, with all seemly honour! [_Goes hastily out to the back._ MARGIT. [_Brooding._] Alone he departed, a penniless swain; With esquires and henchmen now comes he again. What would he? Comes he, forsooth, to see My bitter and gnawing misery? Would he try how long, in my lot accurst, I can writhe and moan, ere my heart-strings burst— Thinks he that—? Ah, let him only try! Full little joy shall he reap thereby. [_She beckons through the doorway on the right. Three handmaidens enter._ List, little maids, what I say to you: Find me my silken mantle blue. Go with me into my bower anon: My richest of velvets and furs do on. Two of you shall deck me in scarlet and vair, The third shall wind pearl-strings into my hair. All my jewels and gauds bear away with ye! [_The handmaids go out to the left, taking the ornaments with them._ Since Margit the Hill-King’s bride must be, Well! don we the queenly livery! [_She goes out to the left._ [BENGT _ushers in_ GUDMUND ALFSON, _through the pent-house passage at the back._ BENGT. And now once more—welcome under Solhoug’s roof, my wife’s kinsman. GUDMUND. I thank you. And how goes it with her? She thrives well in every way, I make no doubt? BENGT. Aye, you may be sure she does. There is nothing she lacks. She has five handmaidens, no less, at her beck and call; a courser stands ready saddled in the stall when she lists to ride abroad. In one word, she has all that a noble lady can desire to make her happy in her lot. GUDMUND. And Margit—is she then happy? BENGT. God and all men would think that she must be; but, strange to say— GUDMUND. What mean you? BENGT.