She stole a chance of stroking him with her hand when they met—was fond of playing with his hair whenever they were left alone for a moment. She was very eager to do things for him—offered to mend his clothes, brought in his food if he came to a meal a little later than the rest of the men. And when he said good-night to her, she clung to him as though hungry and thirsty for his caresses. Olav took this to mean that she too longed for their wedding, and he thought that natural—time must be long for her too in this house; she must look forward eagerly to being mistress of her own home. It never occurred to him that there might be young people who did not care for one another although they were betrothed.

But the journey to Hamar remained a dream to Olav. He thought of it most often when he lay down at night, and he lived it again till he felt the strange, sweet tremor in body and mind. He recalled how they had knelt at dawn behind the widow’s byre, leaning breast to breast, and he had dared to kiss her on the temple, under the hair that smelt so warm and good. And then this unaccountable melancholy and dread settled on him. He tried to think of the future—and for them the path of the future was a straight one, to the church door and the high seat and the bridal bed. But his heart seemed to grow weak and faint when in these night hours he tried to rejoice in all that awaited them—as though, after all, the future could have nothing in store for them so sweet as that morning kiss.

“What is it?” asked Arnvid crossly. “Cannot you lie still?”

“I am going out awhile.” Olav got up, dressed again, and threw a cloak about him.

There was already less light in the sky at night; the thick foliage of the trees looked darker against the misty blue of the hills beyond. The clouds to the northward were streaked with yellow. A bat flittered past him, black and swift as lightning.

Olav went to the bower where Ingunn slept. The door was left ajar for coolness’ sake—and still it was close inside, with a smell of sun-baked timber, of bedding, and of human sweat.

The maid who lay next the wall snored loudly in her sleep. Olav knelt down and bent his face over her who lay outside. With cheek and lips he gently touched Ingunn’s breast. For an instant he kept quite still so as to feel the soft, warm bosom that lightly rose and fell as she breathed in sleep—and he heard her heartbeats under it. Then he drew his face up to hers and she awoke.

“Dress yourself,” he whispered in her ear. “Come out awhile—”

He waited outside on the balcony. Soon Ingunn appeared in the low doorway and stood awhile, as though surprised at the stillness. She took a few deep breaths—the night was cool and good. They sat down side by side at the top of the stairway.

And now they both felt it so strange that they should be the only ones awake in the whole manor—neither was used to being out at night. So they sat there without moving, scarce venturing to whisper a word now and then. Olav had thought he would wrap his cloak around her and put an arm about her waist. But all he did was to place one of her hands on his knee and stroke her fingers; till Ingunn withdrew her hand, threw her arm about his shoulder, and pressed her face hard against his neck.

“Are not the nights darker already?” she asked in a hushed voice.

“The air is dense tonight,” he said.

“Ay, haply there will be rain tomorrow,” she wondered.

There was a blue-grey mist over the strip of fiord they could see from where they sat, and the hills were blotted out on the far side. Olav looked vacantly before him, pondering: “That is not so sure—there is an easterly set in the wind. Can you not hear how loud the stream sounds above tonight?”

“We had best go to bed,” he whispered a little later. They kissed each other, a quick and timid little kiss. Then he stole down again and she went in.

Inside the hall it was pitch-dark. Olav undressed and lay down again.

“Have you been out talking to Ingunn?” asked Arnvid, wide awake at his side.

“Yes.”

Soon after, Arnvid asked again: “Have you found out, Olav, what are the settlements about your estate and Ingunn’s?”

“No, I have not.