The Waif Woman | Page 3

Thorgunna opened the second chest and took out her
bedding--sheets of English linen, the like of it never seen, a cover of
quilted silk, and curtains of purple wrought with silver. At the sight of
these Aud was like one distracted, greed blinded her mind; the cry rose
strong in her throat, it must out.
"What will you sell your bedding for?" she cried, and her cheeks were
hot.
Thorgunna looked upon her with a dusky countenance. "Truly you are a
courteous hostess," said she, "but I will not sleep on straw for your
amusement."
At that Aud's two ears grew hot as her cheeks; and she took Thorgunna
at her word; and left her from that time in peace.
The woman was as good as her spoken word. Inside the house and out
she wrought like three, and all that she put her hand to was well done.
When she milked, the cows yielded beyond custom; when she made
hay, it was always dry weather; when she took her turn at the cooking,
the folk licked their spoons. Her manners when she pleased were
outside imitation, like one that had sat with kings in their high
buildings. It seemed she was pious too, and the day never passed but
she was in the church there praying. The rest was not so well. She was
of few words, and never one about her kin and fortunes. Gloom sat on
her brow, and she was ill to cross. Behind her back they gave her the
name of the Waif Woman or the Wind Wife; to her face it must always
be Thorgunna. And if any of the young men called her mother, she
would speak no more that day, but sit apart in the hall and mutter with
her lips.
"This is a queer piece of goods that we have gotten," says Finnward
Keelfarer, "I wish we get no harm by her! But the good wife's pleasure
must be done," said he, which was his common word.

When she was at work, Thorgunna wore the rudest of plain clothes,
though ever clean as a cat; but at night in the hall she was more dainty,
for she loved to be admired. No doubt she made herself look well, and
many thought she was a comely woman still, and to those she was
always favourable and full of pleasant speech. But the more that some
pleased her, it was thought by good judges that they pleased Aud the
less.
When midsummer was past, a company of young men upon a journey
came to the house by Frodis Water. That was always a great day for
Aud, when there were gallants at table; and what made this day the
greater, Alf of the Fells was in the company, and she thought Alf
fancied her. So be sure Aud wore her best. But when Thorgunna came
from the bed-place, she was arrayed like any queen and the broad
brooch was in her bosom. All night in the hall these women strove with
each other; and the little maid, Asdis, looked on, and was ashamed and
knew not why. But Thorgunna pleased beyond all; she told of strange
things that had befallen in the world; when she pleased she had the cue
to laughter; she sang, and her voice was full and her songs new in that
island; and whenever she turned, the eyes shone in her face and the
brooch glittered at her bosom. So that the young men forgot the word
of the merchants as to the woman's age, and their looks followed her all
night.
Aud was sick with envy. Sleep fled her; her husband slept, but she sat
upright beside him in the bed, and gnawed her fingers. Now she began
to hate Thorgunna, and the glittering of the great brooch stood before
her in the dark. "Sure," she thought, "it must be the glamour of that
brooch! She is not so fair as I; she is as old as the dead in the hillside;
and as for her wit and her songs, it is little I think of them!" Up she got
at that, took a light from the embers, and came to her guest's bed-place.
The door was locked, but Aud had a master-key and could go in. Inside,
the chests were open, and in the top of one the light of her taper shone
upon the glittering of the brooch. As a dog snatches food she snatched
it, and turned to the bed. Thorgunna lay on her side; it was to be
thought she slept, but she talked the while to herself, and her lips
moved. It seemed her years returned to her in slumber, for her face was

grey and her brow knotted; and the open eyes of her