The Waif Woman | Page 6

deny you a roof," said the goodman of Netherness. "But I
have no food ready, and if you cannot be doing without meat, you must
e'en fare farther."
They laid the body in a shed, made fast their horses, and came into the
house, and the door was closed again. So there they sat about the lights,
and there was little said, for they were none so well pleased with their
reception. Presently, in the place where the food was kept, began a
clattering of dishes; and it fell to a bondman of the house to go and see
what made the clatter. He was no sooner gone than he was back again;
and told it was a big, buxom woman, high in flesh and naked as she
was born, setting meats upon a dresser. Finnward grew pale as the
dawn; he got to his feet, and the rest rose with him, and all the party of
the funeral came to the buttery-door. And the dead Thorgunna took no
heed of their coming, but went on setting forth meats, and seemed to
talk with herself as she did so; and she was naked to the buff.
Great fear fell upon them; the marrow of their back grew cold. Not one
word they spoke, neither good nor bad; but back into the hall, and
down upon their bended knees, and to their prayers.

"Now, in the name of God, what ails you?" cried the goodman of
Netherness.
And when they had told him, shame fell upon him for his churlishness.
"The dead wife reproves me," said the honest man.
And he blessed himself and his house, and caused spread the tables,
and they all ate of the meats that the dead wife laid out.
This was the first walking of Thorgunna, and it is thought by good
judges it would have been the last as well, if men had been more wise.
The next day they came to Skalaholt, and there was the body buried,
and the next after they set out for home. Finnward's heart was heavy,
and his mind divided. He feared the dead wife and the living; he feared
dishonour and he feared dispeace; and his will was like a sea-gull in the
wind. Now he cleared his throat and made as if to speak; and at that
Aud cocked her eye and looked at the goodman mocking, and his voice
died unborn. At the last, shame gave him courage.
"Aud," said he, "yon was a most uncanny thing at Netherness."
"No doubt," said Aud.
"I have never had it in my mind," said he, "that yon woman was the
thing she should be."
"I dare say not," said Aud. "I never thought so either."
"It stands beyond question she was more than canny," says Finnward,
shaking his head. "No manner of doubt but what she was ancient of
mind."
"She was getting pretty old in body, too," says Aud.
"Wife," says he, "it comes in upon me strongly this is no kind of
woman to disobey; above all, being dead and her walking. I think, wife,
we must even do as she commanded."

"Now what is ever your word?" says she, riding up close and setting
her hand upon his shoulder. "'The goodwife's pleasure must be done'; is
not that my Finnward?"
"The good God knows I grudge you nothing," cried Finnward. "But my
blood runs cold upon this business. Worse will come of it!" he cried,
"worse will flow from it!"
"What is this todo?" cries Aud. "Here is an old brimstone hag that
should have been stoned with stones, and hated me besides. Vainly she
tried to frighten me when she was living; shall she frighten me now
when she is dead and rotten? I trow not. Think shame to your beard,
goodman! Are these a man's shoes I see you shaking in, when your
wife rides by your bridle-hand, as bold as nails?"
"Ay, ay," quoth Finnward. "But there goes a byword in the country:
Little wit, little fear."
At this Aud began to be concerned, for he was usually easier to lead. So
now she tried the other method on the man.
"Is that your word?" cried she. "I kiss the hands of ye! If I have not wit
enough, I can rid you of my company. Wit is it he seeks?" she cried.
"The old broomstick that we buried yesterday had wit for you."
So she rode on ahead and looked not the road that he was on.
Poor Finnward followed on his horse, but the light of the day was gone
out, for his wife was like his life to him. He went six miles and was true
to his heart; but the seventh was not half through when he rode up to