en thought her a bonny bride, and by her side sat Asmund the
Priest. He was a hale, strong man to look on, though he had seen some
three-score winters; but his mien was sad, and his heart heavy. He drank
cup after cup to cheer him, but all without avail. For his thought sped
back across the years and once more he seemed to see the face of Gudruda
the Gentle as she lay dying, and to hear her voice when she foretold
evil to him if he had aught to do with Groa the Witch-wife. And now it
seemed to him that the evil was at hand, though whence it should come he
knew not. He looked up. There Groa moved along the hall, ministering to
the guests; but he saw as she moved that her eyes were always fixed,
now on him and now on Unna. He remembered that curse also which Groa had
called down upon him when he had told her that he was betrothed to
Unna, and his heart grew cold with fear. "Now I will change my counsel,"
Asmund said to himself: "Groa shall not stay here in this stead, for
I will look no longer on that dark face of hers. She goes hence
to-morrow."

Not far from Asmund sat Bjoern, his son. As Gudruda the Fair, his sister,
brought him mead he caught her by the sleeve, whispering in her ear.
"Methinks our father is sad. What weighs upon his heart?"

"I know not," said Gudruda, but as she spoke she looked first on Asmund,
then at Groa.

"It is ill that Groa should stop here," whispered Bjoern again.

"It is ill," answered Gudruda, and glided away.

Asmund saw their talk and guessed its purport. Rousing himself he
laughed aloud and called to Koll the Half-witted to pour the cups that
he might name the toasts.

Koll filled, and, as Asmund called the toasts one by one, Koll handed
the cups to him. Asmund drank deep of each, till at length his sorrow
passed from him, and, together with all who sat there, he grew merry.

Last of all came the toast of the bride's cup. But before Asmund called
it, the women of the household drew near the high seat to welcome Unna,
when she should have drunk. Gudruda stood foremost, and Groa was next to
her.

Now Koll filled as before, and it was a great cup of gold that he
filled.

Asmund rose to call the toast, and with him all who were in the hall.
Koll brought up the cup, and handed it, not to Asmund, but to Groa; but
there were few who noted this, for all were listening to Asmund's toast
and most of the guests were somewhat drunken.

"The cup," cried Asmund--"give me the cup that I ma