good husband will be purchased." [Sidenote: Bolli's marriage] A
little while after Thorkell and Bolli went with a good many followers
to Tongue. Snorri gave to them a kind and blithe welcome, and they
were treated to the very best of cheers at Snorri's hands. Thordis,
the daughter of Snorri, was at home with her father; she was a woman
both goodly and of great parts. When they had been a few nights at
Tongue Thorkell broached the wooing, bespeaking on behalf of Bolli an
alliance with Snorri by marriage with Thordis, his daughter. Snorri
answers, "It is well you come here on this errand; it is what I might
have looked for from you. I will answer the matter well, for I think
Bolli one of the most hopeful of men, and that woman I deem well given
in marriage who is given in marriage to him. It will, however, tell
most in this matter, how far this is to Thordis' own mind; for she
shall marry such a man only on whom she sets her heart." This matter
coming before Thordis she answered suchwise as that therein she would
lean on the foresight of her father, saying she would sooner marry
Bolli, a man from within her own countryside, than a stranger from
farther away. And when Snorri found that it was not against her wish
to go with Bolli, the affair was settled and the betrothal took place.
Snorri was to have the feast at his house about the middle of summer.
With that Thorkell and Bolli rode home to Holyfell, and Bolli now
stayed at home till the time of the wedding-feast. Then Thorkell and
Bolli array themselves to leave home, and with them all the men who
were set apart therefor, and a crowded company and the bravest band
that was. They then rode on their way and came to Tongue, and had a
right hearty welcome there. There were great numbers there, and the
feast was of the noblest, and when the feast comes to an end the
guests get ready to depart. Snorri gave honourable gifts to Thorkell,
yea and to both of them, him and Gudrun, and the same to his other
friends and relations. [Sidenote: Thorleik's return] And now each one
of those who had gone to the feast rode to his own home. Bolli abode
at Tongue, and between him and Thordis dear love sprang speedily up.
Snorri did all he could to entertain Bolli well, and to him he was
even kinder than to his own children. Bolli received all this
gratefully, and remained at Tongue that year in great favour. The next
summer a ship came to White-river. One-half of the ship belonged to
Thorleik