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For, after the death of Asmund and of Unna, Saevuna had moved back to Coldback on the Marsh. "Nay, how can this be?" said Gudruda astonished, for she knew well that Saevuna was now both blind and bed-ridden. "She has been borne here in a chair," said the woman who told her, "and that is a strange sight to see."
They rang in her brain. She felt dazed. At last she looked up affrightedly. 'But, she said, 'when I have the baby, it unna be yours, but his'n. 'What? 'It it'll be his'n. 'What? He questioned foolishly, like a child. He could not understand. 'It's gone four month since midsummer, she said, 'and Sally said I was wi' child of of 'You need not go on, Hazel. Edward's face looked pinched.
Then she found her sense again, and craved to see Asmund, and spoke thus to him: "It seems to me, lord, if indeed it be aught but a vision of my dreams, that before this sickness struck me I spoke mad and angry words against thee, because thou hast plighted troth to Unna, Thorod's daughter." "That is so, in truth," said Asmund.
"The draught is drugged!" he cried a third time, "and that witch has drugged it!" And he began to tear at his breast. Then Groa laughed so shrilly that men trembled to hear her. "Yes, lord," she screamed, "the draught is drugged, and Groa the Witch-wife hath drugged it! Ay, tear thy heart out, Asmund, and Unna, grow thou white as snow soon, if my medicine has virtue, thou shalt be whiter yet!
Unna had married Thorkel Tomlevold, a poor tenant's son, and had refused her cousin, the great lumber-dealer, Morten Janson, whom her father had selected for a son-in-law. She dwelt now in a tenant's cottage, northward in the parish; and her husband, who was a sturdy and fine-looking fellow, eked out a living by hunting and fishing.
"Fear not, lord; thy will is my will." "Say, Groa, is it thy wish to bide here in Middalhof when Unna is my housewife?" "It is my wish to serve thee as aforetime," she answered softly, "if so be that Unna wills it." "That is her desire," said Asmund and went his ways. But Groa stood looking after him and her face was fierce and evil.
To this Asmund said that it might be so. Hay-harvest being done, Asmund made ready for his wedding with Unna, Thorod's daughter and Eric's cousin. Now it was agreed that the marriage-feast should be held at Middalhof; for Asmund wished to ask a great company to the wedding, and there was no place at Coldback to hold so many.
The longer the omen tarried, the more she wanted it to come. Then fatalism reasserted itself, and she relapsed into her usual state of mind. 'I dunna care, she said. 'It inna no use to tarry. They unna play. I'll bide along of Ed'ard at chapel on Sunday, and sing higher than last time. She turned home.
Unna hearkened, and did not say no, for though Asmund was somewhat gone in years, still he was an upstanding man, wealthy in lands, goods, and moneys out at interest, and having many friends. So they plighted troth, and the wedding-feast was to be in the autumn after hay-harvest.
And I say this also: do not count overmuch on Björn thy son, for he has no loyal heart; and beware of Groa, who was thy housekeeper, for she loves not that Unna should take her place and more. And now I thank thee for many good things, and farewell." "Farewell, my son," said Asmund, "for in this hour thou seemest as a son to me."
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