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 month allotted for the preparations for his nuptials passed swiftly to all, except Olaf. Every time he saw Gudrun his impatience was greater for the day to come when he could call the proud dark beauty his bride.

To Gudrun, the days, heavy as they were, passed all too quickly, and she shuddered to realize how near was the dread event. Through all the ceremonies attending her betrothal, she appeared colder and prouder than ever, and while her reserve only fired the ambition of Olaf to conquer her affection, it made her the object of still deeper dislike and distrust to his subjects. To some of them it seemed as if Providence must interfere in some way to prevent this marriage, which threatened the peace of the kingdom; but still the days moved on to the nuptial morning without any sign of an interference. The richest stuffs that the looms of Norway could weave were brought to Gudrun by her mother, and Olaf had a score of hunters gathering the rarest furs to line and trim her mantles. Gossip of the court said, too, that the king was collecting a box of precious gems which