Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Heinemann Volume 2).djvu/112



[Bowing her head.] Ask not of him. Yesterday he bore Thorolf's body to the ships; now he is raising a grave-mound on the shore;—there shall his sons be laid. [ goes out by the back in silence.

Until evening there is no danger. [''Coming nearer.''] Hiördis, I have another errand in thy house; it is to thee I come.

To me? After all that befell yesterday?

Even because of that. Hiördis, foster-sister, do not hate me; forget the words that sorrow and evil spirits placed in my mouth; forgive me all the wrong I did thee; for, trust me, I am now tenfold more hapless than thou!

Hapless—thou! Sigurd's wife!

It was my doing, all that befell—the stirring up of strife, and Thorolf's death, and all the scorn that fell upon Gunnar and thee. Mine is all the guilt! Woe upon me!—I have lived so happily; but after this day I shall never know joy again.

[As if seized by a sudden thought.] But before—*