Thiostolf had most hand in spoiling it.”
Then Hrut spoke: “Now I will give you a bit of advice — this: if
ye will not let all this that has already happened to Hallgerda
stand in the way of the match, mind you do not let Thiostolf go
south with her if the match comes off, and that he is never there
longer than three nights at a time, unless Glum gives him leave,
but fall an outlaw by Glum’s hand without atonement if he stay
there longer. Of course, it shall be in Glum’s power to give him
leave; but he will not if he takes my advice. And now this match
shall not be fulfilled, as the other was, without Hallgerda’s
knowledge. She shall now know the whole course of this bargain,
and see Glum, and herself settle whether she will have him or
not; and then she will not be able to lay the blame on others if
it does not turn out well. And all this shall be without craft
or guile.”
Then Thorarin said, “Now, as always, it will prove best if thy
advice be taken.”
Then they sent for Hallgerda, and she came thither, and two women
with her. She had on a cloak of rich blue woof, and under it a
scarlet kirtle, and a silver girdle round her waist, but her hair
came down on both sides of her bosom, and she had turned the
locks up under her girdle. She sat down between Hrut and her
father, and she greeted them all with kind words, and spoke well
and boldly, and asked what was the news. After that she ceased
speaking.
Then Glum said, “There has been some talk between thy father and
my brother Thorarin and myself about a bargain. It was that I
might get thee, Hallgerda, if it be thy will, as it is theirs;
and now, if thou art a brave woman, thou wilt say right out
whether the match is at all to thy mind; but if thou hast
anything in thy heart against this bargain with us, then we will
not say anything more about it.”
Hallgerda said, “I know well that you are men of worth and might,
ye brothers. I know too that now I shall be much better wedded
than I was before; but what I want to know is, what you have said
already about the match, and how far you have given your words in
the matter. But so far as I now see of thee, I think I might
love thee well if we can but hit it off as to temper.”
So Glum himself told her all about the bargain, and left nothing
out, and then he asked Hauskuld and Hrut whether he had repeated
it right. Hauskuld said he had; and then Hallgerda said, “Ye
have dealt so well with me in this matter, my father and Hrut,
that I will do what ye advise, and this bargain shall be struck
as ye have settled it.”
Then Hrut said, “Methinks it were best that Hauskuld and I should
name witnesses, and that Hallgerda should betroth herself, if the
Lawman thinks that right and lawful.
“Right and lawful it is,” says Thorarin.
After that Hallgerda’s goods were valued, and Glum was to lay
down as much against them, and they were to go shares, half and
