while away time talking to Gudrun. One day Bolli asked Gudrun what she
would answer if he were to ask her in marriage. Gudrun replied at
once, "No need for you to bespeak such a thing, Bolli, for I cannot
marry any man whilst I know Kjartan to be still alive." Bolli
answered, "I think then you will have to abide husbandless for sundry
winters if you are to wait for Kjartan; he might have chosen to give
me some message concerning the matter if he set his heart at all
greatly on it." Sundry words they gave and took, each at variance with
the other. Then Bolli rode home.




CHAP. XLIII

Kjartan comes back to Iceland, A.D. 1001


A little after this Bolli talked to his uncle Olaf, and said, "It has
come to this, uncle, that I have it in mind to settle down and marry,
for I am now grown up to man's estate. In this matter I should like
to have the assistance of your words and your backing-up, for most of
the men hereabouts are such as will set much store by your words."
Olaf replied, "Such is the case with most women, I am minded to think,
that they would be fully well matched in you for a husband. And I take
it you have not broached this matter without first having made up your
mind as to where you mean to come down." [Sidenote: Bolli proposes to
Gudrun] Bolli said, "I shall not go beyond this countryside to woo
myself a wife whilst there is such an goodly match so near at hand. My
will is to woo Gudrun, Osvif's daughter, for she is now the most