that had heretofore been a matter of anxiety to many. Gudmund,
Solmund's son, Kjartan's brother-in-law, and Thurid, his sister, came
to his ship, and Kjartan gave them a cheery welcome. [Sidenote: Hrefna
and the coif] Asgeir Eider-drake came to the ship too to meet his son
Kalf, and journeying with him was Hrefna his daughter, the fairest of
women. Kjartan bade his sister Thurid have such of his wares as she
liked, and the same Kalf said to Hrefna. Kalf now unlocked a great
chest and bade them go and have a look at it. That day a gale sprang
up, and Kjartan and Kalf had to go out to moor their ship, and when
that was done they went home to the booths. Kalf was the first to
enter the booth, where Thurid and Hrefna had turned out most of the
things in the chest. Just then Hrefna snatched up the coif and
unfolded it, and they had much to say as to how precious a thing it
was. Then Hrefna said she would coif herself with it, and Thurid said
she had better, and Hrefna did so. When Kalf saw that he gave her to
understand that she had done amiss, and bade her take it off at her
swiftest. "For that is the one thing that we, Kjartan and I, do not
own in common." And as he said this Kjartan came into the booth. He
had heard their talk, and fell in at once and told them there was
nothing amiss. So Hrefna sat still with the head-dress on. Kjartan
looked at her heedfully and said, "I think the coif becomes you very
well, Hrefna," says he, "and I think it fits the best that both
together, coif and maiden, be mine." Then Hrefna answered, "Most
people take it that you are in no hurry to marry, and also that the
woman you woo, you will be sure to get for wife." Kjartan said it
would not matter much whom he married, but he would not stand being
kept long a waiting wooer by any woman. "Now I see that this gear
suits you well, and it suits well that you become my wife." Hrefna now
took off the head-dress and gave it to Kjartan, who put it away in a
safe place. Gudmund and Thurid asked Kjartan to come north to them for