"She is a coward. Tell me of Gilli. At least he is not witless. What is
he like?"

Again the deep water. Alwin stirred in his seat and fingered at the
silver lace on his cap. He was dressed splendidly now. Left's wardrobe
had contained nothing black that was also plain, so the bowerman's long
hose were of silk, his tunic was seamed with silver, his belt studded
with steel bosses, his cloak lined with fine gray fur.

"Lady," he stammered, "as I have said, it may be that I am not a fair
judge. Gilli did not behave well to me. Yet I have heard that he is very
kind to his wife. It is likely that he would give you costly things--"

Helga's foot stamped upon the deck. "What do I care for that?"

He knew how little she cared. He gave up any further attempts at
diplomacy.

But her next words granted him a respite. "What was the message that you
wrote to my mother for Leif?"

"I think I can remember the exact words," he answered readily, "it gave
me so much trouble to spell them. It read this way, after the greeting:
'Do you remember the child you sent to Eric? She is here in Norway with
me. She is well grown and handsome. I go back the second day after this.
It will be a great grief to her if she is obliged to go also. If her
father could see her, it is likely he would be willing to give her a
home in Norway. It would even be worth while coming all the way to
Greenland after her. It is certain that Gilli would think so, if you
could manage that he should see her.' I think that was all, lady."