"You know it is my wish that she shall marry as soon as she can make a
good match, since she is not happy while she sits at home with Thorhild,
and it is not likely that she will like her father much better. It has
been in my mind through every feast; but until now, none of the men who
have asked for her has seemed to me a good match."

Though his hands kept mechanically at their work, Alwin's brain seemed
to have come to a standstill. It must be a dream, a foolish dream. It
was not possible that such a thing could have been planned without his
even suspecting it. He listened numbly.

"The first man was too old. The second was not of good enough kin; and
the other two had not enough property. Ragner Thorkelsson lacks none of
these. He is young; his father's father was a lawman; and he owns
eighteen farms and many ships."

Though he did not in the least know why, Alwin felt a hot desire to seek
out Ragner Thorkelsson and kill him.

"So?" said Tyrker, peering forth inquiringly. "Yet never have I heard
that he any accomplishments had, or that in battle enemies he had
overcome."

"No," Leif assented.

He did not finish immediately, and there was a pause. From the courtyard
came a clashing and jingling of bells, as servants brought the reindeer
from the feeding-ground to harness them to the boat-like sledges that
stood waiting.