drooping eyelids he went on: "You are angry with me, Elsalill,
because I have not been to see you for many days. But I could not
come, for when I saw you I was reminded even more of what tortured
me. When I saw you I was forced to think even more of a young maid
to whom I have done wrong. Many others have I wronged in my
lifetime, Elsalill, but my conscience plagues me for naught else
but what I did to this young maid."

As Elsalill still said nothing, he took her hands again and raised
them to his lips and kissed them.

"Now, listen, Elsalill, to what my heart said to me when I saw you
standing here and waiting for me. 'You have done injury to one
maiden,' it said, 'and for what you have made her suffer, you must
atone to another. You shall take her to wife, and you shall be so
good to her that she shall never know sorrow. Such faithfulness
shall you show her that your love will be greater on the day of
your death than on your wedding day.'"

Elsalill stood still as before with downcast eyes. Then Sir Archie
laid his hand on her head and raised it. "You must tell me,
Elsalill, whether you hear what I say," he said.

Then he saw that Elsalill was weeping so violently that great
tears ran down her cheeks.

"Why do you weep, Elsalill?" asked Sir Archie.

"I weep, Sir Archie," said Elsalill, "because I have too great
love for you in my heart."