'Yea, yea,' said Gold-mane, laughing also, 'but he asked it not of
thee.'

'That is sooth,' she said, 'but since thou hast asked me, I will tell
thee that if thou slay him it will be my harm as well as his; and in
my country a man that taketh a gift is not wont to break the giver's
head with it straightway. The man is my brother, O stranger, and
presently, if thou wilt, thou mayst be eating at the same board with
him. Or if thou wilt, thou mayst go thy ways unhurt into the wood.
But I had liefer of the twain that thou wert in our house to-night;
for thou hast a wrong against us.'

Her voice was sweet and clear, and she spake the last words kindly,
and drew somewhat nigher to Gold-mane. Therewithal the smitten man
sat up, and put his hand to his head, and quoth he:

'Angry is my sister! good it is to wear the helm abroad when she
shaketh the nut-trees.'

' Nay,' said she, 'it is thy luck that thou wert bare-headed, else
had I been forced to smite thee on the face. Thou churl, since when
hath it been our wont to thrust knives into a guest, who is come of
great kin, a man of gentle heart and fair face? Come hither and
handsel him self-doom for thy fool's onset!'

The man rose to his feet and said: 'Well, sister, least said,
soonest mended. A clout on the head is worse than a woman's chiding;
but since ye have given me one, ye may forbear the other.'