Yet even then thou shalt have no
such dainties as Stone-face hath imagined for thee at the hands of
the Wood-wight.'
She laughed therewith, and he no less; and in sooth the meat was but
simple, of curds and new cheese, meat of the herdsmen. But Face-of-
god said gaily: 'Sweet it shall be to me; good is all that the
Friend giveth.'
Then she raised her hand and made the sign of the Hammer over the
board, and looked up at him and said:
'Hath the Earth-god changed my face, Gold-mane, to what I verily am?'
He held his face close to hers and looked into it, and him-seemed it
was as pure as the waters of a mountain lake, and as fine and well-
wrought every deal of it as when his father had wrought in his stithy
many days and fashioned a small piece of great mastery. He was
ashamed to kiss her again, but he said to himself, 'This is the
fairest woman of the world, whom I have sworn to wed this year.'
Then he spake aloud and said:
'I see the face of the Friend, and it will not change to me.'
Again she reddened a little, and the happy look in her face seemed to
grow yet sweeter, and he was bewildered with longing and delight.
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