Neither from henceforth let anyone say that this woman
is not of the blood of the Steer; for we have given her our blood,
and she is of us duly and truly.'
Thereafter they talked together merrily for a little, and then turned
toward the houses, for the sun was now down; and as they went Iron-
face spake to his son, and said:
'Gold-mane, wilt thou verily keep thine oath to wed the fairest woman
in the world? By how much is this one fairer than my dear daughter
who shall no more dwell in mine house?'
Said Face-of-god: 'Yea, father, I shall keep mine oath; for the
Gods, who know much, know that when I swore last Yule I was thinking
of the fair woman going yonder beside Hall-ward, and of none other.'
'Ah, son!' said Iron-face, 'why didst thou beguile us? Hadst thou
but told us the truth then!'
'Yea, Alderman,' said Face-of-god smiling, 'and how thou wouldest
have raged against me then, when thou hast scarce forgiven me now!
In sooth, father, I feared to tell you all: I was young; I was one
against the world. Yea, yea; and even that was sweet to me, so
sorely as I loved her--Hast thou forgotten, father?'
Iron-face smiled, and answered not; and so came they to the house
wherein they were guested.
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