_Gudfinna._
Has the bailiff gone?
_Halla._
Yes.
_Gudfinna._
He came near upsetting me in the hall and didn't even say good evening.
_Halla._
Do sweep the floor! I won't have in here the dirt he has dragged with him.
(_Gudfinna takes a bird's wing and sweeps._)
_Enter the Boy._
_The Boy (shouting)._
Come and see what we have caught!
_Gudfinna._
Not so noisy! Did you catch a whale?
_The Boy._
We got a salmon-- so big! (_Shows the size with his hands._)
_Halla._
Tell Kari to come here; I want to speak with him. I will let you take care of the salmon. Open and clean it, sprinkle some salt on it, and lay it in fresh gra.s.s overnight.
_The Boy._
Won't you look at it before it is cut?
_Halla (patting his cheek)._
You big baby! Do you think I have never seen a salmon before? Now run and tell Kari that I want to speak to him.
[_Exit the Boy._
_Gudfinna (calling after him through the door)._
And tell him to lift the milk pot from the fire.
_Halla._
If the coals are good, I must ask you to do some baking to-night for Sunday.
_Gudfinna._
The coals are good enough. [_Exit._
(_Halla stands listening. Footsteps are heard in the hall._)
_Enter Kari._
_Kari._
You wanted to speak to me?
_Halla._
I hear you have made a fine catch. Thank you! I have promised the bailiff that you shall meet him in a _glima_ at the folds in the autumn.
What do you say to that?
_Kari._
I call that great news, but surely that was not what he came here for to-night?
_Halla._
No, he had another errand. He spoke ill of you.
_Kari._
What did he say?
_Halla._
There is a man just come from the south who saw you at church last Sunday. He told Bjrn that you looked like some one by the name of Eyvind, a thief who had run away. He even thought he recognized the scar on your forehead.
_Kari (in a low voice, sitting down)._
And did the bailiff believe the man was right?
_Halla._
He said I should tell you that he meant to speak to the judge, and that then you would flee from here this very night.
_Kari (rising with a loud laugh)._
This is to laugh at. Do you know when they will come to catch the thief!
_Halla (has been looking at him steadily; holds out her hand to him)._