_Jakobina._

What do you mean?

_Sveinungi._

That it might be doomed.

_Jorunn._

Indeed, it means neither the one nor the other. It's nothing but a silly old superst.i.tion.

_Sveinungi._

Not that I believe in it, but look at the windows. Don't they look as if they were wet with blood?

_Jorunn._

It's the sun shining on them.

_Sveinungi._

And see the gables, how white they are. They don't look whiter from the fields down yonder when you spread a cloth over them to call me home.

_Indridi (lowering his voice)._

Did you see the sheep-cot fall?

_Thora._

Yes, it happened just as we came out.

_Indridi._

What did Sveinungi say?

_Thora._

He said nothing.

_Indridi._

But he told us to move out here.

_Thora._

No, it was Jorunn who made us do it.

_Sveinungi (to Jorunn)._

I did not tell you that when I came into the _badstofa_, right after the shock, our old clock had stopped running.

_Jorunn._

Was it broken?

_Sveinungi._

No, when I touched the pendulum it started again, but the place was still as death when I entered. The gra.s.s on the roof cast a shadow over the skylight. It was as quiet as when my father lay dead.

_Jorunn._

I think we had better go and lie down. There's nothing gained by staying here any longer.

_Sveinungi._

I can't see that there was any need of moving out, but you had your way, Jorunn.

_Jorunn._

I feel sure that they have done the same on all the other farms. We must be thankful it is summer, so that we can stay outdoors.

_Sveinungi._

Must we be thankful? So you give thanks that my work is ruined.

_Jorunn._

We must take what comes, whether good or evil, and trouble may help us to remember all the things we have neglected to give thanks for.

_Sveinungi._

I don't know but that I have always done my duty. I have built all the sheep-cots; I have fenced in the land and looked after it as best I could. I demand justice of Him up there.

_Jorunn (rising)._

I won't listen to such talk. Did you buy the land from Him, perhaps? And what did you have to pay with that was not His already?

_Sveinungi._

You needn't mock me. You can walk all over the yard and cut your handful of gra.s.s with your scissors wherever you like; it grows thick as wool everywhere, and it's all my work.

_Jorunn._

Was it you who ruled the _hraun_ for thousands of years so that it did not swallow up the bit of ground you are standing on, which you call yours? [_Goes into the tent._

_Sveinungi._

Which I call mine! (_Stamping his foot._) It is mine! I've bought the land from Him up there with my work.