"What do you here, Lovisa Elsland? Have you walked thus far from Talvig to pay a visit that must needs be unwelcome?"
"Unwelcome I know I am," replied Lovisa, disdainfully noting the terror of Britta and the astonished glances if Errington and his friends--"unwelcome at all times,--but most unwelcome at the hour of feasting ad folly,--for who can endure to receive a message from the Lord when the mouth is full of savory morsels, and the brain reels with the wicked wine? Yet I have come in spite of your iniquities. Olaf Güldmar,--strong in the strength of the Lord, I dare to set foot upon your accursèd threshold, and once more make my just demand. Give me back the child of my dead daughter! . . . restore to me the erring creature who should be the prop of my defenceless age, had not your pagan spells alienated her from me,--release her,--and bid her return with me to my desolate hearth and home. This done,--I will stay the tempest that threatens your habitation--I will hold back the dark cloud of destruction--I will avert the wrath of the Lord,--yes! for the sake of the past--for the sake of the past!"
These last words she muttered in a low tone, more to herself than to Güldmar; and, having spoken, she averted her eyes from the company, drew her shawl closely about her, and waited for an answer.
"By all the gods of my fathers!" shouted the bonde in a towering passion. "This passes my utmost endurance! Have I not told thee again and again, thou silly soul! . . . that thy grandchild is no slave? She is free--free to return to thee an' she will; free also to stay with us, where she has found a happier home than thy miserable hut at Talvig. Britta!" and he thumped his fist on the table. "Look up, child! Speak for thyself! Thou hast a spirit of thine own. Here is thy one earthly relation. Wilt go with her? Neither thy mistress nor I will stand in the way of thy pleasure."
Thus adjured Britta looked up so suddenly that Duprèz,--who had rather enjoyed the feel of her little nestling head hidden upon his arm,--was quite startled, and he was still more so at the utter defiance that flashed into the small maiden's round, rosy face.
"Go with you!" she cried shrilly, addressing the old woman, who remained standing in the same attitude, with an air of perfect composure. "Do you think I have forgotten how you treated my mother, or how you used to beat me and starve me? You wicked old woman! How dare you come here? I'm ashamed of you! You frightened my mother to death--you know you did! . . . and now you want to do the same to me! But you won't--I can tell you! I'm old enough to do as I like, and I'd rather die than live with you!"