"What
is that?" exclaimed Queen Sigrid. "Nothing," answered they, or
endeavored to answer, dreading mischief. But Sigrid compelled them to
break open the ring; and there was found, all along the inside of it,
an occult ring of copper, not a heart of gold at all! "Ha," said the
proud Queen, flinging it away, "he that could deceive in this matter
can deceive in many others!" And was in hot wrath with Olaf; though,
by degrees, again she took milder thoughts.
Milder thoughts, we say; and consented to a meeting next autumn, at
some half-way station, where their great business might be brought to
a happy settlement and betrothment. Both Olaf Tryggveson and the high
dowager appear to have been tolerably of willing mind at this meeting;
but Olaf interposed, what was always one condition with him, "Thou
must consent to baptism, and give up thy idol-gods." "They are the
gods of all my forefathers," answered the lady, "choose thou what gods
thou pleasest, but leave me mine." Whereupon an altercation; and
Tryggveson, as was his wont, towered up into shining wrath, and
exclaimed at last, "Why should I care about thee then, old faded
heathen creature?" And impatiently wagging his glove, hit her, or
slightly switched her, on the face with it, and contemptuously turning
away, walked out of the adventure.
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