Oh, you shall see the new chapel with its vaulted roof and high
pillared aisles. And hear the acolytes singing when the bishop
lights the incense on the high altar. There shall you solemnize the
God service with those of Christ and you shall feel you heart
cleansed of sin.
GUNLOED. Shall I fly--leave my mother?
GUNNAR. She will forgive you some time.
GUNLOED. But my father would call me cowardly and that I would
never allow.
GUNNAR. That you must endure for the sake of your belief.
GUNLOED. Thorfinn's daughter was never cowardly.
GUNNAR. Your father does not love you, and he will hate you when he
knows of your conversion.
GUNLOED. That he may do--but he shall never despise me.
GUNNAR. You surrender your love, Gunloed.
GUNLOED. Love!--I remember--there was a maiden--she had a friend who
went away--after, she was never again glad--she only sat sewing
silk and gold--what she was making no one knew--and when they asked
her she would only weep. And when they asked her why she wept, she
never answered--only wept. She grew pale of cheek and her mother
made ready her shroud.--Then there came an old woman and she said
it was love. Gunnar,--I never wept when you went away as father
says it is weak to shed tears; I never sewed silk and gold for that
my mother has never taught me to do--then had I not love?
GUNNAR. You have often thought of me during these years?
GUNLOED. I have dreamed so often of you, and this morning when I
stood by the window where I linger so willingly and, gazing over
the sea, I saw your ship come up out of the east, I became unquiet
although I did not know it was your ship.
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