As  she  stood  undecided  and  unhappy,  she
saw  a  man  approaching  the  house.  She  could
not  fail  to  recognize  the  large,  shambling
figure.  It  was  Michael  Snorro.  A  blow  from
his  mighty  hand  could  hardly  have  stunned  her
more.  She  shut  the  door,  and  sat  down  sick
at  heart.  For  it  was  evident  that  Snorro  was
not  ill,  and  that  Jan  had  deceived  her.  Snorro,
too,  seemed  to  hesitate  and  waver  in  his  inten-
tions. He  walked  past  the  house  several  times,
and  then  he  went  to  the  kitchen  door.
In  a  few  minutes  Elga  Skade,  Margaret's
servant,  said  to  her,  "  Here  has  come  Michael


26  JAN  VEDDER'S  WIFE.
Snorro,  and  he  would  speak  with  thy  hus-
band." Margaret  rose,  and  went  to  him.  He
stood  before  the  glowing  peats,  on  the  kitchen
hearth,  seeming,  in  the  dim  light,  to  tower  to
the  very  roof.  Margaret  looked  up  with  a  feeling
akin  to  terror  at  the  large  white  face  in  the
gloom  above  her,  and  asked  faintly,  "What
is't  thou  wants,  Snorro  ?  "

"  I  would  speak  with  Jan."

"  He  is  not  come  yet  to  his  home.  At  what
hour  did  he  leave  the  store  ?  '

At  once  Snorro's  suspicions  were  aroused.
