She came up to him and set the water-kettle before him, and put
her hands on his shoulders, and kissed his cheek, and then
stepped back from him and smote her palms together, and said:
"Yea, it is well! But there are yet more things to do before we rest.
There is the dighting of the chamber, and the gathering of wood
for the fire, and the mixing of the meal, and the kneading
and the baking of cakes; and all that is my work, and there is
the bringing of the quarry for the roast, and that is thine."
Then she ran into the cave and brought forth a bow and a quiver
of arrows, and said: "Art thou somewhat of an archer?"
Quoth he: "I shoot not ill." "And I," she said, "shoot well,
all woodcraft comes handy to me. But this eve I must trust
to thy skill for my supper. Go swiftly and come back speedily.
Do off thine hauberk, and beat the bushes down in the valley,
and bring me some small deer, as roe or hare or coney.
And wash thee in the pool below the stepping-stones, as I
shall do whiles thou art away, and by then thou comest back,
all shall be ready, save the roasting of the venison."
So he did off his wargear, but thereafter tarried a little, looking at her,
and she said: "What aileth thee not to go? the hunt's up." He said:
"I would first go see the rock-hall that is for our chamber to-night;
wilt thou not bring me in thither?" "Nay," she said, "for I must be busy
about many matters; but thou mayst go by thyself, if thou wilt.
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