Not that I knew what it was about, but one can see somehow, you know .-- So I fell asleep; and when I woke, and came out, I met some one who understood me, and he told me that it was the famous maiden, the great philosopher.

And that's what I know about philosophy.' 'She was very much wasted then, on such soft-handed starvelings.

Why don't she marry some hero ?' 'Because there are none here to marry,' said Pelagia; 'except some who are fast netted, I fancy, already.' 'But what do they talk about, and tell people to do, these philosophers, Pelagia ?' 'Oh, they don't tell any one to do anything--at least, if they do, nobody ever does it, as far as I can see; but they talk about suns and stars, and right and wrong, and ghosts and spirits, and that sort of thing; and about not enjoying oneself too much.

Not that I ever saw that they were any happier than any one else.' 'She must have been an Alruna-maiden,' said Wulf, half to himself.
'She is a very conceited creature, and I hate her,' said Pelagia.
'I believe you,' said Wulf.
'What is an Alruna-maiden ?' asked one of the girls.
'Something as like you as a salmon is like a horse-leech.

Heroes, will you hear a saga ?' 'If it is a cool one,' said Agilmund; 'about ice, and pine-trees, and snowstorms, I shall be roasted brown in three days more.' 'Oh,' said the Amal, 'that we were on the Alps again for only two hours, sliding down those snow-slopes on our shields, with the sleet whistling about our ears! That was sport!' 'To those who could keep their seat,' said Goderic.