I know! I know! And I am not fit for it! Good or bad, I am not fit for it!
But if you break your contract, and do not marry Thora, you may live the life of Helga.
Yes, yes, and I am fitted for that life above everything else. It thrills me, it inspires me, it lifts me up.
The one is the lower life, while the other is the higher life.
I cannot bear to think of it.
You know that if you marry Thora you condemn yourself for ever to the lower life, and give up all hope and all thought of the higher one?
Don't torture me! Don't torture me!
But the higher life will be a life consecrated to self, whereas the lower life will be a life devoted to self-sacrifice--which is it to be?
That settles it--I must go on with the contract, whatever the consequences.
When Oscar awoke in the morning from his restless sleep he thought he saw his way clearly. There was only one solution of the hard problem of his iron destiny--he must sacrifice himself! He was betrothed to Thora, and he must go on with the marriage. He loved Helga, but he must tear her out of his heart. He wished to be a musician, and to live the higher life, but he must be content with the lower life and do his duty.