"Mrs. Stephenson, you had better take care of your husband or some of these young women will run away with him."
There were other toasts, "The Governor," "The Factor," and finally, "The Bridesmaids," proposed by the Rector in a playful speech.
"They say a kiss isn't the same thing from all women," he said, "and being an old bachelor I know nothing about that; but the young fellow on my left" (the Rector indicated Neils Finsen), "who has a right to consider himself the best man in Iceland to-day, has confessed to me in a whisper that he finds one of the bridesmaids so charming and beautiful that if he had been in Oscar's place, and compelled by a narrow-minded law to choose between the Factor's two daughters, he would have cut off to some eastern country where he could have married both."
Everybody laughed and looked at Helga, who had herself been laughing rather hysterically, and looking at Oscar all through dinner. And then Thora, who was overflowing with happiness, glanced down at her sister, and remembered the great scheme she had conceived to make amends for mistrusting and suspecting her. Now was the moment to carry it into effect--now that she was queen in her little kingdom--and, half bold, half shy, she rose from her seat, put her arms about her father's neck, and whispered something in his ear.
The Factor's face straightened for a moment, then broadened again, and he said, "But what does Oscar say?"
"Oscar will be sure to agree," said Thora, and she whispered in her father's ear again.
"Well, I'm not going back on my word; I'm willing; but you must ask Oscar."
Then, laughing and reddening, Thora crept up behind Oscar and whispered in his ear also, while looking sideways down at Helga. As Oscar listened his face became serious and he said:
"But you are quite sure that you wish it, Thora?"
"Yes, yes, yes," said Thora, laughing and blushing, for now the eyes of the whole company were on her.