"Trust me, Thora! It isn't a good well if water has to be carried to it, but when the child is born Oscar will begin all over again."
"You think that? Really? You think Oscar will love me again for my baby's sake?"
"Any man must if he has a good heart--and Oscar's heart is good whatever his head may be."
"Indeed--indeed it is."
"He must love the mother for the sake of the child, and the child for the sake of the mother."
"How sweet! How beautiful!"
Thora's own eyes were now like the eyes of a child--so full of wonder and love. She fell to counting the weeks that must pass before the fulness of her time.
"Nine weeks--hardly nine--eight--think, mother--only eight. How I wish it were even less! I used to look forward to that time with anxiety and dread, but there is nothing to be afraid of if so much good can come out of a little pain--nothing really--now is there?"
VI
In this sweet hope Thora comforted herself for four weeks, and then something happened which disturbed all her calculations. It was the eve of the proclamation and the committee of which Oscar was the chief decided to visit Thingvellir in order to complete their preparations for the ceremony. On this errand Helga was to go with them, and having so many things to attend to they were to sleep one night at the Inn-farm and return the following day. When Oscar announced this program a sudden change came over Thora's patient and submissive spirit.