"It was unselfishness--sublime unselfishness."
"So?"
"Thora had found that she loved his brother Oscar, and to make her happy Magnus was willing to give her up to him. But the contract was made, and you had built all your hopes on it, so to save your daughter from your displeasure he allowed it to appear that he refused her, although he loved her dearly and his heart was breaking."
The Factor rose to his feet with a wild lustre in his eyes. "But is this true?" he said.
"It is God's truth, sir."
"Who did you have it from?"
"From one who should have told you himself fifteen years ago but dared not."
The Factor turned rigidly to his sister. "Margret Neilsen, do you hear what he is saying?"
Aunt Margret, who was breathing audibly, merely bowed her head.
"I don't know what to say to you, sir. If what you tell me is true I've been hating the wrong man for half a life-time. And yet people talk of Providence!"