"But I have told him it is impossible," said Thora.
"He asks you again, Thora. Here is his letter," said Magnus.
"He gave it to you to deliver?"
"I asked for it."
"And you came to speak for him?"
"I came for myself as well."
"How good you are to me, Magnus!"
"Read your letter," said Magnus, and with trembling hands Thora opened the envelope.
The fight was short but fierce. Magnus watched every expression of Thora's face. If there had been one ray of love for him in her looks of gratitude and remorse he would have clung to the hope that the time would come when all would be well; but love for Oscar shone in her eyes, broke from her lips, betrayed itself in the very insistence with which she meant to marry Magnus, and there remained no hope for him anywhere.
Thora looked up from her letter, and said: