"But if the barter trade is going to the dogs, hadn't you better cut it before the crash comes? Heavy is the fall, you know, when an old man tumbles, and I might crush you coming down. I'll trouble you to leave my house, sir, without a day's delay."
"Father!" cried Thora, and she stepped between them, but the Factor brushed her aside.
"You get away, Thora. If a daughter of mine had done to me what he has tried to do to-day she wouldn't have a roof to cover her to-night."
"Neither shall a son of mine--not in this town, at all events," said the Governor. "Magnus Stephenson----"
"Stephen! Stephen!" said Anna, and Oscar, in the same quivering voice as before, cried out to his father.
"Hold your tongue, Anna! Oscar, be quiet, you've done enough for one day! Magnus Stephenson, when you leave the Factor's house you will go to Thingvellir, and stay there, and thank your stars if for the rest of your life you are allowed to earn your bread by the sweat of your brow."
"The amended contract is ready for the signatures," said the lawyer, and then everybody save one turned back to the table, and there was a cackle of cheerful voices. When the names were all signed and witnessed, the rings were exchanged, and there was some joking and happy laughter.
"All's well that ends well," said the Bishop. "That will do as a pledge between you until you come to me to be made man and wife."
"Supper is ready," cried Aunt Margret, drawing the curtains of the inner room, and then seeing a photograph on the floor beneath them, she said, "but who's been treading on poor Helga's portrait?"
"That's Oscar," said Thora. "He had it in his hand when he got up."