"But now Thora ought really to play her guitar," said Helga.
"Certainly! Thora and her guitar," said Oscar. "And let her sing one of her Iceland love songs to it."
It was cruel, it was heart-breaking, it was almost as if Helga were trying to humiliate her, as if Oscar were joining her, as if they were conspiring together to expose her inferiority.
"No, no, don't ask me, please don't," she pleaded.
But Helga continued to ask and Oscar to second her, and being able to bear the strain no longer, Thora burst into tears, and fled from the room.
"How extraordinary!" said Helga.
But Oscar followed Thora and coaxed and comforted her and brought her back with a smile on her face, although the tears were scarcely dry in her eyes.
"I was silly," she said. "I don't know what came over me."
"Perhaps it was the heat," said the Governor, and he opened one of the windows.
IV