confined himself to humming the song half aloud, while he threw in
the three famous minor chords.

"Now we're quite cool again," cried the fair one in light green,
hastily.

There was a general burst of laughter at her eagerness to get away,
and she was quite crimson when she said good-night.

Cousin Ola, who was standing near the hostess, also took his leave.
Cousin Hans, on the other hand, was detained by the Sheriff, who
was anxious to learn under what teachers he had studied music; and
that took time.

Thus it happened that Ola and the fair one in the light green
passed out into the passage at the same time. There the young folks
were crowding round the hat-pegs, some to find their own wraps,
some to take down other people's.

"I suppose it's no good trying to push our way forward," said the
fair one.

Ola's windpipe contracted in such a vexatious way that he only
succeeded in uttering a meaningless sound. They stood close to each
other in the crush, and Ola would gladly have given a finger to be
able to say something pleasant to her, or at least something
rational; but he found it quite impossible.

"Of course you've enjoyed the evening?" said she, in a friendly tone.