New and altogether other sentiments arose within Virginia's
souL At first slightly, and afterwards more violently, she had
irresistibly been fettered by Borgenstiema's gloomy, glowing,
and speaking eyes, after she had again dived into them for
a second look. Whatever he said — short, plain, manly, and
powerful — ^gained her applause ; she loved to listen, but never
entered into a conversation with him, and often held her breath,
that she might not lose a soimd that fell from his lips. It was
a sensation of indescribable pleasure to be in his presence ; and,
that she might not disturb this impression, she did not dare
make even the slightest motion which might have disturbed the
state of mind into which his presence had placed her.
Yirginia had not, as yet, accounted to herself for this strange
order of things, xmtil one evening she caught herself in an ex-
pression of her feelings ; which was as shocking as it was painful
to her.
Wir6n had proposed a boat ride, for the purpose of netting
mullet. Besides the assessor, his wife, and Borgenstiema^ there
was only an assistant going with them. Borgenstiema stood
with one foot upon the side of the boat, and, bending too fer
over it, lost his balance, and fell into the water, coming very
near upsetting the boat with its contents.
