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and the dazzling charms of Idalia, with her own face,
browned by the sun, and her hands and arms which
spoke of heavy toil ; her manner, easy and graceful,
yet far from the imposing airs of pride, with her own
awkward bashfulness. She, who was, without question,
the most beautiful of the hallig maidens, in her mod-
esty, set herself far below the stranger — much further
indeed, than she really deserved to stand. What God-
ber's coldness in responding to the joy she had experi-
enced at their meeting, could not awaken, the sight of
the stranger soon forced upon her : doubt of the truth
of her betrothed. It was not only Idalia's behavior to
Godber, which so pierced her heart, but the jealousy of
love, which lends to the simplest maid a sharpness of
vision, not easy to be deceived, when she is with her
lover in the company of some other woman, would
have forced upon her many observations independent of
Idalia's familiarity with the young man. Maria's heart
was soon to be completely broken.
"Who is the dear girl ?" asked Idalia in the kindest
tone, accompanied, however, by a searching glance at
Godber, as if she knew how much the answer con-
cerned her.
Maria blushed deeply, but at the same time looked
up with a certain conscious pride toward the stranger.
Godber colored still more deeply. His eyes fell to the
floor, and his voice trembled, when, after a moment's
pause, he said, "Maria Nommans."
He seemed to wish to add something, but was silent.
Maria listened yet another moment, full of anguish — he
was still silent. Pale as death, she pressed her hand
upon her heart, where every pulse had ceased, and saw
