"Yes, of course," answered the Laird. "You're welcome." The Lieutenant looked at Victoria. She said nothing and sat as before, making no attempt to keep him from joining the Laird's shooting party. His face clouded over more and more, he pulled nervously at his mustache. Camilla addressed another question to Victoria. Then the Lieutenant rose hastily and said to the Laird: "All right then, I'll go with you this evening, at once." With that he left the room. The Laird and a few others followed. There was a short pause. Suddenly the door was thrown open and the Lieutenant came in again. He was greatly excited. "Have you forgotten something?" asked Victoria, getting up. He danced about by the door as if unable to stand still and then went straight up to Johannes and gave him a blow with his hand as though in passing. After that he ran back to the door and danced about again. "Look out, man, you hit me in the eye," said Johannes with a hollow laugh. "You're mistaken," answered the Lieutenant, "I gave you a box on the ears. Understand? Understand?" Johannes pulled out his handkerchief, dried his eye, and said: "You don't mean that. You know I can double you up and put you in my pocket." As he said it he stood up. Then the Lieutenant hurriedly opened the door and stepped outside. "I do mean it!" he yelled back. "I do mean it, you clown!" And he slammed the door. Johannes sat down again. Victoria was still standing near the middle of the room. She was looking at him and was as pale as a corpse. "Did he hit you?" asked Camilla in the greatest astonishment. "By accident. He got me in the eye. Would you like to look?" "Heavens, it's all red, there's blood. No, don't rub it, let me bathe it with water. Your handkerchief is too coarse, look here, take it back; I'll use my own. Did you ever hear such a thing, right in his eye!" Victoria held out her handkerchief too. Then she went quite slowly to the glass door and stood there with her back to the room, looking out. She was tearing her handkerchief into little strips. A few minutes later she opened the door and left the room quietly and without saying a word. IX Camilla came walking down to the Mill, frank and cheerful. She was alone. She went straight into the little room and said with a titter: "Excuse me for not knocking. The stream makes such a roar that I thought it was no use." She looked about her and exclaimed: "How awfully nice it is here, charming! Where's Johannes? I know Johannes. How's his eye?" She got a chair and sat down. Johannes was fetched from the mill. His eye was sore and bloodshot. "I've come of my own accord," said Camilla as soon as she saw him; "I wanted to come down here. You must go on using cold water for your eye."