the ice maiden-第5章

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since　he　had　visited　the　town　when　a　little　boy。　It　seemed　to　him　as

if　all　the　neatest　and　most　curiously　carved　toy　houses　which　his

grandfather　once　kept　in　the　large　cupboard　at　home；　had　been

brought　out　and　placed　in　this　spot；　and　that　they　had　increased　in

size　since　then；　as　the　old　chestnut　trees　had　done。　The　houses　were

called　hotels；　the　woodwork　on　the　windows　and　balconies　was　curiously

carved。　The　roofs　were　gayly　painted；　and　before　each　house　was　a

flower　garden；　which　separated　it　from　the　macadamized　high…road。

These　houses　all　stood　on　the　same　side　of　the　road；　so　that　the

fresh；　green　meadows；　in　which　were　cows　grazing；　with　bells　on

their　necks；　were　not　hidden。　The　sound　of　these　bells　is　often

heard　amidst　Alpine　scenery。　These　meadows　were　encircled　by　lofty

hills；　which　receded　a　little　in　the　centre；　so　that　the　most

beautifully　formed　of　Swiss　mountains…　the　snow…crowned　Jungfrau…

could　be　distinctly　seen　glittering　in　the　distance。　A　number　of

elegantly　dressed　gentlemen　and　ladies　from　foreign　lands；　and

crowds　of　country　people　from　the　neighboring　cantons；　were

assembled　in　the　town。　Each　marksman　wore　the　number　of　hits　he　had

made　twisted　in　a　garland　round　his　hat。　Here　were　music　and　singing

of　all　descriptions：　hand…organs；　trumpets；　shouting；　and　noise。　The

houses　and　bridges　were　adorned　with　verses　and　inscriptions。　Flags

and　banners　were　waving。　Shot　after　shot　was　fired；　which　was　the　best

music　to　Rudy's　ears。　And　amidst　all　this　excitement　he　quite　forgot

Babette；　on　whose　account　only　he　had　come。　The　shooters　were

thronging　round　the　target；　and　Rudy　was　soon　amongst　them。　But　when

he　took　his　turn　to　fire；　he　proved　himself　the　best　shot；　for　he

always　struck　the　bull's…eye。

　　　　〃Who　may　that　young　stranger　be？〃　was　the　inquiry　on　all　sides。

〃He　speaks　French　as　it　is　spoken　in　the　Swiss　cantons。〃

　　　　〃And　makes　himself　understood　very　well　when　he　speaks　German；〃

said　some。

　　　　〃He　lived　here；　when　a　child；　with　his　grandfather；　in　a　house

on　the　road　to　Grindelwald；〃　remarked　one　of　the　sportsmen。

　　　　And　full　of　life　was　this　young　stranger；　his　eyes　sparkled；　his

glance　was　steady；　and　his　arm　sure；　therefore　he　always　hit　the　mark。

Good　fortune　gives　courage；　and　Rudy　was　always　courageous。　He　soon

had　a　circle　of　friends　gathered　round　him。　Every　one　noticed　him；　and

did　him　homage。　Babette　had　quite　vanished　from　his　thoughts；　when

he　was　struck　on　the　shoulder　by　a　heavy　hand；　and　a　deep　voice　said

to　him　in　French；　〃You　are　from　the　canton　Valais。〃

　　　　Rudy　turned　round；　and　beheld　a　man　with　a　ruddy；　pleasant　face；

and　a　stout　figure。　It　was　the　rich　miller　from　Bex。　His　broad；　portly

person；　hid　the　slender；　lovely　Babette；　but　she　came　forward　and

glanced　at　him　with　her　bright；　dark　eyes。　The　rich　miller　was　very

much　flattered　at　the　thought　that　the　young　man；　who　was　acknowledged

to　be　the　best　shot；　and　was　so　praised　by　every　one；　should　be　from

his　own　canton。　Now　was　Rudy　really　fortunate：　he　had　travelled　all

this　way　to　this　place；　and　those　he　had　forgotten　were　now　come　to

seek　him。　When　country　people　go　far　from　home；　they　often　meet　with

those　they　know；　and　improve　their　acquaintance。　Rudy；　by　his

shooting；　had　gained　the　first　place　in　the　shooting…match；　just　as

the　miller　at　home　at　Bex　stood　first；　because　of　his　money　and　his

mill。　So　the　two　men　shook　hands；　which　they　had　never　done　before。

Babette；　too；　held　out　her　hand　to　Rudy　frankly；　and　he　pressed　it

in　his；　and　looked　at　her　so　earnestly；　that　she　blushed　deeply。　The

miller　talked　of　the　long　journey　they　had　travelled；　and　of　the

many　towns　they　had　seen。　It　was　his　opinion　that　he　had　really　made

as　great　a　journey　as　if　he　had　travelled　in　a　steamship；　a　railway

carriage；　or　a　post…chaise。

　　　　〃I　came　by　a　much　shorter　way；〃　said　Rudy；　〃I　came　over　the

mountains。　There　is　no　road　so　high　that　a　man　may　not　venture　upon

it。〃

　　　　〃Ah；　yes；　and　break　your　neck；〃　said　the　miller；　〃and　you　look

like　one　who　will　break　his　neck　some　day；　you　are　so　daring。〃

　　　　〃Oh；　nothing　ever　happens　to　a　man　if　he　has　confidence　in

himself；〃　replied　Rudy。

　　　　The　miller's　relations　at　Interlachen；　with　whom　the　miller　and

Babette　were　staying；　invited　Rudy　to　visit　them；　when　they　found　he

came　from　the　same　canton　as　the　miller。　It　was　a　most　pleasant　visit。

Good　fortune　seemed　to　follow　him；　as　it　does　those　who　think　and

act　for　themselves；　and　who　remember　the　proverb；　〃Nuts　are　given　to

us；　but　they　are　not　cracked　for　us。〃　And　Rudy　was　treated　by　the

miller's　relations　almost　like　one　of　the　family；　and　glasses　of

wine　were　poured　out　to　drink　to　the　welfare　of　the　best　shooter。

Babette　clinked　glasses　with　Rudy；　and　he　returned　thanks　for　the

toast。　In　the　evening　they　all　took　a　delightful　walk　under　the

walnut…trees；　in　front　of　the　stately　hotels；　there　were　so　many

people；　and　such　crowding；　that　Rudy　was　obliged　to　offer　his　arm　to

Babette。　Then　he　told　her　how　happy　it　made　him　to　meet　people　from

the　canton　Vaud；…　for　Vaud　and　Valais　were　neighboring　cantons。　He

spoke　of　this　pleasure　so　heartily　that　Babette　could　not　resist

giving　his　arm　a　slight　squeeze；　and　so　they　walked　on　together；　and

talked　and　chatted　like　old　acquaintances。　Rudy　felt　inclined　to　laugh

sometimes　at　the　absurd　dress　and　walk　of　the　foreign　ladies；　but

Babette　did　not　wish　to　make　fun　of　them；　for　she　knew　there　must　be

some　good；　excellent　people　amongst　them；　she；　herself；　had　a

godmother；　who　was　a　high…born　English　lady。　Eighteen　years　before；

when　Babette　was　christened；　this　lady　was　staying　at　Bex；　and　she

stood　godmother　for　her；　and　gave　her　the　valuable　brooch　she　now　wore

in　her　bosom。

　　　　Her　godmother　had　twice　written　to　her；　and　this　year　she　was

expected　to　visit　Interlachen　with　her　two　daughters；　〃but　they　are

old…maids；〃　added　Babette；　who　was　only　eighteen：　〃they　are　nearly

thirty。〃　Her　sweet　little　mouth　was　never　still　a　moment；　and　all　that

she　said　sounded　in　Rudy's　ears　as　matters　of　the　greatest　importance；

and　at　last　he　told　her　what　he　was　longing　to　tell。　How　often　he

had　been　at　Bex；　how　well　he　knew　the　mill；　and　how　often　he　had

seen　Babette；　when　most　likely　she　had　not　noticed　him；　and　lastly；

that　full　of　many　thoughts　which　he　could　not　tell　her；　he　had　been　to

the　mill　on　the　evening　when　she　and　her　father　has　started　on　their

long　journey；　but　not　too　far　for　him　to　find　a　way　to　overtake

them。　He　told　her　all　this；　and　a　great　deal　more；　he　told　her　how

much　he　could　endure　for　her；　and　that　it　was　to　see　her；　and　not

the　shooting…match；　which　had　brought　him　to　Interlachen。　Babette

became　quite　silent　after　hearing　all　this；　it　was　almost　too　much；

and　it　troubled　her。

　　　　And　while　they　thus　wandered　on；　the　sun　sunk　behind　the　lofty

mountains。　The　Jungfrau　stood　out　in　brightness　and　splendor；　as　a

back…ground　to　the　green　woods　of　the　surrounding　hills。　Every　one

stood　still　to　look　at　the　beautiful　sight；　Rudy　and　Babette　among

them。

　　　　〃Nothing　can　be　more　beautiful　than　this；〃　said　Babette。

　　　　〃Nothing！〃　replied　Rudy；　looking　at　Babette。

　　　　〃To…morrow　I　must　return　home；〃　remarked　Rudy　a　few　minutes

afterwards。

　　　　〃Come　and　visit　us　at　Bex；〃　whispered　Babette；　〃my　father　will

be　pleased　to　see　you。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　V。　ON　THE　WAY　HOME



　　　　Oh；　what　a　number　of　things　Rudy　had　to　carry　over　the

mountains；　when　he　set　out　to　return　home！　He　had　three　silver　cups；

two　handsome　pistols；　and　a　silver　coffee…pot。　This　latter　would　be

useful　when　he　began　housekeeping。　But　all　these　were　not　the　heaviest

weight　he　had　to　bear；　something　mightier　and　more　important　he

carried　with　him　in　his　heart；　over　the　high　mountains；　as　he

journeyed　homeward。

　　　　The　weather　was　dismally　dark；　and　inclined　to　rain；　the　clouds

hung　low；　like　a　mourning　veil　on　the　tops　of　the　mountains；　and

shrouded　their　glittering　peaks。　In　the　woods　could　be　heard　the　sound

of　the　axe　and　the　heavy　fall　of　the　trunks　of　the　trees；　as　they

rolled　down　the　slopes　of　the　mountains。　When　seen　from　the　heights；

the　trunks　of　these　trees　looked　like　slender　stems；　but　on　a　nearer

inspection　they　were　found　to　be　large　and　strong　enough　for　the　masts

of　a　ship。　The　river　murmured　monotonously；　the　wind　whistled；　and　the

clouds　sailed　along　hurriedly。

　　　　Suddenly　there　appeared；　close　by　Rudy's　side；　a　young　maiden；

he　had　not　noticed　her　till　she　came　quite　near　to　him。　She　was　also

going　to　ascend　the　mountain。　The　maiden's　eyes　shone　with　an

unearthly　power；　which　obliged　you　to　look　into　them；　they　were

strange　eyes；…　clear；　deep；　and　unfathomable。

　　　　〃Hast　thou　a　lover？〃　asked　Rudy；　all　his　thoughts　were　naturally

on　love　just　then。

　　　　〃I　have　none；〃　answered　the　maiden；　with　a　laugh；　it　was　as　if　she

had　not　spoken　the　truth。

　　　　〃Do　not　let　us　go　such　a　long　way　round；〃　said　she。　〃We　must

keep　to　the　left；　it　is　much　shorter。〃

　　　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　he　replied；　〃and　fall　into　some　crevasse。　Do　you

pretend　to　be　a　guide；　and　not　know　the　road　better　than　that？〃

　　　　〃I　know　every　step　of　the　way；〃　said　she；　〃and　my　thoughts　are

collected；　while　yours　are　down　in　the　valley　yonder。　We　should

think　of　the　Ice　Maiden　while　we　are　up　here；　men　say　she　is　not

kind　to　their　race。〃

　　　　〃I　fear　her　not；〃　said　Rudy。　〃She　could　not　keep　me　when　I　was　a

child；　I　will　not　give　myself　up　to　her　now　I　am　a　man。〃

　　　　Darkness　came　on；　the　rain　fell；　and　then　it　began　to　snow；　and

the　whiteness　dazzled　the　eyes。

　　　　〃Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　the　maiden；　〃I　will　help　you　to

mount。〃　And　he　felt　the　touch　of　her　icy　fingers。

　　　　〃You　help　me；〃　cried　Rudy；　〃I　do　not　yet　require　a　woman　to　help

me　to　climb。〃　And　he　stepped　quickly　forwards　away　from　her。

　　　　The　drifting　snow…shower　fell　like　a　veil　between　them；　the　wind

whistled；　and　behind　him　he　could　hear　the　maiden　laughing　and

singing；　and　the　sound　was　most　strange　to　hear。

　　　　〃It　certainly　must　be　a　spectre　or　a　servant　of　the　Ice　Maiden；〃

thought　Rudy；　who　had　heard　such　things　talked　about　when　he　was　a

little　boy；　and　had　stayed　all　night　on　the　mountain　with　the　guides。

　　　　The　snow　fell　thicker　than　ever；　the　clouds　lay　beneath　him；　he

looked　back；　there　was　no　one　to　be　seen；　but　he　heard　sounds　of

mocking　laughter；　which　were　not　those　of　a　human　voice。

　　　　When　Rudy　at　length　reached　the　highest　part　of　the　mountain；

where　the　path　led　down　to　the　valley　of　the　Rhone；　the　snow　had

ceased；　and　in　the　clear　heavens　he　saw　two　bright　stars　twinkling。

They　reminded　him　of　Babette　and　of　himself；　and　of　his　future

happiness；　and　his　heart　glowed　at　the　thought。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VI。　THE　VISIT　TO　THE　MILL



　　　　〃What　beautiful　things　you　have　brought　home！〃　said　his　old

foster…mother；　and　her　strange…looking　eagle…eyes　sparkled；　while

she　wriggled　and　twisted　her　skinny　neck　more　quickly　and　strangely

than　ever。　〃You　have　brought　good　luck　with　you；　Rudy。　I　must　give　you

a　kiss；　my　dear　boy。〃

　　　　Rudy　allowed　himself