the ice maiden-第8章

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walls　with　which　the　vineyards　of　the　little　mountain　town　of　Montreux

are　surrounded；　and　peasants'　houses；　overshadowed　by　fig…trees；

with　gardens　in　which　grow　the　laurel　and　the　cypress。

　　　　Halfway　up　the　hill　stood　the　boarding…house　in　which　Babette's

godmother　resided。　She　was　received　most　cordially；　her　godmother

was　a　very　friendly　woman；　with　a　round；　smiling　countenance。　When　a

child；　her　head　must　have　resembled　one　of　Raphael's　cherubs；　it　was

still　an　angelic　face；　with　its　white　locks　of　silvery　hair。　The

daughters　were　tall；　elegant；　slender　maidens。

　　　　The　young　cousin；　whom　they　had　brought　with　them；　was　dressed

in　white　from　head　to　foot；　he　had　golden　hair　and　golden　whiskers；

large　enough　to　be　divided　amongst　three　gentlemen；　and　he　began

immediately　to　pay　the　greatest　attention　to　Babette。

　　　　Richly　bound　books；　note…paper；　and　drawings；　lay　on　the　large

table。　The　balcony　window　stood　open；　and　from　it　could　be　seen　the

beautiful　wide　extended　lake；　the　water　so　clear　and　still；　that　the

mountains　of　Savoy；　with　their　villages；　woods；　and　snow…crowned

peaks；　were　clearly　reflected　in　it。

　　　　Rudy；　who　was　usually　so　lively　and　brave；　did　not　in　the　least

feel　himself　at　home；　he　acted　as　if　he　were　walking　on　peas；　over　a

slippery　floor。　How　long　and　wearisome　the　time　appeared；　it　was

like　being　in　a　treadmill。　And　then　they　went　out　for　a　walk；　which

was　very　slow　and　tedious。　Two　steps　forward　and　one　backwards　had

Rudy　to　take　to　keep　pace　with　the　others。　They　walked　down　to

Chillon；　and　went　over　the　old　castle　on　the　rocky　island。　They　saw

the　implements　of　torture；　the　deadly　dungeons；　the　rusty　fetters　in

the　rocky　walls；　the　stone　benches　for　those　condemned　to　death；　the

trap…doors　through　which　the　unhappy　creatures　were　hurled　upon　iron

spikes；　and　impaled　alive。　They　called　looking　at　all　these　a

pleasure。　It　certainly　was　the　right　place　to　visit。　Byron's　poetry

had　made　it　celebrated　in　the　world。　Rudy　could　only　feel　that　it

was　a　place　of　execution。　He　leaned　against　the　stone　framework　of　the

window；　and　gazed　down　into　the　deep；　blue　water；　and　over　to　the

little　island　with　the　three　acacias；　and　wished　himself　there；　away

and　free　from　the　whole　chattering　party。　But　Babette　was　most

unusually　lively　and　good…tempered。

　　　　〃I　have　been　so　amused；〃　she　said。

　　　　The　cousin　had　found　her　quite　perfect。

　　　　〃He　is　a　perfect　fop；〃　said　Rudy；　and　this　was　the　first　time　Rudy

had　said　anything　that　did　not　please　Babette。

　　　　The　Englishman　had　made　her　a　present　of　a　little　book；　in

remembrance　of　their　visit　to　Chillon。　It　was　Byron's　poem；　〃The

Prisoner　of　Chillon；〃　translated　into　French；　so　that　Babette　could

read　it。

　　　　〃The　book　may　be　very　good；〃　said　Rudy；　〃but　that　finely　combed

fellow　who　gave　it　to　you　is　not　worth　much。〃

　　　　〃He　looks　something　like　a　flour…sack　without　any　flour；〃　said　the

miller；　laughing　at　his　own　wit。　Rudy　laughed；　too；　for　so　had　he

appeared　to　him。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XI。　THE　COUSIN



　　　　When　Rudy　went　a　few　days　after　to　pay　a　visit　to　the　mill；　he

found　the　young　Englishman　there。　Babette　was　just　thinking　of

preparing　some　trout　to　set　before　him。　She　understood　well　how　to

garnish　the　dish　with　parsley；　and　make　it　look　quite　tempting。　Rudy

thought　all　this　quite　unnecessary。　What　did　the　Englishman　want

there？　What　was　he　about？　Why　should　he　be　entertained；　and　waited

upon　by　Babette？　Rudy　was　jealous；　and　that　made　Babette　happy。　It

amused　her　to　discover　all　the　feelings　of　his　heart；　the　strong

points　and　weak　ones。　Love　was　to　her　as　yet　only　a　pastime；　and　she

played　with　Rudy's　whole　heart。　At　the　same　time　it　must　be

acknowledged　that　her　fortune；　her　whole　life；　her　inmost　thoughts；

her　best　and　most　noble　feelings　in　this　world　were　all　for　him。　Still

the　more　gloomy　he　looked；　the　more　her　eyes　laughed。　She　could　almost

have　kissed　the　fair　Englishman；　with　the　golden　whiskers；　if　by　so

doing　she　could　have　put　Rudy　in　a　rage；　and　made　him　run　out　of　the

house。　That　would　have　proved　how　much　he　loved　her。　All　this　was

not　right　in　Babette；　but　she　was　only　nineteen　years　of　age；　and

she　did　not　reflect　on　what　she　did；　neither　did　she　think　that　her

conduct　would　appear　to　the　young　Englishman　as　light；　and　not　even

becoming　the　modest　and　much…loved　daughter　of　the　miller。

　　　　The　mill　at　Bex　stood　in　the　highway；　which　passed　under　the

snow…clad　mountains；　and　not　far　from　a　rapid　mountain…stream；　whose

waters　seemed　to　have　been　lashed　into　a　foam　like　soap…suds。　This

stream；　however；　did　not　pass　near　enough　to　the　mill；　and　therefore

the　mill…wheel　was　turned　by　a　smaller　stream　which　tumbled　down　the

rocks　on　the　opposite　side；　where　it　was　opposed　by　a　stone

mill…dam；　and　obtained　greater　strength　and　speed；　till　it　fell　into　a

large　basin；　and　from　thence　through　a　channel　to　the　mill…wheel。　This

channel　sometimes　overflowed；　and　made　the　path　so　slippery　that　any

one　passing　that　way　might　easily　fall　in；　and　be　carried　towards

the　mill　wheel　with　frightful　rapidity。　Such　a　catastrophe　nearly

happened　to　the　young　Englishman。　He　had　dressed　himself　in　white

clothes；　like　a　miller's　man；　and　was　climbing　the　path　to　the

miller's　house；　but　he　had　never　been　taught　to　climb；　and　therefore

slipped；　and　nearly　went　in　head…foremost。　He　managed；　however；　to

scramble　out　with　wet　sleeves　and　bespattered　trousers。　Still；　wet　and

splashed　with　mud；　he　contrived　to　reach　Babette's　window；　to　which　he

had　been　guided　by　the　light　that　shone　from　it。　Here　he　climbed　the

old　linden…tree　that　stood　near　it；　and　began　to　imitate　the　voice

of　an　owl；　the　only　bird　he　could　venture　to　mimic。　Babette　heard

the　noise；　and　glanced　through　the　thin　window　curtain；　but　when　she

saw　the　man　in　white；　and　guessed　who　he　was；　her　little　heart　beat

with　terror　as　well　as　anger。　She　quickly　put　out　the　light；　felt　if

the　fastening　of　the　window　was　secure；　and　then　left　him　to　howl　as

long　as　he　liked。　How　dreadful　it　would　be；　thought　Babette；　if　Rudy

were　here　in　the　house。　But　Rudy　was　not　in　the　house。　No；　it　was　much

worse；　he　was　outside；　standing　just　under　the　linden…tree。　He　was

speaking　loud；　angry　words。　He　could　fight；　and　there　might　be　murder！

Babette　opened　the　window　in　alarm；　and　called　Rudy's　name；　she　told

him　to　go　away；　she　did　not　wish　him　to　remain　there。

　　　　〃You　do　not　wish　me　to　stay；〃　cried　he；　〃then　this　is　an

appointment　you　expected…　this　good　friend　whom　you　prefer　to　me。

Shame　on　you；　Babette！〃

　　　　〃You　are　detestable！〃　exclaimed　Babette；　bursting　into　tears。

〃Go　away。　I　hate　you。〃

　　　　〃I　have　not　deserved　this；〃　said　Rudy；　as　he　turned　away；　his

cheeks　burning；　and　his　heart　like　fire。

　　　　Babette　threw　herself　on　the　bed；　and　wept　bitterly。　〃So　much　as　I

loved　thee；　Rudy；　and　yet　thou　canst　think　ill　of　me。〃

　　　　Thus　her　anger　broke　forth；　it　relieved　her；　however：　otherwise

she　would　have　been　more　deeply　grieved；　but　now　she　could　sleep

soundly；　as　youth　only　can　sleep。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XII。　EVIL　POWERS



　　　　Rudy　left　Bex；　and　took　his　way　home　along　the　mountain　path。

The　air　was　fresh；　but　cold；　for　here　amidst　the　deep　snow；　the　Ice

Maiden　reigned。　He　was　so　high　up　that　the　large　trees　beneath　him；

with　their　thick　foliage；　appeared　like　garden　plants；　and　the　pines

and　bushes　even　less。　The　Alpine　roses　grew　near　the　snow；　which　lay

in　detached　stripes；　and　looked　like　linen　laid　out　to　bleach。　A

blue　gentian　grew　in　his　path；　and　he　crushed　it　with　the　butt　end

of　his　gun。　A　little　higher　up；　he　espied　two　chamois。　Rudy's　eyes

glistened；　and　his　thoughts　flew　at　once　in　a　different　direction；　but

he　was　not　near　enough　to　take　a　sure　aim。　He　ascended　still　higher；

to　a　spot　where　a　few　rough　blades　of　grass　grew　between　the　blocks　of

stone　and　the　chamois　passed　quietly　on　over　the　snow…fields。　Rudy

walked　hurriedly；　while　the　clouds　of　mist　gathered　round　him。

Suddenly　he　found　himself　on　the　brink　of　a　precipitous　rock。　The　rain

was　falling　in　torrents。　He　felt　a　burning　thirst；　his　head　was　hot；

and　his　limbs　trembled　with　cold。　He　seized　his　hunting…flask；　but

it　was　empty；　he　had　not　thought　of　filling　it　before　ascending　the

mountain。　He　had　never　been　ill　in　his　life；　nor　ever　experienced　such

sensations　as　those　he　now　felt。　He　was　so　tired　that　he　could

scarcely　resist　lying　down　at　his　full　length　to　sleep；　although　the

ground　was　flooded　with　the　rain。　Yet　when　he　tried　to　rouse　himself　a

little；　every　object　around　him　danced　and　trembled　before　his　eyes。

　　　　Suddenly　he　observed　in　the　doorway　of　a　hut　newly　built　under　the

rock；　a　young　maiden。　He　did　not　remember　having　seen　this　hut　before；

yet　there　it　stood；　and　he　thought；　at　first；　that　the　young　maiden

was　Annette；　the　schoolmaster's　daughter；　whom　he　had　once　kissed　in

the　dance。　The　maiden　was　not　Annette；　yet　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　seen

her　somewhere　before；　perhaps　near　Grindelwald；　on　the　evening　of

his　return　home　from　Interlachen；　after　the　shooting…match。

　　　　〃How　did　you　come　here？〃　he　asked。

　　　　〃I　am　at　home；〃　she　replied；　〃I　am　watching　my　flocks。〃

　　　　〃Your　flocks！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃where　do　they　find　pasture？　There　is

nothing　here　but　snow　and　rocks。〃

　　　　〃Much　you　know　of　what　grows　here；〃　she　replied；　laughing。　〃not

far　beneath　us　there　is　beautiful　pasture…land。　My　goats　go　there。　I

tend　them　carefully；　I　never　miss　one。　What　is　once　mine　remains

mine。〃

　　　　〃You　are　bold；〃　said　Rudy。

　　　　〃And　so　are　you；〃　she　answered。

　　　　〃Have　you　any　milk　in　the　house？〃　he　asked；　〃if　so；　give　me　some

to　drink；　my　thirst　is　intolerable。〃

　　　　〃I　have　something　better　than　milk；〃　she　replied；　〃which　I　will

give　you。　Some　travellers　who　were　here　yesterday　with　their　guide

left　behind　them　a　half　a　flask　of　wine；　such　as　you　have　never

tasted。　They　will　not　come　back　to　fetch　it；　I　know；　and　I　shall　not

drink　it；　so　you　shall　have　it。〃

　　　　Then　the　maiden　went　to　fetch　the　wine；　poured　some　into　a

wooden　cup；　and　offered　it　to　Rudy。

　　　　〃How　good　it　is！〃　said　he；　〃I　have　never　before　tasted　such

warm；　invigorating　wine。〃　And　his　eyes　sparkled　with　new　life；　a

glow　diffused　itself　over　his　frame；　it　seemed　as　if　every　sorrow；

every　oppression　were　banished　from　his　mind；　and　a　fresh；　free　nature

were　stirring　within　him。　〃You　are　surely　Annette；　the

schoolmaster's　daughter；〃　cried　he；　〃will　you　give　me　a　kiss？〃

　　　　〃Yes；　if　you　will　give　me　that　beautiful　ring　which　you　wear　on

your　finger。〃

　　　　〃My　betrothal　ring？〃　he　replied。

　　　　〃Yes；　just　so；〃　said　the　maiden；　as　she　poured　out　some　more　wine；

and　held　it　to　his　lips。　Again　he　drank；　and　a　living　joy　streamed

through　every　vein。

　　　　〃The　whole　world　is　mine；　why　therefore　should　I　grieve？〃

thought　he。　〃Everything　is　created　for　our　enjoyment　and　happiness。

The　stream　of　life　is　a　stream　of　happiness；　let　us　flow　on　with　it　to

joy　and　felicity。〃

　　　　Rudy　gazed　on　the　young　maiden；　it　was　Annette；　and　yet　it　was　not

Annette；　still　less