the ice maiden-第9章

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joy　and　felicity。〃

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

Annette；　still　less　did　he　suppose　it　was　the　spectral　phantom；　whom

he　had　met　near　Grindelwald。　The　maiden　up　here　on　the　mountain　was

fresh　as　the　new　fallen　snow；　blooming　as　an　Alpine　rose；　and　as

nimble…footed　as　a　young　kid。　Still；　she　was　one　of　Adam's　race；

like　Rudy。　He　flung　his　arms　round　the　beautiful　being；　and　gazed　into

her　wonderfully　clear　eyes；…　only　for　a　moment；　but　in　that　moment

words　cannot　express　the　effect　of　his　gaze。　Was　it　the　spirit　of　life

or　of　death　that　overpowered　him？　Was　he　rising　higher；　or　sinking

lower　and　lower　into　the　deep；　deadly　abyss？　He　knew　not；　but　the

walls　of　ice　shone　like　blue…green　glass；　innumerable　clefts　yawned

around　him；　and　the　water…drops　tinkled　like　the　chiming　of　church

bells；　and　shone　clearly　as　pearls　in　the　light　of　a　pale…blue

flame。　The　Ice　Maiden；　for　she　it　was；　kissed　him；　and　her　kiss　sent　a

chill　as　of　ice　through　his　whole　frame。　A　cry　of　agony　escaped　from

him；　he　struggled　to　get　free；　and　tottered　from　her。　For　a　moment　all

was　dark　before　his　eyes；　but　when　he　opened　them　again　it　was

light；　and　the　Alpine　maiden　had　vanished。　The　powers　of　evil　had

played　their　game；　the　sheltering　hut　was　no　more　to　be　seen。　The

water　trickled　down　the　naked　sides　of　the　rocks；　and　snow　lay　thickly

all　around。　Rudy　shivered　with　cold；　he　was　wet　through　to　the　skin；

and　his　ring　was　gone；…　the　betrothal　ring　that　Babette　had　given　him。

His　gun　lay　near　him　in　the　snow；　he　took　it　up　and　tried　to　discharge

it；　but　it　missed　fire。　Heavy　clouds　lay　on　the　mountain　clefts；

like　firm　masses　of　snow。　Upon　one　of　these　Vertigo　sat；　lurking　after

his　powerless　prey；　and　from　beneath　came　a　sound　as　if　a　piece　of

rock　had　fallen　from　the　cleft；　and　was　crushing　everything　that　stood

in　its　way　or　opposed　its　course。

　　　　But；　at　the　miller's；　Babette　sat　alone　and　wept。　Rudy　had　not

been　to　see　her　for　six　days。　He　who　was　in　the　wrong；　and　who　ought

to　ask　her　forgiveness；　for　did　she　not　love　him　with　her　whole　heart？

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XIII。　AT　THE　MILL



　　　　〃What　strange　creatures　human　beings　are；〃　said　the　parlor…cat

to　the　kitchen…cat；　〃Babette　and　Rudy　have　fallen　out　with　each　other。

She　sits　and　cries；　and　he　thinks　no　more　about　her。〃

　　　　〃That　does　not　please　me　to　hear；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat。

　　　　〃Nor　me　either；〃　replied　the　parlor…cat；　〃but　I　do　not　take　it

to　heart。　Babette　may　fall　in　love　with　the　red　whiskers；　if　she

likes；　but　he　has　not　been　here　since　he　tried　to　get　on　the　roof。〃

　　　　The　powers　of　evil　carry　on　their　game　both　around　us　and　within

us。　Rudy　knew　this；　and　thought　a　great　deal　about　it。　What　was　it

that　had　happened　to　him　on　the　mountain？　Was　it　really　a　ghostly

apparition；　or　a　fever　dream？　Rudy　knew　nothing　of　fever；　or　any　other

ailment。　But；　while　he　judged　Babette；　he　began　to　examine　his　own

conduct。　He　had　allowed　wild　thoughts　to　chase　each　other　in　his

heart；　and　a　fierce　tornado　to　break　loose。　Could　he　confess　to

Babette；　indeed；　every　thought　which　in　the　hour　of　temptation　might

have　led　him　to　wrong　doing？　He　had　lost　her　ring；　and　that　very

loss　had　won　him　back　to　her。　Could　she　expect　him　to　confess？　He　felt

as　if　his　heart　would　break　while　he　thought　of　it；　and　while　so

many　memories　lingered　on　his　mind。　He　saw　her　again；　as　she　once

stood　before　him；　a　laughing；　spirited　child；　many　loving　words；　which

she　had　spoken　to　him　out　of　the　fulness　of　her　love；　came　like　a

ray　of　sunshine　into　his　heart；　and　soon　it　was　all　sunshine　as　he

thought　of　Babette。　But　she　must　also　confess　she　was　wrong；　that

she　should　do。

　　　　He　went　to　the　mill…　he　went　to　confession。　It　began　with　a

kiss；　and　ended　with　Rudy　being　considered　the　offender。　It　was　such　a

great　fault　to　doubt　Babette's　truth…　it　was　most　abominable　of　him。

Such　mistrust；　such　violence；　would　cause　them　both　great　unhappiness。

This　certainly　was　very　true；　she　knew　that；　and　therefore　Babette

preached　him　a　little　sermon；　with　which　she　was　herself　much

amused；　and　during　the　preaching　of　which　she　looked　quite　lovely。　She

acknowledged；　however；　that　on　one　point　Rudy　was　right。　Her

godmother's　nephew　was　a　fop：　she　intended　to　burn　the　book　which　he

had　given　her；　so　that　not　the　slightest　thing　should　remain　to　remind

her　of　him。

　　　　〃Well；　that　quarrel　is　all　over；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat。　〃Rudy　is

come　back；　and　they　are　friends　again；　which　they　say　is　the

greatest　of　all　pleasures。〃

　　　　〃I　heard　the　rats　say　one　night；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat；　〃that

the　greatest　pleasure　in　the　world　was　to　eat　tallow　candles　and　to

feast　on　rancid　bacon。　Which　are　we　to　believe；　the　rats　or　the

lovers？〃

　　　　〃Neither　of　them；〃　said　the　parlor…cat；　〃it　is　always　the　safest

plan　to　believe　nothing　you　hear。〃

　　　　The　greatest　happiness　was　coming　for　Rudy　and　Babette。　The

happy　day；　as　it　is　called；　that　is；　their　wedding…day；　was　near　at

hand。　They　were　not　to　be　married　at　the　church　at　Bex；　nor　at　the

miller's　house；　Babette's　godmother　wished　the　nuptials　to　be

solemnized　at　Montreux；　in　the　pretty　little　church　in　that　town。

The　miller　was　very　anxious　that　this　arrangement　should　be　agreed　to。

He　alone　knew　what　the　newly…married　couple　would　receive　from

Babette's　godmother；　and　he　knew　also　that　it　was　a　wedding　present

well　worth　a　concession。　The　day　was　fixed；　and　they　were　to　travel　as

far　as　Villeneuve　the　evening　before；　to　be　in　time　for　the　steamer

which　sailed　in　the　morning　for　Montreux；　and　the　godmother's

daughters　were　to　dress　and　adorn　the　bride。

　　　　〃Here　in　this　house　there　ought　to　be　a　wedding…day　kept；〃　said

the　parlor…cat；　〃or　else　I　would　not　give　a　mew　for　the　whole　affair。〃

　　　　〃There　is　going　to　be　great　feasting；〃　replied　the　kitchen…cat。

〃Ducks　and　pigeons　have　been　killed；　and　a　whole　roebuck　hangs　on

the　wall。　It　makes　me　lick　my　lips　when　I　think　of　it。〃

　　　　〃To…morrow　morning　they　will　begin　the　journey。〃

　　　　Yes；　to…morrow！　And　this　evening；　for　the　last　time；　Rudy　and

Babette　sat　in　the　miller's　house　as　an　engaged　couple。　Outside；　the

Alps　glowed　in　the　evening　sunset；　the　evening　bells　chimed；　and　the

children　of　the　sunbeam　sang；　〃Whatever　happens　is　best。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XIV。　NIGHT　VISIONS



　　　　The　sun　had　gone　down；　and　the　clouds　lay　low　on　the　valley　of　the

Rhone。　The　wind　blew　from　the　south　across　the　mountains；　it　was　an

African　wind；　a　wind　which　scattered　the　clouds　for　a　moment；　and　then

suddenly　fell。　The　broken　clouds　hung　in　fantastic　forms　upon　the

wood…covered　hills　by　the　rapid　Rhone。　They　assumed　the　shapes　of

antediluvian　animals；　of　eagles　hovering　in　the　air；　of　frogs

leaping　over　a　marsh；　and　then　sunk　down　upon　the　rushing　stream　and

appeared　to　sail　upon　it；　although　floating　in　the　air。　An　uprooted

fir…tree　was　being　carried　away　by　the　current；　and　marking　out　its

path　by　eddying　circles　on　the　water。　Vertigo　and　his　sisters　were

dancing　upon　it；　and　raising　these　circles　on　the　foaming　river。　The

moon　lighted　up　the　snow　on　the　mountain…tops；　shone　on　the　dark

woods；　and　on　the　drifting　clouds　those　fantastic　forms　which　at　night

might　be　taken　for　spirits　of　the　powers　of　nature。　The

mountain…dweller　saw　them　through　the　panes　of　his　little　window。　They

sailed　in　hosts　before　the　Ice　Maiden　as　she　came　out　of　her　palace　of

ice。　Then　she　seated　herself　on　the　trunk　of　the　fir…tree　as　on　a

broken　skiff；　and　the　water　from　the　glaciers　carried　her　down　the

river　to　the　open　lake。

　　　　〃The　wedding　guests　are　coming；〃　sounded　from　air　and　sea。　These

were　the　sights　and　sounds　without；　within　there　were　visions；　for

Babette　had　a　wonderful　dream。　She　dreamt　that　she　had　been　married　to

Rudy　for　many　years；　and　that；　one　day　when　he　was　out　chamois

hunting；　and　she　alone　in　their　dwelling　at　home；　the　young　Englishman

with　the　golden　whiskers　sat　with　her。　His　eyes　were　quite　eloquent；

and　his　words　possessed　a　magic　power；　he　offered　her　his　hand；　and

she　was　obliged　to　follow　him。　They　went　out　of　the　house　and

stepped　downwards；　always　downwards；　and　it　seemed　to　Babette　as　if

she　had　a　weight　on　her　heart　which　continually　grew　heavier。　She　felt

she　was　committing　a　sin　against　Rudy；　a　sin　against　God。　Suddenly　she

found　herself　forsaken；　her　clothes　torn　by　the　thorns；　and　her　hair

gray；　she　looked　upwards　in　her　agony；　and　there；　on　the　edge　of　the

rock；　she　espied　Rudy。　She　stretched　out　her　arms　to　him；　but　she

did　not　venture　to　call　him　or　to　pray；　and　had　she　called　him；　it

would　have　been　useless；　for　it　was　not　Rudy；　only　his　hunting　coat

and　hat　hanging　on　an　alpenstock；　as　the　hunters　sometimes　arrange

them　to　deceive　the　chamois。　〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed　in　her　agony；　〃oh；

that　I　had　died　on　the　happiest　day　of　my　life；　my　wedding…day。　O　my

God；　it　would　have　been　a　mercy　and　a　blessing　had　Rudy　travelled

far　away　from　me；　and　I　had　never　known　him。　None　know　what　will

happen　in　the　future。〃　And　then；　in　ungodly　despair；　she　cast

herself　down　into　the　deep　rocky　gulf。　The　spell　was　broken；　a　cry

of　terror　escaped　her；　and　she　awoke。

　　　　The　dream　was　over；　it　had　vanished。　But　she　knew　she　had　dreamt

something　frightful　about　the　young　Englishman；　yet　months　had

passed　since　she　had　seen　him　or　even　thought　of　him。　Was　he　still

at　Montreux；　and　should　she　meet　him　there　on　her　wedding　day？　A

slight　shadow　passed　over　her　pretty　mouth　as　she　thought　of　this；　and

she　knit　her　brows；　but　the　smile　soon　returned　to　her　lip；　and　joy

sparkled　in　her　eyes；　for　this　was　the　morning　of　the　day　on　which　she

and　Rudy　were　to　be　married；　and　the　sun　was　shining　brightly。　Rudy

was　already　in　the　parlor　when　she　entered　it；　and　they　very　soon

started　for　Villeneuve。　Both　of　them　were　overflowing　with

happiness；　and　the　miller　was　in　the　best　of　tempers；　laughing　and

merry；　he　was　a　good；　honest　soul；　and　a　kind　father。

　　　　〃Now　we　are　masters　of　the　house；〃　said　the　parlor…cat。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XV。　THE　CONCLUSION



　　　　It　was　early　in　the　afternoon；　and　just　at　dinner…time；　when　the

three　joyous　travellers　reached　Villeneuve。　After　dinner；　the　miller

placed　himself　in　the　arm…chair；　smoked　his　pipe；　and　had　a　little

nap。　The　bridal　pair　went　arm…in…arm　out　through　the　town　and　along

the　high　road；　at　the　foot　of　the　wood…covered　rocks；　and　by　the　deep；

blue　lake。

　　　　The　gray　walls；　and　the　heavy　clumsy…looking　towers　of　the

gloomy　castle　of　Chillon；　were　reflected　in　the　clear　flood。　The

little　island；　on　which　grew　the　three　acacias；　lay　at　a　short

distance；　looking　like　a　bouquet　rising　from　the　lake。　〃How　delightful

it　must　be　to　live　there；〃　said　Babette；　who　again　felt　the　greatest

wish　to　visit　the　island；　and　an　opportunity　offered　to　gratify　her

wish　at　once；　for　on　the　shore　lay　a　boat；　and　the　rope　by　which　it

was　moored　could　be　very　easily　loosened。　They　saw　no　one　near；　so

they　took　possession　of　it　without　asking　permission　of　any　one；　and

Rudy　could　row　very　well。　Th