安徒生童话-第100章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


limb；　and　thereforeslipped；　and　nearly　went　in　head…foremost。　He　managed；　however；　toscramble　out　with　wet　sleeves　and　bespattered　trousers。　Still；　wet　andsplashed　with　mud；　he　contrived　to　reach　Babette's　window；　to　which　hehad　been　guided　by　the　light　that　shone　from　it。　Here　he　climbed　theold　linden…tree　that　stood　near　it；　and　began　to　imitate　the　voiceof　an　owl；　the　only　bird　he　could　venture　to　mimic。　Babette　heardthe　noise；　and　glanced　through　the　thin　window　curtain；　but　when　shesaw　the　man　in　white；　and　guessed　who　he　was；　her　little　heart　beatwith　terror　as　well　as　anger。　She　quickly　put　out　the　light；　felt　ifthe　fastening　of　the　window　was　secure；　and　then　left　him　to　howl　aslong　as　he　liked。　How　dreadful　it　would　be；　thought　Babette；　if　Rudywere　here　in　the　house。　But　Rudy　was　not　in　the　house。　No；　it　was　muchworse；　he　was　outside；　standing　just　under　the　linden…tree。　He　wasspeaking　loud；　angry　words。　He　could　fight；　and　there　might　be　murder！Babette　opened　the　window　in　alarm；　and　called　Rudy's　name；　she　toldhim　to　go　away；　she　did　not　wish　him　to　remain　there。

〃You　do　not　wish　me　to　stay；〃　cried　he；　〃then　this　is　anappointment　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；　hischeeks　burning；　and　his　heart　like　fire。

Babette　threw　herself　on　the　bed；　and　wept　bitterly。　〃So　much　as　Iloved　thee；　Rudy；　and　yet　thou　canst　think　ill　of　me。〃

Thus　her　anger　broke　forth；　it　relieved　her；　however：　otherwiseshe　would　have　been　more　deeply　grieved；　but　now　she　could　sleepsoundly；　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　IceMaiden　reigned。　He　was　so　high　up　that　the　large　trees　beneath　him；with　their　thick　foliage；　appeared　like　garden　plants；　and　the　pinesand　bushes　even　less。　The　Alpine　roses　grew　near　the　snow；　which　layin　detached　stripes；　and　looked　like　linen　laid　out　to　bleach。　Ablue　gentian　grew　in　his　path；　and　he　crushed　it　with　the　butt　endof　his　gun。　A　little　higher　up；　he　espied　two　chamois。　Rudy's　eyesglistened；　and　his　thoughts　flew　at　once　in　a　different　direction；　buthe　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　ofstone　and　the　chamois　passed　quietly　on　over　the　snow…fields。　Rudywalked　hurriedly；　while　the　clouds　of　mist　gathered　round　him。Suddenly　he　found　himself　on　the　brink　of　a　precipitous　rock。　The　rainwas　falling　in　torrents。　He　felt　a　burning　thirst；　his　head　was　hot；and　his　limbs　trembled　with　cold。　He　seized　his　hunting…flask；　butit　was　empty；　he　had　not　thought　of　filling　it　before　ascending　themountain。　He　had　never　been　ill　in　his　life；　nor　ever　experienced　suchsensations　as　those　he　now　felt。　He　was　so　tired　that　he　couldscarcely　resist　lying　down　at　his　full　length　to　sleep；　although　theground　was　flooded　with　the　rain。　Yet　when　he　tried　to　rouse　himself　alittle；　every　object　around　him　danced　and　trembled　before　his　eyes。

Suddenly　he　observed　in　the　doorway　of　a　hut　newly　built　under　therock；　a　young　maiden。　He　did　not　remember　having　seen　this　hut　before；yet　there　it　stood；　and　he　thought；　at　first；　that　the　young　maidenwas　Ante；　the　schoolmaster's　daughter；　whom　he　had　once　kissed　inthe　dance。　The　maiden　was　not　Ante；　yet　it　seemed　as　if　he　had　seenher　somewhere　before；　perhaps　near　Grindelwald；　on　the　evening　ofhis　return　home　from　Interlachen；　after　the　shooting…match。

〃How　did　you　e　here？〃　he　asked。

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

〃Your　flocks！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃where　do　they　find　pasture？　There　isnothing　here　but　snow　and　rocks。〃

〃Much　you　know　of　what　grows　here；〃　she　replied；　laughing。　〃notfar　beneath　us　there　is　beautiful　pasture…land。　My　goats　go　there。　Itend　them　carefully；　I　never　miss　one。　What　is　once　mine　remainsmine。〃

〃You　are　bold；〃　said　Rudy。

〃And　so　are　you；〃　she　answered。

〃Have　you　any　milk　in　the　house？〃　he　asked；　〃if　so；　give　me　someto　drink；　my　thirst　is　intolerable。〃

〃I　have　something　better　than　milk；〃　she　replied；　〃which　I　willgive　you。　Some　travellers　who　were　here　yesterday　with　their　guideleft　behind　them　a　half　a　flask　of　wine；　such　as　you　have　nevertasted。　They　will　not　e　back　to　fetch　it；　I　know；　and　I　shall　notdrink　it；　so　you　shall　have　it。〃

Then　the　maiden　went　to　fetch　the　wine；　poured　some　into　awooden　cup；　and　offered　it　to　Rudy。

〃How　good　it　is！〃　said　he；　〃I　have　never　before　tasted　suchwarm；　invigorating　wine。〃　And　his　eyes　sparkled　with　new　life；　aglow　diffused　itself　over　his　frame；　it　seemed　as　if　every　sorrow；every　oppression　were　banished　from　his　mind；　and　a　fresh；　free　naturewere　stirring　within　him。　〃You　are　surely　Ante；　theschoolmaster's　daughter；〃　cried　he；　〃will　you　give　me　a　kiss？〃

〃Yes；　if　you　will　give　me　that　beautiful　ring　which　you　wear　onyour　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　streamedthrough　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　tojoy　and　felicity。〃

Rudy　gazed　on　the　young　maiden；　it　was　Ante；　and　yet　it　was　notAnte；　still　less　did　he　suppose　it　was　the　spectral　phantom；　whomhe　had　met　near　Grindelwald。　The　maiden　up　here　on　the　mountain　wasfresh　as　the　new　fallen　snow；　blooming　as　an　Alpine　rose；　and　asnimble…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　intoher　wonderfully　clear　eyes；…　only　for　a　moment；　but　in　that　momentwords　cannot　express　the　effect　of　his　gaze。　Was　it　the　spirit　of　lifeor　of　death　that　overpowered　him？　Was　he　rising　higher；　or　sinkinglower　and　lower　into　the　deep；　deadly　abyss？　He　knew　not；　but　thewalls　of　ice　shone　like　blue…green　glass；　innumerable　clefts　yawnedaround　him；　and　the　water…drops　tinkled　like　the　chiming　of　churchbells；　and　shone　clearly　as　pearls　in　the　light　of　a　pale…blueflame。　The　Ice　Maiden；　for　she　it　was；　kissed　him；　and　her　kiss　sent　achill　as　of　ice　through　his　whole　frame。　A　cry　of　agony　escaped　fromhim；　he　struggled　to　get　free；　and　tottered　from　her。　For　a　moment　allwas　dark　before　his　eyes；　but　when　he　opened　them　again　it　waslight；　and　the　Alpine　maiden　had　vanished。　The　powers　of　evil　hadplayed　their　game；　the　sheltering　hut　was　no　more　to　be　seen。　Thewater　trickled　down　the　naked　sides　of　the　rocks；　and　snow　lay　thicklyall　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　dischargeit；　but　it　missed　fire。　Heavy　clouds　lay　on　the　mountain　clefts；like　firm　masses　of　snow。　Upon　one　of　these　Vertigo　sat；　lurking　afterhis　powerless　prey；　and　from　beneath　came　a　sound　as　if　a　piece　ofrock　had　fallen　from　the　cleft；　and　was　crushing　everything　that　stoodin　its　way　or　opposed　its　course。

But；　at　the　miller's；　Babette　sat　alone　and　wept。　Rudy　had　notbeen　to　see　her　for　six　days。　He　who　was　in　the　wrong；　and　who　oughtto　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…catto　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　itto　heart。　Babette　may　fall　in　love　with　the　red　whiskers；　if　shelikes；　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　withinus。　Rudy　knew　this；　and　thought　a　great　deal　about　it。　What　was　itthat　had　happened　to　him　on　the　mountain？　Was　it　really　a　ghostlyapparition；　or　a　fever　dream？　Rudy　knew　nothing　of　fever；　or　any　otherailment。　But；　while　he　judged　Babette；　he　began　to　examine　his　ownconduct。　He　had　allowed　wild　thoughts　to　chase　each　other　in　hisheart；　and　a　fierce　tornado　to　break　loose。　Could　he　confess　toBabette；　indeed；　every　thought　which　in　the　hour　of　temptation　mighthave　led　him　to　wrong　doing？　He　had　lost　her　ring；　and　that　veryloss　had　won　him　back　to　her。　Could　she　expect　him　to　confess？　He　feltas　if　his　heart　would　break　while　he　thought　of　it；　and　while　somany　memories　lingered　on　his　mind。　He　saw　her　again；　as　she　oncestood　before　him；　a　laughing；　spirited　child；　many　loving　words；　whichshe　had　spoken　to　him　out　of　the　fulness　of　her　love；　came　like　aray　of　sunshine　into　his　heart；　and　soon　it　was　all　sunshine　as　hethought　of　Babette。　But　she　must　also　confess　she　was　wrong；　thatshe　should　do。

He　went　to　the　mill…　he　went　to　confession。　It　began　with　akiss；　and　ended　with　Rudy　being　considered　the　offender。　It　was　such　agreat　fault　to　doubt　Babette's　truth…　it　was　most　abominable　of　him。Such　mistrust；　such　viole