安徒生童话-第204章
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re falling from the trees； and； by the time he arrived athis new master's in the great metropolis； he was wet through。 On thefollowing Sunday he intended to pay his first visit to Joanna'sfather。 When the day came； the new journeyman's clothes were broughtout； and a new hat； which he had brought in Kjoge。 The hat becamehim very well； for hitherto he had only worn a cap。 He found the housethat he sought easily； but had to mount so many stairs that hebecame quite giddy； it surprised him to find how people lived over oneanother in this dreadful town。
On entering a room in which everything denoted prosperity；Joanna's father received him very kindly。 The new wife was astranger to him； but she shook hands with him； and offered him coffee。
〃Joanna will be very glad to see you；〃 said her father。 〃Youhave grown quite a nice young man； you shall see her presently； she isa good child； and is the joy of my heart； and； please God； she willcontinue to be so； she has her own room now； and pays us rent for it。〃And the father knocked quite politely at a door； as if he were astranger； and then they both went in。 How pretty everything was inthat room！ a more beautiful apartment could not be found in thewhole town of Kjoge； the queen herself could scarcely be betteracmodated。 There were carpets； and rugs； and window curtainshanging to the ground。 Pictures and flowers were scattered about。There was a velvet chair； and a looking…glass against the wall； intowhich a person might be in danger of stepping； for it was as largeas a door。 All this Knud saw at a glance； and yet； in truth； he sawnothing but Joanna。 She was quite grown up； and very different fromwhat Knud had fancied her； and a great deal more beautiful。 In allKjoge there was not a girl like her； and how graceful she looked；although her glance at first was odd； and not familiar； but for amoment only； then she rushed towards him as if she would have kissedhim； she did not； however； although she was very near it。 Yes； shereally was joyful at seeing the friend of her childhood once more； andthe tears even stood in her eyes。 Then she asked so many questionsabout Knud's parents； and everything； even to the elder…tree and thewillow； which she called 〃elder…mother and willow…father；〃 as ifthey had been human beings； and so； indeed； they might be； quite asmuch as the gingerbread cakes。 Then she talked about them； and thestory of their silent love； and how they lay on the counter togetherand split in two； and then she laughed heartily； but the bloodrushed into Knud's cheeks； and his heart beat quickly。 Joanna wasnot proud at all； he noticed that through her he was invited by herparents to remain the whole evening with them； and she poured outthe tea and gave him a cup herself； and afterwards she took a book andread aloud to them； and it seemed to Knud as if the story was allabout himself and his love； for it agreed so well with his ownthoughts。 And then she sang a simple song； which； through her singing；became a true story； and as if she poured forth the feelings of herown heart。
〃Oh；〃 he thought； 〃she knows I am fond of her。〃 The tears he couldnot restrain rolled down his cheeks； and he was unable to utter asingle word； it seemed as if he had been struck dumb。
When he left； she pressed his hand； and said； 〃You have a kindheart； Knud： remain always as you are now。〃 What an evening ofhappiness this had been； to sleep after it was impossible； and Knuddid not sleep。
At parting； Joanna's father had said； 〃Now； you won't quite forgetus； you must not let the whole winter go by without paying usanother visit；〃 so that Knud felt himself free to go again thefollowing Sunday evening； and so he did。 But every evening afterworking hours… and they worked by candle…light then… he walked outinto the town； and through the street in which Joanna lived； to lookup at her window。 It was almost always lighted up； and one eveninghe saw the shadow of her face quite plainly on the window blind；that was a glorious evening for him。 His master's wife did not likehis always going out in the evening； idling； wasting time； as shecalled it； and she shook her head。
But his master only smiled； and said； 〃He is a young man； my dear；you know。〃
〃On Sunday I shall see her；〃 said Knud to himself； 〃and I willtell her that I love her with my whole heart and soul； and that shemust be my little wife。 I know I am now only a poor journeymanshoemaker； but I will work and strive； and bee a master in time。Yes； I will speak to her； nothing es from silent love。 I learntthat from the gingerbread…cake story。〃
Sunday came； but when Knud arrived； they were all unfortunatelyinvited out to spend the evening； and were obliged to tell him so。
Joanna pressed his hand； and said； 〃Have you ever been to thetheatre？ you must go once； I sing there on Wednesday； and if youhave time on that day； I will send you a ticket； my father knows whereyour master lives。〃 How kind this was of her！ And on Wednesday；about noon； Knud received a sealed packet with no address； but theticket was inside； and in the evening Knud went； for the first time inhis life； to a theatre。 And what did he see？ He saw Joanna； and howbeautiful and charming she looked！ He certainly saw her beingmarried to a stranger； but that was all in the play； and only apretence； Knud well knew that。 She could never have the heart； hethought； to send him a ticket to go and see it； if it had been real。So he looked on； and when all the people applauded and clapped theirhands； he shouted 〃hurrah。〃 He could see that even the king smiledat Joanna； and seemed delighted with her singing。 How small Knud felt；but then he loved her so dearly； and thought she loved him； and theman must speak the first word； as the gingerbread maiden hadthought。 Ah； how much there was for him in that childish story。 Assoon as Sunday arrived； he went again； and felt as if he were about toenter on holy ground。 Joanna was alone to wele him； nothing couldbe more fortunate。
〃I am so glad you are e；〃 she said。 I was thinking of sendingmy father for you； but I had a presentiment that you would be herethis evening。 The fact is； I wanted to tell you that I am going toFrance。 I shall start on Friday。 It is necessary for me to go there；if I wish to bee a first…rate performer。〃
Poor Knud！ it seemed to him as if the whole room was whirlinground with him。 His courage failed； and he felt as if his heartwould burst。 He kept down the tears； but it was easy to see howsorrowful he was。
〃You honest； faithful soul；〃 she exclaimed； and the words loosenedKnud's tongue； and he told her how truly he had loved her； and thatshe must be his wife； and as he said this； he saw Joanna change color；and turn pale。 She let his hand fall； and said； earnestly andmournfully； 〃Knud； do not make yourself and me unhappy。 I willalways be a good sister to you； one in whom you can trust； but I cannever be anything more。〃 And she drew her white hand over hisburning forehead； and said； 〃God gives strength to bear a greatdeal； if we only strive ourselves to endure。〃
At this moment her stepmother came into the room； and Joannasaid quickly； 〃Knud is so unhappy； because I am going away；〃 and itappeared as if they had only been talking of her journey。 〃e； bea man〃 she added； placing her hand on his shoulder； 〃you are still achild； and you must be good and reasonable； as you were when we wereboth children； and played together under the willow…tree。〃
Knud listened； but he felt as if the world had slid out of itscourse。 His thoughts were like a loose thread fluttering to and fro inthe wind。 He stayed； although he could not tell whether she hadasked him to do so。 But she was kind and gentle to him； she poured outhis tea； and sang to him； but the song had not the old tone in it；although it was wonderfully beautiful； and made his heart feel readyto burst。 And then he rose to go。 He did not offer his hand； but sheseized it； and said…
〃Will you not shake hands with your sister at parting； my oldplayfellow？〃 and she smiled through the tears that were rolling downher cheeks。 Again she repeated the word 〃brother；〃 which was a greatconsolation certainly； and thus they parted。
She sailed to France； and Knud wandered about the muddy streets ofCopenhagen。 The other journeymen in the shop asked him why he lookedso gloomy； and wanted him to go and amuse himself with them； as he wasstill a young man。 So he went with them to a dancing…room。 He saw manyhandsome girls there； but none like Joanna； and here； where he thoughtto forget her； she was more life…like before his mind than ever。〃God gives us strength to bear much； if we try to do our best；〃 shehad said； and as he thought of this； a devout feeling came into hismind； and he folded his hands。 Then； as the violins played and thegirls danced round the room； he started； for it seemed to him as if hewere in a place where he ought not to have brought Joanna； for she washere with him in his heart； and so he went out at once。 As he wentthrough the streets at a quick pace； he passed the house where sheused to live； it was all dark； empty； and lonely。 But the world wenton its course； and Knud was obliged to go on too。
Winter came； the water was frozen； and everything seemed buried ina cold grave。 But when spring returned； and
