under the willow-tree-第5章

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and　carried　him　back　into　the　little　garden　on　the　banks　of　the

streamlet；　and　there　stood　Joanna；　in　all　her　splendor；　with　the

golden　crown　on　her　head；　as　he　had　last　seen　her；　to　welcome　him

back。　And　then　there　appeared　before　him　two　remarkable　shapes；

which　looked　much　more　like　human　beings　than　when　he　had　seen　them　in

his　childhood；　they　were　changed；　but　he　remembered　that　they　were　the

two　gingerbread　cakes；　the　man　and　the　woman；　who　had　shown　their　best

sides　to　the　world　and　looked　so　good。

　　　　〃We　thank　you；〃　they　said　to　Knud；　〃for　you　have　loosened　our

tongues；　we　have　learnt　from　you　that　thoughts　should　be　spoken

freely；　or　nothing　will　come　of　them；　and　now　something　has　come　of

our　thoughts；　for　we　are　engaged　to　be　married。〃　Then　they　walked

away；　hand…in…hand；　through　the　streets　of　Kjoge；　looking　very

respectable　on　the　best　side；　which　they　were　quite　right　to　show。

They　turned　their　steps　to　the　church；　and　Knud　and　Joanna　followed

them；　also　walking　hand…in…hand；　there　stood　the　church；　as　of　old；

with　its　red　walls；　on　which　the　green　ivy　grew。

　　　　The　great　church　door　flew　open　wide；　and　as　they　walked　up　the

broad　aisle；　soft　tones　of　music　sounded　from　the　organ。　〃Our　master

first；〃　said　the　gingerbread　pair；　making　room　for　Knud　and　Joanna。　As

they　knelt　at　the　altar；　Joanna　bent　her　head　over　him；　and　cold；

icy　tears　fell　on　his　face　from　her　eyes。　They　were　indeed　tears　of

ice；　for　her　heart　was　melting　towards　him　through　his　strong　love；

and　as　her　tears　fell　on　his　burning　cheeks　he　awoke。　He　was　still

sitting　under　the　willow…tree　in　a　strange　land；　on　a　cold　winter

evening；　with　snow　and　hail　falling　from　the　clouds；　and　beating

upon　his　face。

　　　　〃That　was　the　most　delightful　hour　of　my　life；〃　said　he；　〃although

it　was　only　a　dream。　Oh；　let　me　dream　again。〃　Then　he　closed　his

eyes　once　more；　and　slept　and　dreamed。

　　　　Towards　morning　there　was　a　great　fall　of　snow；　the　wind　drifted

it　over　him；　but　he　still　slept　on。　The　villagers　came　forth　to　go

to　church；　by　the　roadside　they　found　a　workman　seated；　but　he　was

dead！　frozen　to　death　under　a　willow…tree。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。