tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第48章
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Trond Vigfusson must have made a rich harvest of legends at Kvaerk；
at least judging by the time he stayed there； for days and weeks passed；
and he had yet said nothing of going。 Not that anybody wished him to go；
no； on the contrary； the longer he stayed the more indispensable he seemed
to all； and Lage Ulfson could hardly think without a shudder of the
possibility of his ever having to leave them。 For Aasa； his only child；
was like another being in the presence of this stranger； all that weird；
forest…like intensity； that wild； half supernatural tinge in her character
which in a measure excluded her from the blissful feeling of fellowship
with other men； and made her the strange； lonely creature she was；all
this seemed to vanish as dew in the morning sun when Vigfusson's eyes
rested upon her； and with every day that passed； her human and womanly
nature gained a stronger hold upon her。 She followed him like his
shadow on all his wanderings； and when they sat down together by the
wayside； she would sing； in a clear； soft voice； an ancient lay or ballad；
and he would catch her words on his paper； and smile at the happy
prospect of perpetuating what otherwise would have been lost。 Aasa's love；
whether conscious or not； was to him an everlasting source of strength；
was a revelation of himself to himself； and a clearing and widening power
which brought ever more and more of the universe within the scope of his
vision。 So they lived on from day to day and from week to week； and； as
old Lage remarked； never had Kvaerk been the scene of so much
happiness。 Not a single time during Vigfusson's stay had Aasa fled to the
forest； not a meal had she missed； and at the hours for family devotion she
had taken her seat at the big table with the rest and apparently listened
with as much attention and interest。 Indeed； all this time Aasa seemed
purposely to avoid the dark haunts of the woods； and； whenever she could；
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chose the open highway； not even Vigfusson's entreaties could induce her
to tread the tempting paths that led into the forest's gloom。
〃And why not； Aasa？〃 he would say； 〃summer is ten times summer
there when the drowsy noonday spreads its trembling maze of shadows
between those huge； venerable trunks。 You can feel the summer creeping
into your very heart and soul； there！〃
〃Oh； Vigfusson；〃 she would answer； shaking her head mournfully； 〃for
a hundred paths that lead in； there is only one that leads out again； and
sometimes even that one is nowhere to be found。〃
He understood her not； but fearing to ask； he remained silent。
His words and his eyes always drew her nearer and nearer to him； and
the forest and its strange voices seemed a dark； opposing influence； which
strove to take possession of her heart and to wrest her away from him
forever； she helplessly clung to him； every thought and emotion of her
soul clustered about him； and every hope of life and happiness was staked
on him。
One evening Vigfusson and old Lage Ulfson had been walking about
the fields to look at the crop； both smoking their evening pipes。 But as
they came down toward the brink whence the path leads between the two
adjoining rye… fields； they heard a sweet； sad voice crooning some old
ditty down between the birch…trees at the precipice； they stopped to listen；
and soon recognized Aasa's yellow hair over the tops the rye； the shadow
as of a painful emotion flitted over the father's countenance； and he turned
his back on his guest and started to go； then again paused； and said；
imploringly； 〃Try to get her home if you can； friend Vigfusson。'
Vigfusson nodded； and Lage went； the song had ceased for a moment；
now it began again：
〃Ye twittering birdlings； in forest and glen I have heard you so
gladly before； But a bold knight hath come to woo me； I dare
listen to you no more。 For it is so dark； so dark in the forest。
〃And the knight who hath come a…wooing to me； He calls me
his love and his own； Why then should I stray through the darksome
woods； Or dream in the glades alone？ For it is so dark； so dark in
the forest。〃
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Her voice fell to a low unintelligible murmur； then it rose； and the
last verses came； clear； soft； and low； drifting on the evening breeze：
〃Yon beckoning world； that shimmering lay O'er the woods
where the old pines grow； That gleamed through the moods of the
summer day When the breezes were murmuring low （And it is
so dark； so dark in the forest）；
〃Oh let me no more in the sunshine hear Its quivering
noonday call； The bold knight's love is the sun of my heart
Is my life； and my all in all。 But it is so dark； so dark in the forest。〃
The young man felt the blood rushing to his facehis heart beat
violently。 There was a keen sense of guilt in the blush on his cheek； a
loud accusation in the throbbing pulse and the swelling heart…beat。 Had
he not stood there behind the maiden's back and cunningly peered into her
soul's holy of holies？ True； he loved Aasa； at least he thought he did； and
the conviction was growing stronger with every day that passed。 And
now he had no doubt that he had gained her heart。 It was not so much the
words of the ballad which had betrayed the secret； he hardly knew what it
was； but somehow the truth had flashed upon him； and he could no longer
doubt。
Vigfusson sat down on the moss…grown rock and pondered。 How
long he sat there he did not know； but when he rose and looked around；
Aasa was gone。 Then remembering her father's request to bring her
home； he hastened up the hill…side toward the mansion； and searched for
her in all directions。 It was near midnight when he returned to Kvaerk；
where Aasa sat in her high gable window； still humming the weird melody
of the old ballad。
By what reasoning Vigfusson arrived at his final conclusion is difficult
to tell。 If he had acted according to his first and perhaps most generous
impulse； the matter would soon have been decided； but he was all the time
possessed of a vague fear of acting dishonorably； and it was probably this
very fear which made him do what； to the minds of those whose friendship
and hospitality he had accepted； had something of the appearance he
wished so carefully to avoid。 Aasa was rich； he had nothing； it was a
reason for delay； but hardly a conclusive one。 They did not know him； he
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
must go out in the world and prove himself worthy of her。 He would
come back when he should
