the ice maiden-第12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
