the ice maiden-第13章

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and　his　words　possessed　a　magic　power；　he　offered　her　his　hand；　and

she　was　obliged　to　follow　him。　They　went　out　of　the　house　and

stepped　downwards；　always　downwards；　and　it　seemed　to　Babette　as　if

she　had　a　weight　on　her　heart　which　continually　grew　heavier。　She　felt

she　was　committing　a　sin　against　Rudy；　a　sin　against　God。　Suddenly　she

found　herself　forsaken；　her　clothes　torn　by　the　thorns；　and　her　hair

gray；　she　looked　upwards　in　her　agony；　and　there；　on　the　edge　of　the

rock；　she　espied　Rudy。　She　stretched　out　her　arms　to　him；　but　she

did　not　venture　to　call　him　or　to　pray；　and　had　she　called　him；　it

would　have　been　useless；　for　it　was　not　Rudy；　only　his　hunting　coat

and　hat　hanging　on　an　alpenstock；　as　the　hunters　sometimes　arrange

them　to　deceive　the　chamois。　〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed　in　her　agony；　〃oh；

that　I　had　died　on　the　happiest　day　of　my　life；　my　wedding…day。　O　my

God；　it　would　have　been　a　mercy　and　a　blessing　had　Rudy　travelled

far　away　from　me；　and　I　had　never　known　him。　None　know　what　will

happen　in　the　future。〃　And　then；　in　ungodly　despair；　she　cast

herself　down　into　the　deep　rocky　gulf。　The　spell　was　broken；　a　cry

of　terror　escaped　her；　and　she　awoke。

　　　　The　dream　was　over；　it　had　vanished。　But　she　knew　she　had　dreamt

something　frightful　about　the　young　Englishman；　yet　months　had

passed　since　she　had　seen　him　or　even　thought　of　him。　Was　he　still

at　Montreux；　and　should　she　meet　him　there　on　her　wedding　day？　A

slight　shadow　passed　over　her　pretty　mouth　as　she　thought　of　this；　and

she　knit　her　brows；　but　the　smile　soon　returned　to　her　lip；　and　joy

sparkled　in　her　eyes；　for　this　was　the　morning　of　the　day　on　which　she

and　Rudy　were　to　be　married；　and　the　sun　was　shining　brightly。　Rudy

was　already　in　the　parlor　when　she　entered　it；　and　they　very　soon

started　for　Villeneuve。　Both　of　them　were　overflowing　with

happiness；　and　the　miller　was　in　the　best　of　tempers；　laughing　and

merry；　he　was　a　good；　honest　soul；　and　a　kind　father。

　　　　〃Now　we　are　masters　of　the　house；〃　said　the　parlor…cat。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XV。　THE　CONCLUSION



　　　　It　was　early　in　the　afternoon；　and　just　at　dinner…time；　when　the

three　joyous　travellers　reached　Villeneuve。　After　dinner；　the　miller

placed　himself　in　the　arm…chair；　smoked　his　pipe；　and　had　a　little

nap。　The　bridal　pair　went　arm…in…arm　out　through　the　town　and　along

the　high　road；　at　the　foot　of　the　wood…covered　rocks；　and　by　the　deep；

blue　lake。

　　　　The　gray　walls；　and　the　heavy　clumsy…looking　towers　of　the

gloomy　castle　of　Chillon；　were　reflected　in　the　clear　flood。　The

little　island；　on　which　grew　the　three　acacias；　lay　at　a　short

distance；　looking　like　a　bouquet　rising　from　the　lake。　〃How　delightful

it　must　be　to　live　there；〃　said　Babette；　who　again　felt　the　greatest

wish　to　visit　the　island；　and　an　opportunity　offered　to　gratify　her

wish　at　once；　for　on　the　shore　lay　a　boat；　and　the　rope　by　which　it

was　moored　could　be　very　easily　loosened。　They　saw　no　one　near；　so

they　took　possession　of　it　without　asking　permission　of　any　one；　and

Rudy　could　row　very　well。　The　oars　divided　the　pliant　water　like　the

fins　of　a　fish…　that　water　which；　with　all　its　yielding　softness；　is

so　strong　to　bear　and　to　carry；　so　mild　and　smiling　when　at　rest；

and　yet　so　terrible　in　its　destroying　power。　A　white　streak　of　foam

followed　in　the　wake　of　the　boat；　which；　in　a　few　minutes；　carried

them　both　to　the　little　island；　where　they　went　on　shore；　but　there

was　only　just　room　enough　for　two　to　dance。　Rudy　swung　Babette　round

two　or　three　times；　and　then；　hand…in…hand；　they　sat　down　on　a

little　bench　under　the　drooping　acacia…tree；　and　looked　into　each

other's　eyes；　while　everything　around　them　glowed　in　the　rays　of　the

setting　sun。

　　　　The　fir…tree　forests　on　the　mountains　were　covered　with　a　purple

hue　like　the　heather　bloom；　and　where　the　woods　terminated；　and　the

rocks　became　prominent；　they　looked　almost　transparent　in　the　rich

crimson　glow　of　the　evening　sky。　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　like　a

bed　of　pink　rose…leaves。

　　　　As　the　evening　advanced；　the　shadows　fell　upon　the　snow…capped

mountains　of　Savoy　painting　them　in　colors　of　deep　blue；　while　their

topmost　peaks　glowed　like　red　lava；　and　for　a　moment　this　light　was

reflected　on　the　cultivated　parts　of　the　mountains；　making　them　appear

as　if　newly　risen　from　the　lap　of　earth；　and　giving　to　the

snow…crested　peak　of　the　Dent　du　Midi　the　appearance　of　the　full

moon　as　it　rises　above　the　horizon。

　　　　Rudy　and　Babette　felt　that　they　had　never　seen　the　Alpine　glow

in　such　perfection　before。　〃How　very　beautiful　it　is；　and　what

happiness　to　be　here！〃　exclaimed　Babette。

　　　　〃Earth　has　nothing　more　to　bestow　upon　me；〃　said　Rudy；　〃an　evening

like　this　is　worth　a　whole　life。　Often　have　I　realized　my　good

fortune；　but　never　more　than　in　this　moment。　I　feel　that　if　my

existence　were　to　end　now；　I　should　still　have　lived　a　happy　life。

What　a　glorious　world　this　is；　one　day　ends；　and　another　begins　even

more　beautiful　than　the　last。　How　infinitely　good　God　is；　Babette！〃

　　　　〃I　have　such　complete　happiness　in　my　heart；〃　said　she。

　　　　〃Earth　has　no　more　to　bestow；〃　answered　Rudy。　And　then　came　the

sound　of　the　evening　bells；　borne　upon　the　breeze　over　the　mountains

of　Switzerland　and　Savoy；　while　still；　in　the　golden　splendor　of　the

west；　stood　the　dark　blue　mountains　of　Jura。

　　　　〃God　grant　you　all　that　is　brightest　and　best！〃　exclaimed　Babette。

　　　　〃He　will；〃　said　Rudy。　〃He　will　to…morrow。　To…morrow　you　will　be

wholly　mine；　my　own　sweet　wife。〃

　　　　〃The　boat！〃　cried　Babette；　suddenly。　The　boat　in　which　they　were

to　return　had　broken　loose；　and　was　floating　away　from　the　island。

　　　　〃I　will　fetch　it　back；〃　said　Rudy；　throwing　off　his　coat　and

boots；　he　sprang　into　the　lake；　and　swam　with　strong　efforts　towards

it。

　　　　The　dark…blue　water；　from　the　glaciers　of　the　mountains；　was　icy

cold　and　very　deep。　Rudy　gave　but　one　glance　into　the　water　beneath；

but　in　that　one　glance　he　saw　a　gold　ring　rolling；　glittering；　and

sparkling　before　him。　His　engaged　ring　came　into　his　mind；　but　this

was　larger；　and　spread　into　a　glittering　circle；　in　which　appeared　a

clear　glacier。　Deep　chasms　yawned　around　it；　the　water…drops　glittered

as　if　lighted　with　blue　flame；　and　tinkled　like　the　chiming　of

church　bells。　In　one　moment　he　saw　what　would　require　many　words　to

describe。　Young　hunters；　and　young　maidens…　men　and　women　who　had　sunk

in　the　deep　chasms　of　the　glaciers…　stood　before　him　here　in

lifelike　forms；　with　eyes　open　and　smiles　on　their　lips；　and　far

beneath　them　could　be　heard　the　chiming　of　the　church　bells　of

buried　villages；　where　the　villagers　knelt　beneath　the　vaulted

arches　of　churches　in　which　ice…blocks　formed　the　organ　pipes；　and　the

mountain　stream　the　music。

　　　　On　the　clear；　transparent　ground　sat　the　Ice　Maiden。　She　raised

herself　towards　Rudy；　and　kissed　his　feet；　and　instantly　a　cold；

deathly　chill；　like　an　electric　shock；　passed　through　his　limbs。　Ice

or　fire！　It　was　impossible　to　tell；　the　shock　was　so　instantaneous。

　　　　〃Mine！　mine！〃　sounded　around　him；　and　within　him；　〃I　kissed　thee

when　thou　wert　a　little　child。　I　once　kissed　thee　on　the　mouth；　and

now　I　have　kissed　thee　from　heel　to　toe；　thou　art　wholly　mine。〃　And

then　he　disappeared　in　the　clear；　blue　water。

　　　　All　was　still。　The　church　bells　were　silent；　the　last　tone　floated

away　with　the　last　red　glimmer　on　the　evening　clouds。　〃Thou　art　mine；〃

sounded　from　the　depths　below：　but　from　the　heights　above；　from　the

eternal　world；　also　sounded　the　words；　〃Thou　art　mine！〃　Happy　was　he

thus　to　pass　from　life　to　life；　from　earth　to　heaven。　A　chord　was

loosened；　and　tones　of　sorrow　burst　forth。　The　icy　kiss　of　death　had

overcome　the　perishable　body；　it　was　but　the　prelude　before　life's

real　drama　could　begin；　the　discord　which　was　quickly　lost　in　harmony。

Do　you　think　this　a　sad　story？　Poor　Babette！　for　her　it　was

unspeakable　anguish。

　　　　The　boat　drifted　farther　and　farther　away。　No　one　on　the

opposite　shore　knew　that　the　betrothed　pair　had　gone　over　to　the

little　is