安徒生童话-第61部分

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　such　agreat　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　Babettepreached　him　a　little　sermon；　with　which　she　was　herself　muchamused；　and　during　the　preaching　of　which　she　looked　quite　lovely。　Sheacknowledged；　however；　that　on　one　point　Rudy　was　right。　Hergodmother's　nephew　was　a　fop：　she　intended　to　burn　the　book　which　hehad　given　her；　so　that　not　the　slightest　thing　should　remain　to　remindher　of　him。

〃Well；　that　quarrel　is　all　over；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat。　〃Rudy　ise　back；　and　they　are　friends　again；　which　they　say　is　thegreatest　of　all　pleasures。〃

〃I　heard　the　rats　say　one　night；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat；　〃thatthe　greatest　pleasure　in　the　world　was　to　eat　tallow　candles　and　tofeast　on　rancid　bacon。　Which　are　we　to　believe；　the　rats　or　thelovers？〃

〃Neither　of　them；〃　said　the　parlor…cat；　〃it　is　always　the　safestplan　to　believe　nothing　you　hear。〃

The　greatest　happiness　was　ing　for　Rudy　and　Babette。　Thehappy　day；　as　it　is　called；　that　is；　their　wedding…day；　was　near　athand。　They　were　not　to　be　married　at　the　church　at　Bex；　nor　at　themiller's　house；　Babette's　godmother　wished　the　nuptials　to　besolemnized　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　fromBabette's　godmother；　and　he　knew　also　that　it　was　a　wedding　presentwell　worth　a　concession。　The　day　was　fixed；　and　they　were　to　travel　asfar　as　Villeneuve　the　evening　before；　to　be　in　time　for　the　steamerwhich　sailed　in　the　morning　for　Montreux；　and　the　godmother'sdaughters　were　to　dress　and　adorn　the　bride。

〃Here　in　this　house　there　ought　to　be　a　wedding…day　kept；〃　saidthe　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　onthe　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　andBabette　sat　in　the　miller's　house　as　an　engaged　couple。　Outside；　theAlps　glowed　in　the　evening　sunset；　the　evening　bells　chimed；　and　thechildren　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　theRhone。　The　wind　blew　from　the　south　across　the　mountains；　it　was　anAfrican　wind；　a　wind　which　scattered　the　clouds　for　a　moment；　and　thensuddenly　fell。　The　broken　clouds　hung　in　fantastic　forms　upon　thewood…covered　hills　by　the　rapid　Rhone。　They　assumed　the　shapes　ofantediluvian　animals；　of　eagles　hovering　in　the　air；　of　frogsleaping　over　a　marsh；　and　then　sunk　down　upon　the　rushing　stream　andappeared　to　sail　upon　it；　although　floating　in　the　air。　An　uprootedfir…tree　was　being　carried　away　by　the　current；　and　marking　out　itspath　by　eddying　circles　on　the　water。　Vertigo　and　his　sisters　weredancing　upon　it；　and　raising　these　circles　on　the　foaming　river。　Themoon　lighted　up　the　snow　on　the　mountain…tops；　shone　on　the　darkwoods；　and　on　the　drifting　clouds　those　fantastic　forms　which　at　nightmight　be　taken　for　spirits　of　the　powers　of　nature。　Themountain…dweller　saw　them　through　the　panes　of　his　little　window。　Theysailed　in　hosts　before　the　Ice　Maiden　as　she　came　out　of　her　palace　ofice。　Then　she　seated　herself　on　the　trunk　of　the　fir…tree　as　on　abroken　skiff；　and　the　water　from　the　glaciers　carried　her　down　theriver　to　the　open　lake。

〃The　wedding　guests　are　ing；〃　sounded　from　air　and　sea。　Thesewere　the　sights　and　sounds　without；　within　there　were　visions；　forBabette　had　a　wonderful　dream。　She　dreamt　that　she　had　been　married　toRudy　for　many　years；　and　that；　one　day　when　he　was　out　chamoishunting；　and　she　alone　in　their　dwelling　at　home；　the　young　Englishmanwith　the　golden　whiskers　sat　with　her。　His　eyes　were　quite　eloquent；and　his　words　possessed　a　magic　power；　he　offered　her　his　hand；　andshe　was　obliged　to　follow　him。　They　went　out　of　the　house　andstepped　downwards；　always　downwards；　and　it　seemed　to　Babette　as　ifshe　had　a　weight　on　her　heart　which　continually　grew　heavier。　She　feltshe　was　mitting　a　sin　against　Rudy；　a　sin　against　God。　Suddenly　shefound　herself　forsaken；　her　clothes　torn　by　the　thorns；　and　her　hairgray；　she　looked　upwards　in　her　agony；　and　there；　on　the　edge　of　therock；　she　espied　Rudy。　She　stretched　out　her　arms　to　him；　but　shedid　not　venture　to　call　him　or　to　pray；　and　had　she　called　him；　itwould　have　been　useless；　for　it　was　not　Rudy；　only　his　hunting　coatand　hat　hanging　on　an　alpenstock；　as　the　hunters　sometimes　arrangethem　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　myGod；　it　would　have　been　a　mercy　and　a　blessing　had　Rudy　travelledfar　away　from　me；　and　I　had　never　known　him。　None　know　what　willhappen　in　the　future。〃　And　then；　in　ungodly　despair；　she　castherself　down　into　the　deep　rocky　gulf。　The　spell　was　broken；　a　cryof　terror　escaped　her；　and　she　awoke。

The　dream　was　over；　it　had　vanished。　But　she　knew　she　had　dreamtsomething　frightful　about　the　young　Englishman；　yet　months　hadpassed　since　she　had　seen　him　or　even　thought　of　him。　Was　he　stillat　Montreux；　and　should　she　meet　him　there　on　her　wedding　day？　Aslight　shadow　passed　over　her　pretty　mouth　as　she　thought　of　this；　andshe　knit　her　brows；　but　the　smile　soon　returned　to　her　lip；　and　joysparkled　in　her　eyes；　for　this　was　the　morning　of　the　day　on　which　sheand　Rudy　were　to　be　married；　and　the　sun　was　shining　brightly。　Rudywas　already　in　the　parlor　when　she　entered　it；　and　they　very　soonstarted　for　Villeneuve。　Both　of　them　were　overflowing　withhappiness；　and　the　miller　was　in　the　best　of　tempers；　laughing　andmerry；　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　thethree　joyous　travellers　reached　Villeneuve。　After　dinner；　the　millerplaced　himself　in　the　arm…chair；　smoked　his　pipe；　and　had　a　littlenap。　The　bridal　pair　went　arm…in…arm　out　through　the　town　and　alongthe　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　thegloomy　castle　of　Chillon；　were　reflected　in　the　clear　flood。　Thelittle　island；　on　which　grew　the　three　acacias；　lay　at　a　shortdistance；　looking　like　a　bouquet　rising　from　the　lake。　〃How　delightfulit　must　be　to　live　there；〃　said　Babette；　who　again　felt　the　greatestwish　to　visit　the　island；　and　an　opportunity　offered　to　gratify　herwish　at　once；　for　on　the　shore　lay　a　boat；　and　the　rope　by　which　itwas　moored　could　be　very　easily　loosened。　They　saw　no　one　near；　sothey　took　possession　of　it　without　asking　permission　of　any　one；　andRudy　could　row　very　well。　The　oars　divided　the　pliant　water　like　thefins　of　a　fish…　that　water　which；　with　all　its　yielding　softness；　isso　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　foamfollowed　in　the　wake　of　the　boat；　which；　in　a　few　minutes；　carriedthem　both　to　the　little　island；　where　they　went　on　shore；　but　therewas　only　just　room　enough　for　two　to　dance。　Rudy　swung　Babette　roundtwo　or　three　times；　and　then；　hand…in…hand；　they　sat　down　on　alittle　bench　under　the　drooping　acacia…tree；　and　looked　into　eachother's　eyes；　while　everything　around　them　glowed　in　the　rays　of　thesetting　sun。

The　fir…tree　forests　on　the　mountains　were　covered　with　a　purplehue　like　the　heather　bloom；　and　where　the　woods　terminated；　and　therocks　became　prominent；　they　looked　almost　transparent　in　the　richcrimson　glow　of　the　evening　sky。　The　surface　of　the　lake　was　like　abed　of　pink　rose…leaves。

As　the　evening　advanced；　the　shadows　fell　upon　the　snow…cappedmountains　of　Savoy　painting　them　in　colors　of　deep　blue；　while　theirtopmost　peaks　glowed　like　red　lava；　and　for　a　moment　this　light　wasreflected　on　the　cultivated　parts　of　the　mountains；　making　them　appearas　if　newly　risen　from　the　lap　of　earth；　and　giving　to　thesnow…crested　peak　of　the　Dent　du　Midi　the　appearance　of　the　fullmoon　as　it　rises　above　the　horizon。

Rudy　and　Babette　felt　that　they　had　never　seen　the　Alpine　glowin　such　perfection　before。　〃How　very　beautiful　it　is；　and　whathappiness　to　be　here！〃　exclaimed　Babette。

〃Earth　has　nothing　more　to　bestow　upon　me；〃　said　Rudy；　〃an　eveninglike　this　is　worth　a　whole　life。　Often　have　I　realized　my　goodfortune；　but　never　more　than　in　this　moment。　I　feel　that　if　myexistence　were　to　end　now；　I　should　still　have　lived　a　happy　life。What　a　glorious　world　this　is；　one　day　ends；　and　another　begins　evenmore　beautiful　than　the　last。　How　infinitely　good　God　is；　Babette！〃

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

〃Earth　has　no　more　to　bestow；〃　answered　Rudy。　And　then　came　thesound　of　the　evening　bells；　borne　upon　the　breeze　over　the　mountainsof　Switzerland　and　Savoy；　while　still；　in　the　golden　splendor　of　thewest；　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　bewholly　mine；　my　own　sweet　wife。〃

〃The　boat！〃　cried　Babette；　suddenly。　The　boat　in　which　they　wereto　return　had　broken　loose；　and　was　floating　away　from　the　island。

〃I　will　fetch　it　back；〃　said　Rudy；　throwing　off　his　coat　andboots；　he　sprang　into　the　lake；　and　swam　with　strong　efforts　towardsit。

The　dark…blue　water；　from　the　glaciers　of　the　mountains；　was　icycold　and　very　deep。　Rudy　gave　but　one　glance　into　the　water　beneath；but　in　that　one　glance　he　saw　a　gold　ring　rolling；　glittering；　andsparkling　before　him。　His　engaged　ring　came　into　his　mind；　but　thiswas　larger；　and　spread　into　a　glittering　circle；　in　which　appeared　aclear　glacier。　Deep　chasms　yawned　around　it；　the　water…drops　glitteredas　if　lighted　with　blue　flame；　and　tinkled　like　the　chiming　ofchurch　bells。　In　one　moment　he　saw　what　would　require　many　words　todescribe。　Young　hunters；　and　young　maidens…　men　and　women　who　had　sunkin　the　deep　chasms　of　the　glaciers…　stood　before　him　here　inlifelike　forms；　with　eyes　open　and　smiles　on　their　lips；　and　farbeneath　them　could　be　heard　the　chiming　of　the　church　bells　ofburied　villages；　where　the　villagers　knelt　beneath　the　vaultedarches　of　churches　in　which　ice…blocks　formed　the　organ　pipes；　and　themountain　stream　the　music。

On　the　clear；　transparent　ground　sat　the　Ice　Maiden。　She　raisedherself　towards　Rudy；　and　kissed　his　feet；　and　instantly　a　cold；deathly　chill；　like　an　electric　shock；　passed　through　his　limbs。　Iceor　fire！　It　was　impossible　to　tell；　the　shock　was　so　instantaneous。

〃Mine！　mine！〃　sounded　around　him；　and　within　him；　〃I　kissed　theewhen　thou　wert　a　little　child。　I　once　kissed　thee　on　the　mouth；　andnow　I　have　kissed　thee　from　heel　to　toe；　thou　art　wholly　mine。〃　Andthen　he　disappeared　in　the　clear；　blue　water。

All　was　still。　The　church　bells　were　silent；　the　last　tone　floatedaway　with　the　last　red　glimmer　on　the　evening　clouds。　〃Thou　art　mine；〃sounded　from　the　depths　below：　but　from　the　heights　above；　from　theeternal　world；　also　sounded　the　words；　〃Thou　art　mine！〃　Happy　was　hethus　to　pass　from　life　to　life；　from　earth　to　heaven。　A　chord　wasloosened；　and　tones　of　sorrow　burst　forth。　The　icy　kiss　of　death　hadovere　the　perishable　body；　it　was　but　the　prelude　before　life'sreal　drama　could　begin；　the　discord　which　was　quickly　lost　in　harmony。Do　you　think　this　a　sad　story？　Poor　Babette！　for　her　it　wasunspeakable　anguish。

The　boat　drifted　farther　and　farther　away。　No　one　on　theopposite　shore　knew　that　the　betrothed　pair　had　gone　over　to　thelittle　island。　The　clouds　sunk　as　the　evening　drew　on；　and　it　becamedark。　Alone；　in　despair；　she　waited　and　trembled。　The　weather　becamefearful；　flash　after　flash　lighted　up　the　mountains　of　Jura；　Savoy；and　Switzerland；　while　peals　of　thunder；　that　lasted　for　many　minutes；rolled　over　her　head。　The　lightning　was　so　vivid　that　every　singlevine　stem　could　be　seen　for　a　moment　as　distinctly　as　in　thesunlight　at　noon…day；　and　then　all　was　veiled　in　darkness。　Itflashed　across　the　lake　in　winding；　zigzag　lines；　lighting　it　up　onall　sides；　while　the　echoes　of　the　thunder　grew　louder　and　stronger。On　land；　the　boats　were　all　carefully　drawn　up　on　the　beach；　everyliving　thing　sought　shelter；　and　at　length　the　rain　poured　down　intorrents。

〃Where　can　Rudy　and　Babette　be　in　this　awful　weather？〃　said　themiller。

Poor　Babette　sat　with　her　hands　clasped；　and　her　head　boweddown；　dumb　with　grief；　she　had　ceased　to　weep　and　cry　for　help。

〃In　the　deep　water！〃　she　said　to　herself；　〃far　down　he　lies；　as　ifbeneath　a　glacier。〃

Deep　in　her　heart　rested　the　memory　of　what　Rudy　had　told　her　ofthe　death　of　his　mother；　and　of　his　own　recovery；　even　after　he　hadbeen　taken　up　as　dead　from　the　cleft　in　the　glacier。

〃Ah；〃　she　thought；　〃the　Ice　Maiden　has　him　at　last。〃

Suddenly　there　came　a　flash　of　lightning；　as　dazzling　as　therays　of　the　sun　on　the　white　snow。　The　lake　rose　for　a　moment　like　ashining　glacier；　and　before　Babette　stood　the　pallid；　glittering；majestic　form　of　the　Ice　Maiden；　and　at　her　feet　lay　Rudy's　corpse。

〃Mine！〃　she　cried；　and　again　all　was　darkness　around　the　heavingwater。

〃How　cruel；〃　murmured　Babette；　〃why　should　he　die　just　as　theday　of　happiness　drew　near？　Merciful　God；　enlighten　myunderstanding；　shed　light　upon　my　heart；　for　I　cannot　prehend　thearrangements　of　Thy　providence；　even　while　I　bow　to　the　decree　ofThy　almighty　wisdom　and　power。〃　And　God　did　enlighten　her　heart。

A　sudden　flash　of　thought；　like　a　ray　of　mercy；　recalled　her　dreamof　the　preceding　night；　all　was　vividly　represented　before　her。　Sheremembered　the　words　and　wishes　she　had　then　expressed；　that　whatwas　best　for　her　and　for　Rudy　she　might　piously　submit　to。

〃Woe　is　me；〃　she　said；　〃was　the　germ　of　sin　really　in　my　heart？was　my　dream　a　glimpse　into　the　course　of　my　future　life；　whose　threadmust　be　violently　broken　to　rescue　me　from　sin？　Oh；　miserable　creaturethat　I　am！〃

Thus　she　sat　lamenting　in　the　dark　night；　while　through　the　deepstillness　the　last　words　of　Rudy　seemed　to　ring　in　her　ears。　〃Thisearth　has　nothing　more　to　bestow。〃　Words；　uttered　in　the　fulness　ofjoy；　were　again　heard　amid　the　depths　of　sorrow。

Years　have　passed　since　this　sad　event　happened。　The　shores　of　thepeaceful　lake　still　smile　in　beauty。　The　vines　are　full　of　lusciousgrapes。　Steamboats；　with　waving　flags；　pass　swiftly　by。Pleasure…boats；　with　their　swelling　sails；　skim　lightly　over　thewatery　mirror；　like　white　butterflies。　The　railway　is　opened　beyondChillon；　and　goes　far　into　the　deep　valley　of　the　Rhone。　At　everystation　strangers　alight　with　red…bound　guide…books　in　their　hands；　inwhich　they　read　of　every　place　worth　seeing。　They　visit　Chillon；　andobserve　on　the　lake　the　little　island　with　the　three　acacias；　and　thenread　in　their　guide…book　the　story　of　the　bridal　pair　who；　in　the　year1856；　rowed　over　to　it。　They　read　that　the　two　were　missing　till　thenext　morning；　when　some　people　on　the　shore　heard　the　despairing　criesof　the　bride；　and　went　to　her　assistance；　and　by　her　were　told　ofthe　bridegroom's　fate。

But