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Blicher; Jens Baggesen; Christian Winther; and Baroness Knorring"> +<meta name="Translator" content="Mrs. Bushby"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="Richard Bentley"> +<meta name="Date" content="1864"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I +(of 3), by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. I (of 3) + A Series of Popular Stories by the Best Danish Authors + +Author: Various + +Translator: Mrs. (Anna S.) Bushby + +Release Date: October 23, 2011 [EBook #37831] +Last Updated: May 3, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANES SKETCHED BY THEMSELVES, VOL I *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/danessketchedbyt01bush<br> +digitized by University of Toronto.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>BENTLEY'S</h2> +<h1>POPULAR WORKS.</h1> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<h4>One Shilling and Sixpence.</h4> + +<p class="continue">Tales from Bentley, Vols. 1, 2, 3, and 4.</p> +<br> + +<h4>Two Shillings and Sixpence.</h4> + +<p class="continue">What to do with the Cold Mutton.</p> +<p class="continue">Everybody's Pudding Book; or, Puddings, Tarts, &c., for all the Year +round.</p> +<p class="continue">The Lady's Dessert Book. By the Author of 'Everybody's Pudding +Book.'</p> +<p class="continue">Nelly Armstrong. A Story of Edinburgh Life.</p> +<p class="continue">Rita: an Autobiography.</p> +<p class="continue">The Semi-Detached House. Edited by Lady Theresa Lewis.</p> +<p class="continue">The Semi-Attached Couple. By the same Author.</p> +<p class="continue">The Ladies of Bever Hollow. By the Author of 'Mary Powell.'</p> +<p class="continue">Village Belles. By the same Author.</p> +<p class="continue">Easton. By Hon. Lena Eden.</p> +<p class="continue">The Season Ticket.</p> +<p class="continue">Notes on Noses. By Eden Warwick.</p> +<p class="continue">Salad for the Social. Books, Medicine, Lawyers, the Pulpit, &c.</p> +<p class="continue">Say and Seal. By the Author of 'Wide Wide World.'</p> +<br> + +<h4>Three Shillings and Sixpence.</h4> + +<p class="continue">Quits. By the Author of 'The Initials.'</p> +<p class="continue">Anthony Trollope's The Three Clerks.</p> +<br> + +<h4>Four Shillings.</h4> + +<p class="hang1">Dr. M'Causland's Sermons in Stones; or, Scripture confirmed by +Geology.</p> +<p class="continue">Lady Chatterton's Translations from Plato.</p> +<p class="continue">Julia Kavanagh's Madeline, a Tale of Auvergne. Gilt edges.</p> +<br> + +<h4>Five Shillings.</h4> + +<p class="continue">The Ingoldsby Legends; or, Mirth and Marvels. 58th Thousand.</p> +<p class="hang1">Francatelli's Cook's Guide. 100 Recipes and 40 Woodcuts. 15th +Thousand.</p> +<p class="hang1">Bentley Ballads. The best Ballads and Songs from Bentley's +Miscellany. 5th Thousand.</p> +<p class="continue">Lord Dundonald's Autobiography, with Portrait. 6th Thousand.</p> +<p class="hang1">Anecdotes of Animals. A Boy's Book, with eight spirited +Illustrations by Wolff. Handsomely bound, with gilt edges.</p> +<p class="hang1">Ellet's Lives of Women Artists of all Ages and Countries. A Girl's +Book. Handsomely bound, gilt edges.</p> +<p class="continue">Mrs. Ellis' Mothers of Great Men.</p> +<p class="continue">Hayes' Arctic Boat Voyage. Beautifully bound.</p> +<p class="hang1">Lamartine's Celebrated Characters. Nelson, Cromwell, Tell, Bossuet, +Milton. &c.</p> +<p class="hang1">Smith's Anecdotes of the Streets of London, and of their more +Celebrated Residents.</p> +<p class="continue">Colonel Graham's History of the Art of War.</p> +<p class="hang1">Dr. Maginn's Shakespeare Characters, Polonius, Falstaff, Bottom the +Weaver, Macbeth, Hamlet, &c.</p> +<br> + +<h4>Six Shillings.</h4> + +<p class="continue">Ned Locksley. With two Illustrations.</p> +<p class="continue">The Last of the Cavaliers. With two Illustrations.</p> +<p class="continue">The Initials. With two Illustrations.</p> +<p class="continue">Mrs. Wood's East Lynne.</p> +<p class="continue">------------The Channings.</p> +<p class="continue">------------Mrs. Halliburton's Troubles.</p> +<p class="continue">Buckland's Curiosities of Natural History, First Series.</p> +<p class="continue">-------------------------------------------Second Series.</p> +<p class="hang1">Wilkie Collins' Notes taken afoot in Cornwall; or, Rambles beyond +Railways.</p> +<p class="continue">Mignet's Life of Mary Queen of Scots. Two Portraits.</p> +<p class="continue">Guizot's Life of Oliver Cromwell. Portrait.</p> +<p class="continue">James' Naval History of Great Britain. 6 vols. 6<i>s</i>. each.</p> +<p class="continue">Timbs' Anecdote Lives. With Illustrations. First Series, Statesmen.</p> +<p class="continue">-----------------------Second Series, Painters.</p> +<p class="continue">-----------------------Third Series, Wits and Humourists.</p> +<p class="continue">-----------------------Fourth Series, Wits and Humourists.</p> +<p class="continue">Rev. Herman Douglas' Jerusalem the Golden, and the Way to it.</p> +<p class="hang1">Thiers' History of the Great French Revolution. 5 vols. 6<i>s</i>. each, +with 41 exquisite Engravings.</p> +<p class="continue">Dr. Stebbing's Lives of the Principal Italian Poets.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE DANES</h1> +<br> +<h2>Sketched by Themselves.</h2> +<br> +<h3>A SERIES OF POPULAR STORIES BY THE BEST<br> +DANISH AUTHORS,</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>TRANSLATED BY MRS. BUSHBY.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>IN THREE VOLUMES.--VOL. I</i>.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>LONDON:<br> +<span class="sc">RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET.<br> +1864</span>.</h3> + +<hr class="W10" style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px"> + +<h5>[<i>The right of Translation is reserved</i>.]</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,<br> +AND CHARING CROSS.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="continue">Most of the following stories have appeared, from time to time, in the +'New Monthly Magazine,' and a few in other periodicals. They are now +gathered together, and it is hoped that they may convey a favourable +impression of the lighter literature of Denmark,--a country rich in +genius, science, and art.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS OF VOL. I.</h2> +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_cousin" href="#div1_cousin"><span class="sc">Cousin Carl</span></a>.--By Carl Bernhard.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_doomed" href="#div1_doomed"><span class="sc">The Doomed House</span></a>.--By B. S. Ingemann.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_felon" href="#div1_felon"><span class="sc">The Felon's Reverie</span></a>.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_morten" href="#div1_morten"><span class="sc">Morten Lange</span></a>. A Christmas Story.--By Hans Christian Andersen.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_tale" href="#div1_tale"><span class="sc">A Tale of Jutland</span></a>.--By S. S. Blicher.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_secret" href="#div1_secret"><span class="sc">The Secret Witness</span></a>.--By B. S. Ingemann.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_agnete" href="#div1_agnete"><span class="sc">Agnete and the Merman</span></a>.--By Jens Baggesen.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_waking" href="#div1_waking"><span class="sc">A Waking Dream</span></a>.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_confessional" href="#div1_confessional"><span class="sc">The Confessional</span></a>.--By Christian Winther.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_ancestress" href="#div1_ancestress"><span class="sc">The Ancestress; or, Family Pride</span></a>.--From the Swedish of the late +Baroness Knorring.</p> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div1Ref_man" href="#div1_man"><span class="sc">The Man from Paradise</span></a>.--By Hans Christian Andersen.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>THE DANES</h1> + +<h2>Sketched by Themselves.</h2> + +<hr class="W20"> + +<h2><a name="div1_cousin" href="#div1Ref_cousin">COUSIN CARL.</a></h2> + +<h3>FROM THE DANISH OF CARL BERNHARD.</h3> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>PART I.</h3> + +<p class="normal">When I was a young man about twenty years of age, I was a sad +hair-brained fellow. I lived entirely in the passing hour, the time +gone by was quite forgotten, and about the future I never took the +trouble to think a moment. Inclined to every possible species of +foolish prank, I was always ready to rush headlong into any kind of +frolic--anything that promised fun, even if that were a row; and never +did I let slip the opportunity of amusing myself. I was a living proof +that proverbs are not always infallible; for if 'bought wit is best,' +that is to say, wisdom bought by experience, I must have become wise +long ago; if 'a burned child or a scalded cat dreads the fire,' I was +singed and scalded often enough to have felt some dread; and 'to pay +the piper' had frequently fallen upon me. But I was none the wiser or +more prudent. This preface was necessary in order to introduce the +following episode of my mirth-loving youthful days.</p> + +<p class="normal">My father thought that the best way of breaking off my intimacy with a +somewhat riotous clique of young men, in whose jovial society I passed +a good deal of my time, was to send me to Hamburg, where I was placed +in the counting-house of a merchant, who was expected to keep a strict +watch over me, on account of his well-known reputation for the most +rigid morality; as if one could not find pleasant society in Hamburg if +one were inclined to be gay! Before fourteen days had elapsed, I had at +least three times outwitted the worthy man's vigilance, and twice out +of these three times had not got home till close upon the dawn of day, +without having been engaged in any fray; a pretty fair evidence that I +sought good company, where the risk of getting a drubbing existed +between the hours of one and three. But fate spread her protecting hand +over me, and at the expiration of a year I returned safe and sound to +Copenhagen, bringing back with me much experience in all manner of +jolly diversions, and no small desire to carry my knowledge of them +into continued practice.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was of course destined to be bound hand and foot with the +counting-house chains; but before putting them on I obtained leave to +take a month's holiday in the country, and visit my uncles and my aunts +in various parts of Zealand. One fine afternoon in the month of +September, I sought out a common conveyance, such as is used by the +peasantry, to take me the first few miles of my journey; and with my +knapsack in my hand I was standing in the court-yard of the inn ready +to step into the rustic carriage, when a servant entered the court and +asked if there were any opportunity for Kjöge.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That person standing there is going straight to Kjöge,' said the +ostler of the inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant touched his hat. 'Here is a letter which it is of great +consequence to my master should reach Kerporal's Inn at ----, where a +private carriage will be waiting for him; he is not able to go where he +is expected, as he has been taken ill. I would give the letter to the +driver, but fear he might lose it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, let me have it,' said I. 'I will be your master's messenger. +What is his name?' He mentioned a name quite unknown to me. I pocketed +the letter, and drove off.</p> + +<p class="normal">My usual good luck did not attend me on this journey. In general I +seldom drove a mile without meeting with some little adventure, if no +better than taking up a passenger on the road, or mystifying some +good-natured countryman, or playing the fool with some coquettish +barmaid; but this time everything seemed bewitched, and I was tired to +death. The Kjöge road is the stupidest of all possible roads--the +wayfarers are too ragged and dirty for anyone to venture to take them +up, the peasantry are deeper than coal-pits in cunning, and the +barmaids are either as ugly as sin or engaged to the tapsters and +cellarmen--in both cases disqualified for the situations they fill. I +was dreadfully <i>ennuyé</i>, and, as if to add to my despair, one of the +horses became lame, and they proceeded leisurely, step by step, at a +snail's pace.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whoever has felt as weary of his own company on a journey as I did, if +he will put himself in my place, will not think it strange that I +sometimes got out of the vehicle and walked, sometimes jumped in again, +sometimes sang, sometimes whistled, sometimes thrust my hands into my +pockets playing with everything there, then dragged them out and +buttoned up my coat. But all this impatient rummaging in my pockets did +no good to the stranger's letter, which became so crushed and crumpled +that at last I discovered with some dismay that it looked more like a +scrap of soiled paper than a respectable letter. It was in such a +condition that it would be scarcely possible to deliver it--it was +really almost in tatters. There was nothing to be done but to gain a +knowledge of its contents, and deliver the same verbally to the +coachman. Luckily the person who had sent it did not know who I was.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the help of a little conjecture, I at length extracted from the +maltreated epistle pretty much what follows:--</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">'<span class="sc">Dear Uncle</span>,--I have duly received your esteemed favour of the 7th +instant, and see by it that my father had informed you of my arrival in +Copenhagen by the steam-boat, and that you are so good as to say you +would send your carriage to meet me on the 11th, about seven o'clock in +the evening, at Kerporal's Inn, in order to convey me from thence to +your house. A severe cold, which I caught on the voyage, obliges me to +keep my room for the present, and to put off my visit to your dear +unknown family for eight days or so. In making this communication I beg +to assure you of my sincere regret at the delay, and to offer my best +compliments to my beautiful cousins.' Then came one or two inflated and +pedantic paragraphs, and the letter was subscribed</p> + +<p style="text-indent:40%">'Respectfully yours,</p> + +<p style="text-indent:50%">'Carl.'</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The short and the long of the matter was that he would come in a week, +being detained by a bad cold. 'Well, these interesting communications +can be made in a few words to the coachman. It is surprising how much +paper people think it necessary to waste when they want to trump up a +reason for not doing anything!' With this sage remark I threw the +letter down on the road, where it must speedily have become utterly +illegible, for--one evil more--a shower came on, and it soon increased +till the rain fell in torrents. Misfortunes, it is said, never come +alone; on the contrary, pieces of good fortune seldom come in pairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length we approached Kerporal's Inn. It was pouring of rain, it was +eight o'clock, and it was already almost dark. A travelling-carriage +was waiting under a shed, and its horses were stamping as if with +impatience at a long detention. The gifts of fortune are surely very +unequally distributed, methought, as I reflected on the solitary +journey before me, and that it was impossible I could reach my uncle's +parsonage until very late at night.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To whom does that carriage belong?' I asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It belongs to the Justitsraad,<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a> at ---- Court,' replied the +coachman. This place was situated about a mile<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> from my uncle's +house.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh! then it is you who are waiting for a gentleman from Copenhagen?' +said I.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, sir. And since you are the gentleman, we had as well set off as +fast as we can. The horses are baited, and we shall have no better +weather this evening, sir,' said the coachman.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Done!' thought I. 'This is not such a bad idea. I shall get so far dry +and snugly; I can get out at the gate, or else carry the message +myself. People are so hospitable in the country that they will surely +offer me a night's lodging, and at an early hour to-morrow I shall +proceed on foot to my uncle's house.' So the journey was not to be +ended without an adventure.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is pleasant to exchange a hard, wet conveyance, little better than a +cart, which goes crawling along, for a comfortable carriage getting +over the ground at a brisk pace; so I yielded to the temptation, and +deposited myself in the latter, whilst I envied the pedant who could +travel in such luxurious ease to beautiful unknown cousins--I who had +neither equipages nor cousins--and he could stay at home to take care +of his cold! <i>I</i> would not have done that in <i>his</i> place. The three +miles<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> were soon got over--in fact, they did not seem more than one +mile to me; for during the two last I was fast asleep, the carriage +having rocked me into slumbers as gently as if it had been a cradle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly it stopped, and as suddenly I awoke in a state of utter +unconsciousness as to where I was. In a moment the door was opened, +lights and voices around bewildered me still more, and I was almost +dragged out of the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is he--it is cousin Carl!' was shouted in my ears, and the circle +pressed more closely around me.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was at ---- Court. I was about to execute my commission in the best +manner I could, and make some apology for having brought the message +myself instead of having delivered it to the coachman, when I spied a +charming-looking little cousin, who thrust her pretty head forward with +evident curiosity. How pretty she was! I could not take my eyes off of +her, and stood staring at her for a moment in silence; but during that +moment's silence I had been kindly welcomed by the family as 'Cousin +Carl'--I who was only his unworthy messenger. Was I not in luck?</p> + +<p class="normal">The Justitsraad carried me straight to the dining-room, and they sat +down immediately to table, as if their repast had been retarded on my +important account. I know not how I carried off my embarrassment; every +moment my situation was becoming more and more painful; my spirits +sank, and my usual effrontery ... ah! it failed me at the very time +that I needed it most.</p> + +<p class="normal">We were quite a family party. There were but the uncle; his wife, who +was a pleasant, good-looking, elderly lady, apparently about fifty; +cousin Jettè, who was pale and silent, but seemed very interesting; +cousin Hannè, the charming little Venus who had caused my awkward +position; and cousin Thomas, a lanky, overgrown boy, about twelve years +of age, with long arms in jacket-sleeves too short for them. From sheer +flurry I ate as if I had not seen food for a fortnight, and with each +glass I emptied down my throat I started in my own mind one plan after +another to escape from the dilemma into which my thoughtlessness had +plunged me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am very glad to see that you do not make strangers of us, but really +are eating heartily,' said the Justitsraad as he filled my plate for +the fifth time. 'I can't bear to see young men, or anyone, under +restraint in my house; here everyone must do exactly as if he were at +home. I am very glad you are not sitting like a stick, or looking as if +you were afraid of us and of the viands before you. And now let us +drink to your happy return to your native land. I am pleased to see +that you are able now to pledge one in a glass of wine. When you were a +boy, you had every appearance of turning out a regular milksop. But, to +be sure, eleven years make great changes in everybody.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I drank to the health of my father and mother, then to the welfare of +the whole family, and then a special toast to cousin Jettè's health, +which was proposed by her father himself. When we were about to drink +it, he nodded to me with an air of intelligence, as if we were +<i>d'accord</i> with each other; but the pretty cousin scarcely touched the +glass with her lips, and did not vouchsafe me a single glance; it +seemed as if she were far from pleased at the compliment paid her. +Cousin Hannè, who sat near me, filled my glass every time it was empty, +and she had so industriously employed herself in this manner, that my +head was beginning to be a good deal confused.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And now it is time to go to bed, my children!' said the Justitsraad. +'It is late; to-morrow we will hear all that your cousin has to tell +us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I was on the point of requesting a moment's private conversation with +him; but the moment for doing so passed away unseized--in the next it +was no longer possible. The family bade each other good night, a +servant showed me to my room, and I was left to my reflections. The +reflections of a harum-scarum fellow of one-and-twenty! You are right, +dear reader, they certainly were not worth much. Hannè's pretty face +and the Justitsraad's good wine had taken a somewhat potent effect upon +my brain; I hastened to seek repose, and, like the Theban tyrant, +deferred grave business till the morrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">But I could not fall asleep, for conscience plagued me; it is its +custom to wake up when everybody is sleeping, and without the least +mercy it compelled me to listen to its lectures. It became so +importunate that it drove me out of bed, and induced me to admit that +it would be better to jump out of the window, and carry my baggage on +my shoulders to my uncle's parsonage, than to be treated to-morrow as +an impudent puppy--<i>that</i> I should not so much mind--but also as a +scamp of an impostor who had palmed himself upon them for the sake of +obtaining a drive and a good supper gratis--<i>that</i> I should mind a +great deal, for it would touch my honour. It is thus one reasons at +twenty-one.</p> + +<p class="normal">It rained no longer, but it was as dark as pitch. Darkness would favour +my intention; but how was I to find my way in a place utterly unknown +to me? I determined to keep awake till the dawn of day, then take +myself off, and leave the family to make inquiries about the cousin, +until the real one thought fit to recover from his cold. But that +little Hannè's charming face, was I never to behold it again? Well, it +was very foolish to have come there, but after all, it would be still +more foolish to remain.</p> + +<p class="normal">I left a little piece of my window open, and sat down near it in order +to watch for the first streaks of daylight. I had, however, a long time +to wait, for it was just half-past twelve o'clock. As I sat there, +fretting at myself for my folly, I heard something or some one, +stirring beneath the window, and a moment afterwards among the branches +of a tree close by. It was some person climbing the tree, but his visit +was not intended for me, for he crept up much higher, and appeared to +have mounted to a level with an upper window, as one was opened very +gently and cautiously. Ah! an assignation! a secret appointment!</p> + +<p class="normal">It is really an advantage to have a tender conscience; without that I +should have been fast asleep, and should never have known what was +going on so near me. But who could it be? Could cousin Thomas, though +only twelve years of age, be making love to one of the housemaids? Let +us listen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For God's sake make no noise!' said a whispering voice at the window +above mine. 'He has arrived; he occupies the room just below, and he +can hardly be asleep yet.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The light has been extinguished for at least half an hour,' replied +the voice in the tree. 'Such an ape has nothing to wake or watch for.'</p> + +<p class="normal">An ape, forsooth! as if I were not quite as wide awake as himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear Gustav, think of my distress,' continued the voice at the window; +'my father drank my health at table, and nodded to him in such a +significant manner! Oh, how I hate that man! Tomorrow, perhaps, he will +begin to treat me as his betrothed; my father will give him every +opportunity, and he will take upon himself to be intimate, and to make +me presents. Oh! how unhappy I am!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You see, dearest Jettè, this is the consequence of our silence; if we +had spoken to him before the accursed cousin came here, perhaps your +father might have been persuaded to have given up this absurd childish +betrothal.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No--no; he would never have done that,' replied Jettè; 'he is too much +attached to his brother; and he will do everything in his power to have +the agreement fulfilled, which eleven years ago they entered into with +each other at their children's expense.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why did not that man break his neck on the way! Such fellows can +travel round the whole world without the slightest accident ever +happening to them,' said Gustav. 'But he may, perhaps, repent coming +here; I shall pick a quarrel with him, I will call him out, he shall +fight with me, and either he or I shall be put out of the way.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'May God protect you, my dearest Gustav!' exclaimed my cousin. 'But how +can you have the heart to frighten me with such threats? Am I not +wretched enough? Would you increase the burden that is weighing me down +to the grave? I see nothing before me but misery and despair; no +comfort--no escape.' Poor Jettè was weeping; I could hear how she +sobbed in her woe. I now perceived why the poor girl had been so pale +and distant--I was betrothed to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Forgive me, dearest girl! I hardly know what I am saying; but take +comfort, do not weep so bitterly. Heaven will not desert us, and we +shall find some means of softening your father; besides, no rational +man would wish to obtain a wife upon compulsion. If he has the least +pride or spirit, he will himself draw back.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, Gustav! if there were any chance of his drawing back, he would not +have come here. His father wrote that he was coming expressly to claim +his--his promised rights; and that--and that we should learn to know +each other before the wedding. We had been betrothed for eleven years, +he wrote, and it was time that ... No! I cannot think of it without +despair.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What sort of looking person is he? Is he handsome? Whom does he +resemble?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is not in the least like what he was as a boy, he is very much +changed; he has improved very much in looks, and, indeed, may be called +handsome now.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a girl with a good taste,' thought I; 'I wish I could help her +out of her troubles.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Handsome!--I congratulate you, Miss Jettè--handsome people generally +make a favourable impression, and by degrees one becomes quite +reconciled to them, and pleased with them--don't you think so?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The lover grasped the branch nearest him so roughly in his anger, that +he made the whole tree shake.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gustav! are you in earnest?' exclaimed Jettè, in a tone of voice that +would have gone to the heart of a stone, if stones had hearts.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dearest, dearest Jettè! Sweet, patient angel!' He stretched himself so +far out from the tree that I think he must have reached her hand and +kissed it.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed, you have no reason to be jealous of him,' said Jettè, 'for one +quite forgets his being handsome, when one observes how awkward he is. +He does not seem to be at all accustomed to society; he eats like a +shark, and you should have seen how he drank. Hannè amused herself in +filling his glass, and I do believe that for his own share alone he +emptied two bottles of wine. And he never uttered a single word. Oh! he +is my horror--that man; but my father seems pleased with him, and +praised him after he had left the room. Dear Gustav! how unfortunate we +are!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Should I allow these imputations to rest upon me? A blockhead--a +glutton--and a drunkard! And cousin Hannè had been making a fool of me, +forsooth!--the little jade, with her pretty face. I was certainly in a +pleasant position.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will speak to your father to-morrow,' said Gustav, after a little +consideration. 'He is very fond of you, he will not be deaf to our +prayers, or expect impossibilities from you. What can he bring forward +against me? I shall soon be in a position to maintain a wife, my family +are quite on an equality with his own, my father is not poor, and my +situation in life is now, and always will be, such, that I can satisfy +any inquiry he can make into it. Deny then no longer your consent, +dearest Jettè; let us no longer conceal our attachment from him, and +depend on it all will go well.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, Gustav! you do not know my father. He will positively insist that +I shall fulfil this engagement. Vows are sacred in his eyes, and he +himself has never broken his word. When I gave that promise I was but a +child, and I wore the plain gold ring without ever reflecting that it +was a link of that never-to-be-broken chain which was to bind me to a +life of misery. Oh, God, have mercy upon me!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Doubt not <i>His</i> help, my beloved girl! He will spread His protecting +hand over us, even if all else shall fail us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The sorrowing lovers whispered then so softly that I could not overhear +what further they said, but I concluded they were comforting each +other. The first streak of day cast a pale line of light across the +tops of the trees and the roofs of the outhouses near. It was almost +time for me to commence <i>my</i> flight, but everything must be quiet +first. I gathered together my effects with as little noise as possible. +The conversation on the outside recommenced, and I approached the +window impatiently.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How long is he going to stay here?' asked Gustav.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I do not know; perhaps only a few days. Alas! my only hope is in him,' +replied Jettè. To-morrow I shall have a private conversation with him, +which, of course, will lead to an explanation. I will make an +appointment with him in the garden,--if you will promise me not to be +jealous,' added Jettè, with a degree of archness in her tone which +enchanted me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is hard that my rival is to be my sheet anchor,' said Gustav; 'but, +since it must be so, speak to him, dearest. However, if that fails, +then, my sweet girl, then ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then I promise you ... But what noise is that? I thought I heard some +one stirring. For God's sake go! Let no one see you here!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'To-morrow night, then, at one o'clock. Farewell, dear Jettè.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Then came a kiss. Was it on the hand or the lips?</p> + +<p class="normal">'Take care how you get down. To-morrow night. Adieu till then!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The faithful knight-errant swung himself from branch to branch with an +adroitness which proved that he was experienced in that mode of +descent. As soon as he set foot on the ground the window above was +closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was now my turn to get into the trees. Gustav had taught me that +trick. I wondered what sort of a looking fellow he was. Poor Jettè--to +have chosen for herself, and yet to be condemned to be sacrificed to a +man who could begin a letter about his intended bride with, 'I have +duly received your esteemed favour of the 5th instant,' and who could +absent himself from such a charming girl, merely because he had a +slight cold! Well! it is a wretched world, this, in which we live. It +was becoming more and more light. To-day she wished to have a private +conversation with me--her only hope was in me; there was to be an +explanation between us, an assignation in the garden. Who the deuce +could run away from all this? But.... Well! nobody knew me--the real +cousin was not coming for a week ... surely I might stay <i>one</i> day on +the strength of personifying him? I am a fatalist; destiny has sent me, +and it will aid me.... I will not forsake Jettè ... and I will revenge +myself upon that little Mademoiselle Hannè, who wanted to drink me +under the table, and I will show the whole accomplished family that I +have studied good manners in Hamburg, and am neither a blockhead, a +glutton, nor a drunkard. It is a matter that touches my honour; I will +stay!... But ... suppose they take it into their heads to question me? +Humph! If the worst comes to the worst, I can but stuff a little linen +into my great-coat pocket, make a pretext to get outside the gate, and +take to flight at once. In the meantime, I will make some inquiries +about the neighbourhood and the roads, for at present I have not the +most remote idea whether I ought to turn to the right hand or the left. +And to-morrow night--good-by to this darling family, with many thanks +for their kind welcome. Whilst they are all sleeping, or keeping +nocturnal assignations, I shall vanish without leaving the slightest +trace behind. It will give them something to talk of till Christmas.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst this monologue was in progress of utterance, I was busily +undressing myself. I jumped into bed, and soon slept as soundly as if I +had a lawful right to be there, and were the dreaded cousin himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when I was summoned to breakfast next morning I was in a very +different frame of mind. I had slept off the effects of the wine, sober +reason had resumed her sway, fear followed at my heels like a bad +spirit; and I would assuredly have made my escape if the well-dressed +valet-de-chambre had left me a moment to myself. I was compelled to +resign myself to my fate, and allow myself to be marshalled to the +breakfast-parlour; but as I approached the scene of my threatened +exposure, despair restored my courage, I remembered that it was +incumbent on me to wipe out the disgrace of the preceding evening, and +I found my habitual impudence and lightness of heart upon the very +threshold of the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">I went up to them all, and shook hands with them, and as I now knew +that I was engaged to Jettè, I kissed her hand with all possible +amorous gallantry. The poor girl looked as if she could have sunk into +the earth, and I coloured up to my temples, for I just recollected that +I had on no betrothal ring. Jettè wore the plain gold ring I had heard +her mention, but it was almost hidden by another ring, with a simple +enamelled 'Forget-me-not.' Might not <i>that</i> have been a gift from the +unknown Gustav?</p> + +<p class="normal">'How are you this morning, my dear?' said the Justitsraad. 'Jettè has +not been very well lately,' he added; 'she looks poorly, and has no +appetite. It must be that abominable <i>nervousness</i>, of which young +ladies now-a-days are always complaining.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè assured him that she felt quite well. I doubted if her mother or +her sister were so much in her confidence as I was at that moment; but +neither of them had been sitting at an open window between twelve +o'clock at night and three o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first all went on smoothly, for the conversation was on the safe +subjects of wind and weather; but a change for the worst was coming.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now, nephew, tell us something about the old people yonder. How is my +brother looking?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Extremely well, uncle. He is looking quite fresh.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But the gout--the gout in his feet? that sticks to him yet--and it is +not the most pleasant of companions.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, yes--the gout! But he is accustomed to that.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And your mother?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'She is also well, only she is getting older every day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah! that is what we are all doing. And aunt Abelonè? How goes it with +her?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'She is very well too.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What! <i>very well</i>--with her broken leg! Why, you must be joking?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh dear, no! I ... I only meant to say as well ... as well as anyone +can be with a broken leg,' I stammered out. In truth, I knew nothing +about, and cared as little for, Abelonè's mishap.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Listen to that madcap. He speaks of a broken leg as if it were +absolutely a trifling matter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The danger was over for a moment, but another attack soon followed. I +had scarcely swallowed a cup of tea, before my <i>soi-disant</i> uncle +demanded from me a particular account of the new system of agriculture +my father had introduced on his property--I, who did not even know +where that property lay! But this time his wife came to the rescue, for +she declared that we could discuss systems of husbandry when we were +strolling in the fields together, or out hunting, and that she and her +daughters did not take much interest in agricultural questions.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, we will talk of this another time,' said the Justitsraad. 'But +tell us at present something of your travels. Women-folk are always +pleased to hear adventures of travellers. You have visited Paris, +Berlin, Vienna, and many other places. A man who has travelled so much +might talk for a whole month without being at a loss for a subject.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Very well did I know that I had never beheld a single building either +in Paris or Berlin, except in engravings. What was I to say? I busied +myself in getting up a good tale.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Upon my word, nephew, I should not suspect you of being very bashful; +but if you don't like to speak of your travels, let them alone, my +boy,--everybody shall do as he likes in my house. Many years ago, I +remember, I went to Hamburg, and when I came home I almost tired +them all out by describing what I had seen. But I suppose it is +old-fashioned now to make any comments on what one has witnessed +abroad.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Here was a piece of good luck. I knew Hamburg as well as my own +pockets, and now I was like my uncle after <i>his</i> return. There was no +end to my descriptions and anecdotes. The old man seemed to take real +delight in hearing about all the alterations which had been made in the +old town since the days of his youth, inquiring often for places which +no longer exist. I endeavoured to make my discourse as amusing as +possible. Cousin Thomas rested his elbows on the table, listened with +open mouth, and laughed outright several times; my aunt often let her +knitting-needle fall, to look at the pencil sketches with which I was +illustrating my descriptions; cousin Jettè looked less sourly at me +than before; and Hannè--the pretty, coquettish, little Hannè--for whose +sake I was sitting apparently so much at my ease among them, was +unwearied in her queries about the Hamburg ladies, fashions, and +theatres. Happily these had been the objects of my most intense study.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I perceive now, that when once his tongue is set a-going, he has +plenty to say,' remarked my worthy uncle. 'How long were you in +Berlin?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Nay; stop, uncle! we are at Hamburg just now. I have still a great +deal to tell about that city. Everything should be arranged in due +order. Today I will confine myself to Hamburg; to-morrow we shall +travel to Berlin.' 'Catch me here tomorrow,' thought I to myself; 'if I +only can get through to-day, I will take French leave before we come to +Berlin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Come! since you give such a good reason, we will let you off Berlin +just now. I am a lover of order myself, and here everything goes by +clockwork. During the first part of the morning every one must look out +for himself; at twelve we meet for luncheon--at three o'clock we dine. +Amuse yourself in the mean time as well as you can; you will find +plenty of books in the library--yonder hang fire-arms--and in the +stables there are horses at your service; do exactly as if you were at +home, and take care of yourself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will take a turn in the garden,' said I, with a glance at Jettè--one +of those looks <i>d'intelligence</i> from which I expected great things; but +she took no notice of it, and I was under the necessity of remarking, +that being a stranger I did not know the way. But even this opening for +a <i>tête-à-tête</i> she allowed to pass, and I could not imagine how she +intended to bring about our secret conference.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A stranger!' cried my uncle. 'But true, in eleven years one forgets a +great deal. Let me see--how old were you then? you are three-and-twenty +now ... twelve years of age you were; who could have guessed then that +you would have become such a free-and-easy, off-hand sort of a fellow? +Well, let him be shown the grounds, children. Thomas must go to his +studies; my wife has her household matters to attend to; Jettè, you +must ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I really am not able, my dear father--I have a dreadful headache,' +said the poor timid girl. And she looked as if she spoke nothing but +the truth,--she was so pale, and her eyes were so red.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A woman's malady,' said her father, looking vexed; 'it is, of course, +incumbent on you to ... Well; all that will vanish when you are better +acquainted. <i>We</i> know what these qualms mean,' he added, turning +towards me. I nodded, as if I would have said--<i>Sat sapienti</i>. 'Have +you also got a headache, Hannè? Are you also suffering from +nervousness? or can you stand the fresh morning air, my girl?' he +asked. I looked eagerly at the little gipsy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh! I can endure the fresh morning air very well,' she replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then take charge of your cousin Carl, and show him round the garden +and the shrubberies; and don't forget the pretty view from the rising +ground where the swing is.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The Justitsraad held out his hand to me, and I pressed it with all the +warmth of sincere gratitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Come, cousin,' said Hannè. 'Shall we call each other by our first +names, or not? But we can settle that as we go along.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake, let us call each other by our baptismal names, else +we should not seem like cousins. Don't you think so, uncle?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are of my own people, my boy. Always be merry and frank--that is +my motto. I am right glad that you have not adopted the stiff German +manners. Your father was always very grave; but you have rubbed off all +that solemnity abroad, I am happy to see.'</p> + +<p class="normal">In my delight at the promised stroll with Hannè, I forgot that it was +my duty to kiss Jettè's hand on leaving her. Just as I had reached the +door I suddenly remembered it; and rushing back, I went through the +salutation in the speediest manner possible, expressing at the same +time my hope to find her better on my return. They all laughed, and +even Jettè could not help smiling,--there was something so comical in +my hurried return, and equally hurried performance of the ceremony +etiquette demanded.</p> + +<p class="normal">Was I not right in calling myself a madcap? Here was I actually walking +with the charming little Hannè all over the grounds! I--her pretended +cousin; I--who ought to have been sent to the House of Correction, for +having, under another man's name, presumed to thrust myself into the +midst of a respectable family; I--who had committed, a positive +depredation, and broken the sacred privacy of a seal;--here was I +wandering about arm-in-arm with the Justitraad's daughter at ---- +Court, the captivating, innocent, beautiful little Hannè; I--who +deserved to be driven away with all the dogs on the estate at my heels! +Well! goodness and justice do not always carry the day in this world!</p> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>PART II.</h3> + +<p class="normal">When I looked at my companion I was almost appalled at my audacity. +Think of the face you love the best in this world--the face that you +never can behold without a beating heart--which you dwell on with +rapture, which is the object of your waking and your sleeping dreams! +Ah! quite as charming as such looked Hannè in her pink gingham +morning-dress, with a little blue handkerchief tied carelessly round +her throat, and a becoming white bonnet. She was irresistible!</p> + +<p class="normal">We strayed here and there like two children; plucked flowers to teach +each other their botanical names; gathered a whole handful to commence +a herbarium, and threw them away again to chase some gaudy butterfly. +Then we sauntered on slowly, and Hannè communicated many little things +to me of which she thought her cousin ought to be informed; and at +length I began to fancy that I actually was the real cousin Carl. Of +all the young girls that ever I beheld, Hannè was the most delightful; +such grace, such vivacity, such naïveté, were not to be met with either +in Copenhagen or in Hamburg.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is a pity Jettè could not accompany you,' said she; 'but to-morrow, +probably, her headache will be gone.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I assured her that I did not regret Jettè's absence, since I had <i>her</i> +company.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a pretty declaration from a bridegroom who has allowed himself +to be waited for eleven years,' said Hannè.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Jettè did not look as if she were glad at my arrival.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must not think anything of that; she has looked out of spirits for +a month past, at least: she is apt to be melancholy at times, but it +passes off. Her character is sedate. She is much better, therefore, +than I am, or than anyone I know. You can hardly fancy how good she +is.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But I want a lively wife, for I am myself of a very gay disposition,' +said I.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is not what we thought you were,' replied my fair companion. 'We +always looked upon you as a quiet, grave, somewhat heavy young man, and +you have been described to us as a most tedious, wearisome person. I +used often to pity Jettè in my own mind; for a stupid, humdrum man is +the greatest bore on earth. But I do not pity her anymore, now.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I could have kissed her, I was so pleased.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So you thought of me with fear and disgust, you two poor girls? Pray, +who painted my portrait so nicely?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, your own father did; and the letter which you wrote Jettè when +she was confirmed, and when you sent her the betrothal-ring, did not at +all improve our opinion of you. I'll tell you what, Carl; that was a +miserable epistle. It was with the utmost difficulty that my father +prevailed on Jettè to answer it, when she was obliged to send you a +ring in return. However, you were little more than a boy then--it is +long ago, and it was all forgotten when we never heard again from you. +I can venture to affirm that Jettè has not thought six times about you +in the six years that have elapsed since that time--and perhaps this is +lucky for you. It was not until your father wrote us that you had come +home, and until he began to bombard Jettè with presents and messages +from you, that you were mentioned again among us; but my father never +could bear our laughing at your renowned epistle.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I listened with the utmost avidity to every little circumstance that +could elucidate the part I had taken upon myself to play. In this +conversation I learned more than I could have gathered the whole +morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is very absurd to betroth children to each other. What should they +know of love?' said Hannè.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is more than absurd, Hannè; it is positive barbarity. It is +trampling the most sacred feelings and rights under foot.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Nevertheless you may thank God for that barbarity,' said she; 'without +it you would never have got Jettè. She has plenty of admirers.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed! And who are they, if I may take the liberty of asking? You +make me quite jealous.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, I have observed that both the young clergyman at ---- Town and +Gustav Holm are much attached to her. And Jettè has no dislike to +Gustav.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who is Gustav Holm? He appears to be the most dangerous.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is learning farming, or rather, I ought to say, agricultural +affairs, with a country gentleman not far from this. He has been coming +to our house now about three years; I think, and I could wager a large +sum, that it is for Jettè's sake.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Or for your own, little Hannè?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pshaw! nonsense! If anyone were dangling here after me, I should make +no secret of it. Jettè is a greater favourite than I am, and she +deserves to be so.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But perhaps Jettè cares more for Gustav Holm than for me, whom she +really does not know?'</p> + +<p class="normal">One often asks a question in this hypocritical world about what one +knows best oneself.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, oh no! That would be a sad affair. Has she not been engaged to you +for eleven years, and is she not going to be married to you?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But if you had been in Jettè's place, how would you have felt?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I would perhaps have preferred ... No, I don't think I would though. +But I am not so mild and amiable as Jettè; and the day that I was +confirmed no one should have imposed a betrothal-ring upon me, I can +assure you, sir; and, least of all, accompanied by such an elegant +billet as yours.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hannè picked up a blade of grass, formed it into a string, and twisting +it round her finger in an artistic manner, made it into a knot.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Can you make such?' said she.</p> + +<p class="normal">I tried it, but could not succeed, and she took hold of my hand to do +it for me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But how is this, Carl?' she exclaimed. 'Where is your betrothal-ring?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is ... I have ... I wear it attached to a ribbon round my neck; ... +it annoyed me to have to answer the many questions it was the cause of +my being asked. Therefore I determined to wear it near my heart.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It annoyed you! Did ever anyone hear such an assertion? Jettè has +faithfully worn hers, and placed a "<i>Forget-me-not</i>"; into the bargain +by its side, to remind herself, I suppose, not to forget you. But <i>you</i> +found it a bore, even to be asked if you were engaged! Such gallants as +you do not deserve to be remembered. But come now, I will show you a +beautiful view.'</p> + +<p class="normal">We passed together through a charming shady wood, where several paths, +diverging among the trees, crossed each other. Hannè walked before, +light and graceful as Diana in her fluttering drapery; I followed her, +like the enamoured Actæon. Alas! the resemblance would soon become +stronger, I thought--how soon might I not be discovered, driven forth +as a miserable intruder, and delivered over to regret and remorse, +which would prey upon me, and tear me to atoms, as the hounds tore +Actæon!</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon a rising ground stood a swing, the posts of which towered above +the tops of the trees, and the erection looked at a distance like a +gallows. From this spot the view was very extensive--a number of +country churches could be seen from it, and among others that of my +uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But why have you placed that gallows upon this lovely spot?' I asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gallows! No one ever presumed to give such an appellation to my swing +before,' said Hannè, angrily. 'If it were not very uncivil, I would say +that it evinces an extremely debased and disordered state of the +imagination to make a gallows out of my innocent swing.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl spoke the absolute truth. It will hereafter come to be called +gallows, thought I--and tomorrow my fair fame will hang dangling there, +as a terror and a warning to all counterfeit cousins.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But never mind, cousin, I did not mean to be so sharp with you. Don't, +however, let my father hear you say anything disparaging of this place; +he would not so easily forgive you. Come, you shall atone for your sin +by swinging me,' added Hannè, as she settled herself in the swing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, Hannè! would that I could as easily atone for all my sins towards +you!'</p> + +<p class="normal">I could have swung her for a lifetime, I do believe, without becoming +weary of gazing at her; but she compassionately stopped, fancying I +must be tired.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will be quite fatigued, poor fellow--it would be a shame to make +you work longer,' said she. 'Get in, and you shall find that the swing +stands in a good situation; that is to say, if you are not afraid of +the gallows,' she added, as she made room for me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For your sake, I would not shun even the gallows,' said I, as I sprang +up.</p> + +<p class="normal">The swing went at full speed; it was pleasant to be carried thus over +the tops of the trees, and behold the earth as if stretched out beneath +one's feet. I felt as if in heaven. I was flying in the air with an +angel.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How delightful this is!' I cried, throwing my arm round Hannè's waist.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What, to be on a gallows? But pray hold on by the rope, cousin, and +not by me. Now let us get down--we have had enough of this pastime.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have an earnest prayer to make to you, dear Hannè,' I said, seizing +her hand. 'Listen to me before we leave this place. I foresee that the +swing, at least in your recollection, will retain the name I +accidentally gave it. Promise me that you will come here when you hear +evil of me, and doubt my honour, and that you will then remember that +it was here I entreated you to judge leniently of the absent. Fate +plays strange tricks with us, dear Hannè; it throws us sometimes into +temptations which we are too weak to withstand. Promise me that you +will not condemn me irrevocably, although appearances may be against +me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The lovely girl looked at me for a moment with surprise and +earnestness, and then suddenly burst into an immoderate fit of +laughter; another moment, and my confession would have been made.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I promise you,' said she, 'that I shall come here and think of you as +well as you deserve--that is to say, if I have nothing else to do, and +nothing else to think of. But at present I have no time to spare for +gallows'-reflections, the bell is ringing for luncheon, and my father +likes us to appear punctually at table.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè did not come down to luncheon, her headache confined her to her +room, poor girl! I felt very sorry for her, and when I reflected that +my principal, whose unworthy messenger I was, would torment her still +more, my heart really grieved for her. The family were very cheerful, +and it was long since I had been among so pleasant and sociable a +little party. Alas! half the day was now gone, and when the other half +were passed it would be all over with my enjoyments.</p> + +<p class="normal">After luncheon, cousin Thomas came to me and begged that I would go out +with him for a few hours' shooting, the afternoon being his time for +exercise and amusement. I wished to be on good terms with all the +family, and therefore accepted his invitation; besides, I thought he +might be in a talkative humour, and that I might be able to extract +from him some particulars of their domestic history. We took a couple +of guns and sallied forth. I had already become so hardened that I +did not feel the slightest twinge of conscience at thus abusing the +open-hearted confidence of twelve years of age. 'Give the Devil an +inch, and he will take an ell,' says the proverb.</p> + +<p class="normal">But cousin Thomas was too keen a sportsman to have ears for anything +except sporting anecdotes, and I soon began to grudge the time I had +wasted upon him. There was no help for me, however. I was in for it, +and I had to follow him from one moor to another, removing myself every +moment farther from his father's abode.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who is that person yonder?' I asked by mere chance, only not to seem +quite silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where? Oh! that is Gustav Holm,' said Thomas. 'He is coming, I dare +say, from Green Moor--the very best moor in the whole neighbourhood.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We must speak to him.--Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm! Good morning, Mr. Holm.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The person thus hailed stopped for a moment, and then came up to us. I +forthwith introduced myself as a newly-arrived relative of the family +at ---- Court, and he cast on me the pleasant glance with which one +generally eyes a rival.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What sort of sport have they to-day at Green Moor?' I asked; and I +attacked him with questions and stuck to him like a burr, though I saw +that he would fain have got rid of me. But that was impossible. Mr. +Holm was exceedingly chary of his words; therefore if either was a +blockhead, as I had been described the night before, it was he rather +than I.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will do poor Jettè a service while I can,' thought I; and I invited +Mr. Holm to return with us to ---- Court. 'You visit at my uncle's, I +think,' I added; 'it strikes me that I have heard my cousin speak of +you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He grew as red as fire, poor fellow.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I don't think little Hannè will pick a quarrel with me because I beg +you to accompany us home,' said I, slily; and the luckless lover became +still more embarrassed. He tried to excuse himself, but I would take no +denial; he was obliged to give way, and in triumph I brought my +prisoner back with me. 'Thomas will bear witness to the ladies how much +trouble I had in prevailing on you to come, and they will therefore the +more highly appreciate your self-sacrifice,' said I.</p> + +<p class="normal">When we reached the gate, he tried again to negotiate for his freedom, +but Thomas found his reluctance so amusing, that he would not allow him +to make his escape. Giving way at length, he exclaimed,</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are going to afflict your party with a tiresome addition, for I +have a dreadful headache to-day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will feel better when you have dined,' I replied; 'and if you +would like to have some sal volatile, you can get some from my +<i>fiancée</i>; she has a headache also to-day. There must be something in +the air to cause it, since you are similarly affected.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Holm evidently writhed under my mode of treatment; and at the term +<i>fiancée</i> he looked as if I had trodden heavily upon his corns. It was +certainly very trying, but I had comfort in the background for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Neither the Justitsraad nor his wife seemed to be much pleased at the +arrival of their unexpected guest; nevertheless, they received him +politely, and assigned to him a place at table between them. He could +not have demanded a more honourable seat. Thomas was inexhaustible in +his descriptions of Mr. Holm's unwillingness to give himself up as a +captive, and how clever he had been in securing him. Poor Jettè dared +hardly look up from her plate.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mr. Holm ought to know that he is always welcome,' said the +Justitsraad; but it was evident that the remark was the result of good +breeding, rather than of any cordial pleasure he had in seeing him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Very true, uncle; that is just what I said. Hannè spoke of him to me +so highly this morning, that I really became quite eager to make his +acquaintance. The friends of the family must also be my friends. I knew +right well that Hannè would not be angry at me if I brought him home +with me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I! What did I say?' exclaimed Hannè, colouring deeply. 'How can you +make such an assertion? I believe ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That I am a sad gossip, and never can keep to myself what I hear--I +confess the truth of the impeachment.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Her parents looked at her with surprise; Jettè cast an inquiring glance +towards her, and Gustav forced a smile. Hannè was very angry, but her +wrath did not last long; time was precious to me, and I speedily +effected a reconciliation with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I do verily believe that you are not quite sober to-day, Carl,' said +Hannè in a whisper to me, when we rose from table.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Truth to tell, Hannè, I am not, but that is your fault. Why did you +try to make me drink myself under the table last night? It is only a +judgment from Heaven on you; those who dig a pit for other people often +fall into it themselves.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hark ye, cousin! I am very near wishing that you had been in reality +as stupid a nonentity as we were given to understand you were.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What if you should be taken at your word? You may get your wish more +easily than you imagine; by this day week the transformation may have +been brought about; see if you don't wish me back again then.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Her father took my arm, and proposed adjourning to the garden with our +cigars. I had nearly fled the field at this invitation, so much did I +dread a <i>tête-à-tête</i> with him; nothing on earth could have detained me +but the expected secret meeting with Jettè, whose good genius I was to +be. I felt that I could almost rather have faced his Satanic Majesty +himself at that moment, had the choice between the two companions been +mine; but what was I to do? There was nothing for it but to accompany +my host quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Listen, my son,' said the old gentleman, when we had exhausted our +first cigars; 'I cannot say I am much pleased at your having brought +that Mr. Holm back with you. He is a very respectable young man, but +... Why should we encumber ourselves with him?... To speak out, you +should have been the last person to have brought <i>him</i> to this house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'<i>I!</i> How so? I really had planned to make him one of my most intimate +friends. Hannè said so much in his favour.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hannè does not care a straw for him--she is only a child.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A child! and on the 12th of November she will be seventeen years old! +No, no, uncle, girls give up thinking themselves children when they +arrive at ten years of age.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But I tell you, Hannè does not care in the least for him; nor does he +for her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Very well, uncle, so much the better, for there is no sort of danger +then in his coming here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Danger! Oh! I don't look upon him as at all dangerous; but I can't +bear to see him looking so woe-begone.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I shall soon enliven him. Only leave him to me, and you will see that +he shall become quite gay. I will take him in hand if he can come here +every day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Confound the fellow! I must just tell you plainly out then--he is a +great admirer of Jettè. Do you understand me now?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'May I ask how you know that, sir?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How I know that?... Well ... No matter how. Suffice it to say, I know +it. Jettè cannot endure him, that I know also; but his sighs might make +some impression on her, so it were better that he kept entirely away. +Besides, if he gets no encouragement, his fancy will wear out. Don't +you agree with me that he had better not come here?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I can't call it a sin to be in love with Jettè, for I am so myself; +she is a girl that it would be impossible not to admire. If we were to +drive away every one who was guilty of admiring her, we should be +compelled at last to live as hermits.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What the devil, nephew! Do <i>you</i> say all this--you, who are to be her +future husband?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'One must be somewhat liberal, uncle--one must seem not to observe +everything. Suspicion does a great deal of harm, and jealousy would +only encourage the evil. Jettè shall find me as gentle as a lamb. +Besides, you have assured me that she cannot endure him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well!... Perhaps she does not exactly hate him ... she has no +particular fault to find with him ... but he embarrasses her ... he +embarrasses her ... and when a person embarrasses one ...' The good man +had got into a dilemma, and he was not able to get out of it; so he +stopped short.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh! that will pass off when she accustoms herself to see him. It is a +great misfortune to let oneself be embarrassed by the presence of +others; really, after a time this would lead one to become a +misanthrope--a hater of one's species.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The Justitsraad looked at me with astonishment, while he replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">'I wish you had not gone on your travels; I fear your morality has +suffered not a little in consequence. I hardly knew you again, you are +so much changed. You are not like the same being who, eleven years ago, +was such a quiet, bashful boy. And your father, who constantly wrote +that you were not the least altered, he must scarcely recognize you +himself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is very probable, uncle, for I hardly know myself again. But +travelling abroad is sure always to make some little change in people.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It must have been Berlin that has done the mischief, and made such a +transformation in you; for the letters your father sent me, which you +had written from Vienna, did not in the slightest degree lead me to +imagine that you had become such a hair-brained, thoughtless fellow.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'True enough it is that I am thoughtless and hair-brained, but, believe +me, I have never been guilty of any deliberate wrong. I know I am too +often carried away by the impulse of the moment, and too often forget +what may be the consequences.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'One must make some allowance for youth,' replied the old gentleman. +'So it was at Berlin you studied folly in all its branches--Berlin, +which I had always believed to be a most correct and exemplary city, +whither one might send a young man without the least risk! Well, well! +let us consign to oblivion all the pranks you must have played to have +been metamorphosed from a milksop to a madcap. We must all sow our wild +oats some time or other, and I hope you have sown yours, and are done +with them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, indeed, I fear not; on the contrary, I feel that I am in the midst +of that period; but I promise you that it shall soon be over, and that +then nothing shall tempt me to such follies. As to youthful imprudence, +if it be not carried too far, I shall rely upon your indulgence. Will +you not wink a little at it, and let your kind, generous heart plead +for me when your reason might condemn me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a queer fellow, nephew, and a wild one, I fear; but it is not +possible to be angry with you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Would to Heaven that you may always be inclined to entertain such +friendly feelings towards me!' I replied, as I pressed his hand. There +was good reason for my bespeaking his indulgence; it would be amply +required the very next day.</p> + +<p class="normal">I skilfully managed to bring the subject back to Gustav Holm, and soon +perceived that he had really nothing to say against him. Holm's +position was good in all respects, and the old gentleman would have +considered him a very good match for one of his daughters, if he had +not had another project in his head. But he had set his heart so +entirely on the family alliance, that he could not admit the idea of +any other. In eleven years there had been time for it to become deeply +rooted in his mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">When we sought the rest of the party, we found them all standing round +the swing. Hannè was busy attaching a piece of paper to one of the +poles.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What are you doing there, child?' asked her father.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is Carl's name which I am putting on the gallows, as a +well-deserved punishment for all the follies of which he has been +guilty in word and deed to-day,' she replied, continuing her +employment. 'Only think, he disgraced my swing by pretending to mistake +it for a gallows. So there stands his name; and there it shall stand, +to his eternal shame and reproach, and in ridicule of him when he is +gone. We must have something to recall him to our recollection.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Nemesis,' thought I, 'already!' I was as much moved inwardly, as the +worthy emperor, Charles V., must have been when he witnessed his own +funeral. Humph! no one likes jesting about such serious matters. Who +knows in what it might end?</p> + +<p class="normal">We amused ourselves with swinging--we chattered nonsense, or discoursed +gravely--we sauntered about, all together or in groups by turns. Hannè +was the life of the party, and by degrees everyone seemed to partake of +her gaiety. Even Jettè talked more. I had seized on the unhappy lover, +and held him fast by the arm, in the charitable intention of bringing +him near his lady-love, without anyone's remarking his proximity to +her; but the overcautious girl avoided us, and Gustav himself had not +courage to begin a conversation on different subjects. I was quite +distressed about them, poor things! 'We must try what can be done in +the wood,' thought I; 'there are paths enough in it, the party will +become more scattered, and I shall then be able to manage, perhaps, to +get them into some secluded spot.' But our progress was arrested by a +servant, who came to announce that some visitors had arrived.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Visitors!</i> At that word my ears tingled as if all the blood in my +body had rushed up into them. Visitors! I felt sure they would be +betrayers--they would be persons who either knew me, or the real +cousin, and then good-by to my <i>incognito</i>--good-by to the secret +interview! What would become of it when I had to take to flight?</p> + +<p class="normal">'Visitors! How very tiresome,' exclaimed Hannè. The servant mentioned +a name unknown to me; that, as it appeared, of a family in the +neighbourhood. I was not acquainted with them--but the cousin, my other +self ...</p> + +<p class="normal">'Visitors!' I exclaimed, in dismay. 'Do I know them? Will anybody have +the great kindness to tell me if they are acquainted with me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">They all laughed, and assured me that I was not acquainted with them. +It was a family who had only lately settled in the neighbourhood, +having exchanged a property in Jutland for one in Zealand, and with +whom they were themselves but slightly acquainted. I recovered my +spirits, and we turned our steps back towards the house. Gustav seized +the opportunity to make his escape, the Justitsraad made no effort to +detain him, and I was too much occupied with my own affairs to trouble +myself at that moment about those of other people. The poor dear +Jutland family had made a most unseasonable visit.</p> + +<p class="normal">I thanked Heaven that I had never seen them before; and I cannot say +that I should feel any regret at never beholding them more. They were a +set of tiresome bores, who deprived me of the brightest afternoon of my +life, and took the evening also; so that I had reason not to forget +them in a hurry. My cousins had to amuse the silly daughters, the elder +individuals on both sides discoursed together, and it fell to my share +to entertain the son and his tutor. I looked a hundred times at my +watch; I foretold that we were going to have thunder and lightning and +rain in torrents--in short, I left no stone unturned to get rid of them +early--but to no avail; I only reaped jeers and bantering from Hannè +for my pains; and when at length they seemed themselves to think it +expedient to go, she pressed them to stay longer, only to annoy me, and +was mischievous enough to say, 'You surely will not refuse my cousin +his first request to you,' thereby, as it were, making me pronounce my +own doom. It was enough to put one into a rage.</p> + +<p class="normal">We went to supper with all due formality, and for the first time I +remembered that it was my duty to offer my arm to Jettè. She +accompanied me like a lamb led to the sacrificial altar, and took the +earliest opportunity of informing me that her headache had not yet left +her. Headache is an absolute necessity for ladies; I do not know what +they would do if no such thing as headache existed.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not possible to utter a word which could not be overheard by the +tutor, who sat on the other side of her; at length it occurred to me to +engage him in a conversation with Hannè, and with some difficulty I +managed to do this. But fate had no compassion on me that evening. +Presently I heard my real name pronounced by the father of the family +who were visiting us; I felt as much shocked and alarmed as if he had +shouted '<i>Seize that thief!</i>' I had nearly dropped my fork.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is a most respectable man, I can assure you; I recommend you to +send all your corn to him; he is very fair in his dealings. I have +known him for a long time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">It was of my father he was speaking.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I shall consider about it,' said the Justitsraad; 'I do not know the +house myself. And he has a son, you say. Is the son a partner?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It was intended that he should be,' said my personal enemy; 'but he is +such a sad scamp that I think the father will hardly venture to take +him into partnership. He played such foolish, wild pranks at home, that +he was sent to Hamburg; but he did not go on a bit better there, as I +have heard.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am sorry for the poor father,' said the Justitsraad.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A good character is valuable,' thought I. 'Here is the second time +to-day that my name has been stigmatized. Now, both my person and +my name are contraband at ---- Court. Cruel fate!' I became quite +silent--willingly would I also have taken refuge in a headache; there +was enough to give me one, at any rate; and I took leave in the coldest +and most distant manner of the party who had prolonged their visit on +my account.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pray come and see us soon with your betrothed,' said the old wretch +who had made so free with my town character.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was with difficulty that I kept my temper, and poor Jettè seemed +also to be on thorns.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What nice people they are!' exclaimed Hannè; 'the daughters have +promised me to come here at least twice a week. But you were quite +silent and stupid this evening, cousin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It was what you wished me to be in the morning,' I replied; 'I only +conducted myself according to your desire.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let me always find you so obedient. Goodnight! To-morrow I shall +command you to be gay again. That becomes you best, after all.' She +held out her pretty little hand as a token of reconciliation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And I beg of you to come into the grove to-morrow morning, after +breakfast; I wish very much to have a little private conversation with +you,' whispered Jettè, almost in tears, as I kissed her hand. She could +hardly bring herself to pronounce the words; I saw what a pang it cost +her. A warm pressure of her hand was my only reply; she little knew how +friendly my feelings were towards her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So my adventures are not finished even with this day,' said I to +myself as I opened a little of the window in my room; 'shall I make up +my mind to this delay, or shall I take myself off at once! What! leave +poor Jettè in the lurch? Yet how can I help her? What is the use of my +remaining longer here?--I shall but entangle myself still more deeply +in a net of untruth, which will bring me into disgrace. Have I not had +warnings enough--the gallows scene, my Hamburg reputation, and the many +uneasy moments I have passed to-day? I am vexed and annoyed this +evening; it will cost me less, therefore, perhaps, to recover my +freedom tonight than to-morrow night; another day with Hannè will only +make me feel the separation still more acutely. Then, in case of a +discovery, how shall I excuse this prolonged mystification? By +confessing my love for Hannè?--a pretty apology, to be sure! But am I +<i>really</i> in love with her? <i>I</i> in love! and if I were, what would be +the result? Is it at all likely that the Justitsraad would give his +daughter to an impertinent puppy, who had made her acquaintance first +by such an unwarrantable trick--to a "sad scamp" who had only made +himself remarkable by his wild pranks? Or--shall I climb up yon tree, +perch myself like a singing-bird before Jettè's window, make my +confession to her, and then start on my pedestrian journey? Or--shall I +go to bed, and let to-morrow take care of itself? I will consult my +buttons--I will try my fate by them. Let me see: I will ... I will not +... I will ... I will go to bed. ... Aha! I am to go to bed--chance has +so decided it for me. But to go to bed in love! that such a catastrophe +should happen to me! I had thought it was quite foreign to my nature; +however, here I am, up to my ears in love. Ah! why was that little +fairy, Hannè, so bewitching? why were the whole family so frank and +pleasant? It was all their own fault; they forced the cousinship +upon me. Heaven knows I came to them quite innocent of nefarious +designs--fast asleep and snoring--perfectly honourable.... <i>Apropos</i> of +honour, let me close the window; what Gustav and Jettè have to talk +about is nothing to me--it would be very indelicate to play the +listener--wounding to my better feelings. My better feelings! I can't +help laughing at the idea of <i>my</i> being inconvenienced by any symptoms +of honourable, or delicate, or <i>better</i> feelings. It is my cursed +levity and folly that lead me astray; after all, there <i>are</i> honesty +and uprightness in me, <i>au fond</i>, and my heart is in its right place. I +will no longer be the slave of caprice and impulse. I will be something +better than a mere madcap; and here, even here, they shall learn to +speak of me with respect.... Ah! it will be a confounded long time, +however, before I can teach them that ... and ... in the meantime, I +positively am in love.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Having arrived at this conclusion, I betook myself to my couch, and +closed my eyes, at the same time burying my ears in my pillows, not to +overhear any portion of the discourse which was to be carried on about +one o'clock in the morning, on the outside of my window, and also the +sooner to dream of Hannè. I succeeded in both, for I heard or saw +nothing whatsoever of the two unfortunate lovers, and I dreamed of +Hannè the livelong night. The morning was far advanced, when Thomas +thrust his head into my room, and rated me for being as heavy a +slumberer as one of the seven sleepers;--the little wretch! I was at +that moment swinging with Hannè, and would have given the wealth of the +East India Company to have been permitted to end my dream undisturbed.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I entered the breakfast-room they were all at table. Jettè looked +very pale, but she allowed that her headache was better, though she +said she still felt far from well. Hannè and her father teased me +unmercifully about the visitors of the day before, who had put me so +much out of humour, and about my predictions of a thunderstorm +wherewith I endeavoured to drive them away. 'But you are quite an +ignoramus in regard to the weather, cousin; that I perceived,' said +Hannè, 'I shall present you with a barometer on your birthday, so that +you may not make such mistakes again as that of yesterday evening. +Which is the important day?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is quite old-fashioned to keep birthdays, Hannè; that custom has +been long since exploded,' said I, 'and therefore I am not going to +tell you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But we are very old-fashioned here, and you will be expected to do as +we do in respect to keeping birthdays. First, let me refresh your +memory. When is my birthday?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'On the 12th of November you will be seventeen years of age.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Right. And Jettè's? How old will she be her next birthday?'</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a trying examination, but it was well deserved; why had I not +taken myself off the night before, when I could so well have made my +escape?</p> + +<p class="normal">'Come, begin; tell us Jettè's birthday, and my father's, and my +mother's? Let us have them all at once. Now we shall see whether you +are skilled in your almanac.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Are you seriously bent on this examination? Do you fancy I have +forgotten one of them?' I asked, in an offended tone. 'I will not +answer such questions.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This was one way of escaping. When do people most easily take offence? +Answer: When they are in the wrong.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I see how it is,' said Hannè; 'as it annoys you to be asked if you are +betrothed, it probably annoys you to be expected to remember the +birthday of her to whom you are engaged. Only think,' she added, +addressing the rest of the party, 'he does not wear his betrothal-ring, +because he does not like answering any question to which his having it +on his finger might give rise. As if it were a question of conscience.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'So it may be, sometimes,' I replied. 'But since questioning is the +order of the day, I beg to ask why <i>you</i> wear that little ring on your +finger?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I never gratify impertinent curiosity,' said the little devil, +colouring up to the very roots of her hair. She seemed very much vexed, +and turned angrily away.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now--now--children! can you never agree?' said the Justitsraad. 'You +two will be getting into quarrels every moment, that I foresee; you +resemble each other too much; it is from the absolute similarity +between you that you cannot be in peace.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You flatter me very much, uncle,' said I; 'would that it were really +so.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I say nothing of the kind,' cried Hannè; 'I beg to decline the +compliment. Gentlemen full of whims are my aversion. But, happily for +both of us, you are not engaged to me. Jettè is much too good--she will +put up with your bad habits.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè smiled kindly to her, and that seemed immediately to appease her +wrath. She ran to her sister, kissed her, and said, 'For your sake I +will bear with him; but believe me, you will not make an endurable +husband of him if you do not begin in time to drive his caprices out of +him. He should be accustomed to do as he is bid, and answer the +questions that are put to him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Both Jettè and myself turned our faces away to conceal our confusion. +Hannè held out her hand to me. 'Do you repent of your sins?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With my whole heart.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Will you beg pardon, and promise henceforth to be better?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes. I confess that I am a great sinner, but I humbly beg pardon, and +will try to do better for the future.' So saying, I pressed a long, +long kiss on her hand; I could hardly get my lips away from it.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So--that is enough. Now go and beg Jettè's pardon, because you have +been naughty in her presence; and,' she added, 'kiss her hand +prettily.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I did so.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Very well. But I don't think you have ever kissed her as your +betrothed yet. Let me see you go through that ceremony, properly too.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Poor Jettè became crimson at this challenge, which did not in the least +embarrass me.</p> + +<p class="normal">I felt that it was going a little too far, but what could I do? Dear +reader! I was compelled to kiss the young lady--do not judge of me too +severely because I did it. But I obeyed the command in as formal a +manner as possible; it was scarcely a kiss, yet it burned on my lips +like fire; as to how it burned my conscience--well, I will say nothing +of that.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is really quite timid,' exclaimed Hannè, who stood by with her +hands folded, watching the performance of her command; 'I did not +expect such an assured young gentleman to be so ceremonious; one would +think it were his first essay!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And peace being now restored and sealed,' said the Justitsraad, 'I +hope it will be a Christian, a universal, and an eternal peace, both +for the present and the future; that is to say, at least till you fall +out again. And in order that such may not be the case for a few hours, +we will leave the ladies, nephew, and pay a visit to the new horse I +bought the other day. We shall see if you are as good a judge of horses +as you are of the Hamburg theatricals.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You really should give poor Carl some peace,' said my considerate +aunt; 'you will make him quite tired of us all. One insists +upon catechizing him as to dates, another as to his veterinary +knowledge--there is only wanting that I should attack him about +culinary lore. You shall not be so plagued by them, Carl: as to the +horse it was my husband's own choosing; and if you should not instantly +discover, by looking at its teeth, that it is young and handsome, and +has every possible good quality, you will be called an ignoramus.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Any how he may be called that,' said Hannè; 'but I forgot, peace has +been proclaimed, so let my words be considered as unspoken.'</p> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>PART III.</h3> + +<p class="normal">About an hour before luncheon I stole away into the wood to wait for +Jettè, and it was with a beating heart I listened for any approaching +footsteps; had I not kissed her, I should have felt easier in my own +mind. Ought I now to confess to her the impositions of which I had been +guilty? Perhaps it would be better to do so ... But the kiss ... would +she forgive that?</p> + +<p class="normal">I discerned her white dress a good way off, and I almost felt inclined +to hide myself, and let her take the trouble of finding me; but again I +bethought me that it was not the part of the cavalier to be shamefaced +in a secret assignation. I therefore went forward to meet her. As soon +as she caught a glimpse of me, she stopped, and suddenly changed +colour. The poor girl--how sorry I was for her! She could not utter one +word. I led her to a rural seat near.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Cousin,' at length she said, 'it must doubtless surprise you, and +naturally so too, that I should in such a secret manner have requested +an interview with you. If you could conceive how painful this moment is +to me, I am sure you would compassionate me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My dear young lady, I owe you an explanation, and I thank you for +having given me an opportunity ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear cousin, be not offended with me--do not speak to me in that +distant and ceremonious manner--it makes the step more painful which I +am about to take, and which cannot be longer delayed. It is I who owe +you an explanation--alas! an explanation that will deprive me of your +esteem and your friendship. I am very unhappy.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not weep so, dear cousin; you cannot imagine how it grieves me to +see you so miserable. Believe me, I have your happiness sincerely at +heart. You little know what delight it would give me if I were able to +say to myself that I had contributed to it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The double signification which my words might bear drew forth more +tears. Jettè cried, without making any reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">'There is comfort for every affliction,' I continued. 'God has +mercifully placed the antidote alongside of the poisonous plant. Tell +me, at least, what distresses you--let me at least endeavour to console +you, even if I cannot assist you, and do not doubt my good will, though +my power may be but limited.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake, Carl, do not speak so kindly to me,' cried Jettè, +with some impetuosity. 'Do not speak thus--I have not deserved it. If +you would be compassionate, say that you hate me--that you abhor me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And if I said so, I should only deceive you. No, Jettè, my +complaisance cannot go so far.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You would hate me--you would despise me!' she exclaimed, sobbing, 'if +you only knew ... oh! I shall never be able to tell ... if you only +knew ... how unfortunate I am ... how I ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear Jettè,' said I, in some agitation, 'you have come to enter into +an explanation with me; allow me to assist your confession, and help to +lighten the burden which weighs so heavily on your heart. You have +come, I know, to break off with me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'<i>You know!</i>' she exclaimed, in consternation. And she seemed as if she +were going to faint. 'Take pity on me, Carl; leave me for a few +minutes; I dare not look you in the face.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She buried her own face in her pocket-handkerchief, and wept bitterly. +I kissed her hand, and left her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Very much out of spirits myself, I wandered to and fro under the trees.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How is all this to end?' said I to myself; 'the poor girl will fret +herself to death if she cannot have her Gustav, and get rid of her +cousin. Gustav is a fine fellow, and a very good match; even the father +allows that. The cousin must be an idiot to let himself be betrothed by +his father's orders to a girl he knows nothing about--and a tiresome +one too, according to what is reported of him. Jettè is a girl with a +great deal of feeling--but he must be a clod with none; he can't care +in the least for her, or he would have been here long ere this. He +shall not have her. What, if I were to advise them to run away an hour +or two before I take myself off? or, suppose we were all three to elope +together? Nonsense! How can I think of such folly? Poor girl! it would +melt a heart of stone to see her crying there. What if I were to stay +and play the cousin a little longer--formally renounce her hand--give +her up to Gustav? I should like to act such a magnanimous part ... and +when it was all well over, and the real cousin arrived, to let him find +that he had come on a fool's errand, and go back to nurse his cold ... +or, it might be better to drop him a line by the post to save a scene? +I'll do it. By Jove! I'll do it! The god of love himself must have sent +me here; no man in the wide world could do the thing better than +myself. But what right have I to decide thus the fate of another man--a +man whom I have never even beheld? Right! It is time to talk about +<i>right</i>, forsooth, after I have been doing nothing but wrong for +thirty-six hours. No, no, let conscience stand to one side, for the +present at least; it has no business in this affair. I have acted most +unwarrantably, I know, but I will make up for my misdeeds by one good +deed--one blessing will I take with me; and when I am gone, two happy +persons at least will remember me kindly, and Hannè will be less harsh +in her judgment of my conduct, since it will have brought about her +sister's happiness. Let me set my shoulders to the wheel--there is no +time to lose. No, they shall not all execrate me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè was still sitting on the bench where I had left her. I placed +myself beside her, and tried to reassure her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I said I owed you some explanation; allow me in a few words to tell +you all you wish to communicate. You do not care for me--you love +Gustav Holm--you will be wretched if you cannot find some good pretext +for breaking off the match with me--you have many reasons to love him, +none to love me--you want to let me know how the matter stands, and to +give me a basket,<a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> but to do it in so amicable a manner, that you +hope I will accept it quietly like a good Christian, and not make too +much fuss about it. All this is what you would have told me sooner or +later. Am I not right, Jettè? or is there more you would have entrusted +to me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">She hid her face with her hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My window was partly open the other night,' I added. 'I overheard your +conversation with Gustav Holm, and I knew immediately, of course, what +I had to expect. You will believe, I hope, that I have sufficient +feeling not to wish to force myself upon one who cannot care for me. +Forgive me that I have caused you any uneasiness; it was against my own +will. I would much rather have convinced you sooner that you have no +enemy in me, but, on the contrary, a sincere friend.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dearest, best Carl! Noblest of men! You restore me to freedom--you +restore me to life! The Almighty has heard my prayers! You do not know +how earnestly I have prayed that you might find me detestable.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Therein your prayers have not been heard, Jettè,' said I. 'If you +could have loved me, I could not have wished a better fate. I love you +and Hannè much more than you think.' I felt that every word I had just +spoken was positive truth. Jettè wrung my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have removed a mountain from my heart,' she replied. 'Would that I +could thank you as you deserve!'</p> + +<p class="normal">I was quite ashamed of all the thanks she poured out, and all the +gratitude she expressed. It is an unspeakable pleasure to promote the +happiness of one's fellow-creatures; it is an agreeable feeling which I +would not exchange for any other.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the first burst of joy was over, Jettè consulted with me how it +would be best to break the matter to her father. I told her of his good +opinion of Gustav, and built upon it the brightest hopes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè shook her head. 'He will insist that I shall keep my promise,' +said she, mournfully. 'He will not relinquish a plan which he has +cherished for so many years. How dreadful it is for me to disappoint +him!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Very well, take me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh! do not jest with me, dear Carl. My only dependence is on you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I shall take my departure immediately, and leave a letter renouncing +my engagement to you. That will go far to help you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake, stay! You are the only one who can speak to him,' +said she. 'You have already acquired much influence over him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then let us proceed at once to the <i>éclaircissement</i>. I shall tell him +that I have discovered that your heart belongs to Gustav Holm, not to +me; and that I cannot accept any woman's hand unless her heart +accompanies it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh! what a terrible moment it will be when that is said! I tremble at +the very idea of it. You do not know what he can be when his anger is +thoroughly roused.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then would you prefer to elope with Gustav? Like a loyal cousin, I +will assist you in your escape.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That would enrage him still more; he has always been so kind and +gentle to me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I wish we had Gustav here, that something might be determined on. +These anticipated terrible moments are never so dreadful in reality as +in expectation; you have had a proof of this in the one you have just +gone through.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gustav will be here soon; he knows that I had requested this private +conversation with you ... he will meet me here in the wood ... he will +come when--when....' She stopped, and blushed deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He will come when I am gone,' I said, laughing. 'That was very +sensibly arranged, but the arrangement must be annulled nevertheless, +and he must make the effort of showing himself while I am here. I dare +say he is not many miles off--perhaps within hail. Mr. Holm! Mr. Holm!' +I roared at the top of my voice. 'He knows my manner of inviting him, +and you will see that he will speedily present himself. Good morning, +Mr. Holm!' I added.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For God's sake do not shout so loudly, you will be overheard,' said +Jettè. 'Oh! how will all this end?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Uncommonly well,' thought I. 'Here comes the lover.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Gustav came, almost rushing up; his countenance and manner expressed +what was passing in his mind, namely, uncertainty whether he was to +look on me as a friend or a foe.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gustav--Carl!...' exclaimed Jettè, sinking back on the bench. She +found it impossible to command her voice; but her eyes, which dwelt +with affection on us both, filled up the pause, and expressed what +words would not.</p> + +<p class="normal">I took his hand and led him up to Jettè. He knelt at her feet, she +threw her arms round his neck, while I bent over them, and beheld my +work with sincere satisfaction. There was a rustling in the bushes, and +Hannè and her father stood suddenly before us! The lovers did not +observe them, although I did my utmost by signs to rouse their +attention.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What the devil is all this?' exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a voice of +thunder. 'What does this mean? Carl, what are you doing?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am bestowing my cousinly benediction and full absolution and +remission of sins, as you ought to do, my worthy uncle,' I replied, as +cheerfully as I possibly could. It was necessary to appear to keep up +one's courage. Gustav rose hastily, and Jettè threw herself into her +sister's arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My dear sir!' said Gustav, imploringly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mr. Holm!' cried the Justitsraad, drawing himself up.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear uncle!' I exclaimed, interrupting them both, 'allow me to speak. +Gustav adores Jettè, and she returns his love. There can be no more +question about me; I am her cousin, and nothing either more or less. I +am not such an idiot as to wish to force a woman to be my wife whose +heart is given to another. I have dissolved the engagement between +Jettè and myself, deliberately, and after due reflection. I <i>could</i> not +make her happy, and I <i>will not</i> make her unhappy. There stands the +bridegroom, who only awaits your blessing. Give it, dear uncle, and let +this day become the happiest of my life, for it is the first time I +ever had an opportunity of doing good.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heavens and earth! a pretty piece of work, indeed!' The Justitsraad +was as blustering as a German, and would on no account allow himself to +hear reason. A great deal of his anger was naturally directed against +me. I tried to smooth matters down. Jettè wept and sobbed. It was a +hundred to one against us. 'I shall write to your father this very +day,' he said, at length; 'he only can absolve me from my vow; but that +he will not do--that he certainly will not do on any account. This +marriage has been his greatest wish, for I do not know how many years, +as well as mine.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But he will be obliged to do it,' said I; 'this very afternoon I shall +take my departure, and you shall never hear of me more. My father's +power over me by no means extends so far as you seem to fancy. I will +not make Jettè miserable, merely to indulge his whims. Dear uncle, let +me persuade you to believe that your contract is null and void: give +your blessing to Gustav and Jettè, and leave me to settle the matter +with my father. Feelings cannot be forced. Jettè does not care for me, +and you ought not, in this affair, to be less liberal than I am.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Liberal--liberal indeed! He is always prating about such folly,' +exclaimed the Justitsraad, in a rage. 'It is that abominable Berlin +liberality that has entirely ruined him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Berlin liberality! It was the first time I had ever heard <i>that</i> +bewailed. But what absurd things do people not stumble upon when they +are angry, and speak without reflection.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, it was Berlin that ruined me, according to my uncle, and so +utterly ruined me ... that I am betrothed in Berlin, and cannot be +betrothed again. It is against the law both here and in Prussia to have +two wives.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This was an inspiration prompted by the exigency of the occasion; what +did one untruth more or less signify? I was a Jesuit at that moment, +and excused myself with Loyola's doctrine--that the motive sanctifies +the means.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Betrothed!' exclaimed the Justitsraad--'betrothed in Berlin! Make a +fool of me! Hark ye, Carl ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Betrothed!' interrupted Hannè. 'Upon my word, you are a fine fellow, +cousin. That is the reason he does not wear Jettè's betrothal-ring. And +I to be standing here admiring his magnanimity!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè silently held out her hand to me from one side, Gustav from the +other; these were well-meant congratulations.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, betrothed,' I continued. 'Abuse me at your will, hate me, curse +me, say and do what you please, but betrothed I am, and betrothed I +must remain.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This was a settler. The wrath of the Justitsraad cooled by degrees; +that really kind-hearted man could not withstand so many anxious looks +and earnest prayers; and fear of all the gossip and ridicule to which +his holding out longer under the circumstances might give rise, also +had effect upon him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a sad scapegrace, Carl,' he said, 'and Jettè may be thankful +she is not to have you for her husband; but she shall not be left in +the lurch on account of your foolish freaks.' He took her hand and +placed it in Gustav's, saying, 'You must make up to me for the failure +of those hopes which I have cherished through so many years. But,' he +added, with a sigh, 'what will my brother say when he hears this +history?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè cast herself upon his neck; she almost fainted in his arms; the +rest of us surrounded him. There was no end to embraces and thanks.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And now let us hasten to my mother,' said Hannè; 'the revolution shall +end there. I would not be in your place, cousin, for any money; you +will be soundly rated.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You shall be my advocate, Hannè, and shall defend my case; it is only +under your protection that I dare appear before my aunt. Take me under +your wing--I positively will not leave you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I slipped my arm round her waist, and I think, if I remember aright, I +was going to kiss her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hands off, Mr. Cousin! Now that you are not to be my brother-in-law +you must not make so free. Remember your intended in Berlin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alas! to help others I had injured myself. Hannè, her father, and I +walked on first, the lovers followed us a little way behind. As we came +along we met some of the peasantry on the estate going to their work.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hollo! good people!' cried I to them, 'this evening we must be all +merry, and drink your master's good health, and dance on Miss Jettè's +betrothal-day. Hurrah for Miss Jettè and Mr. Holm!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hurrah!' cried the people. And the declaration was made.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Be quiet, you good-for-nothing!' cried the Justitsraad, 'and don't +turn everything topsy-turvy in a place that does not belong to you. A +feast, forsooth--drink my health, indeed! It is easy for you to be +generous at another's man's expense. I declare the fellow is determined +to take the whip-hand of us all.'</p> + +<p class="normal">My aunt heard the noise, and came out on the steps to ask what was the +matter. I crept behind Hannè and hid myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A complete revolution, my dear, which that precious fellow Carl has +brought about. When the luncheon-bell had rung for some time in vain, +without their making their appearance, Hannè and I went to look for +Jettè and Carl in the wood; I expected to have found him at Jettè's +feet; but instead of him there lay another, and he was actually busying +himself in making up a match between them. Truly, it is an edifying +story. Come in, and I will tell you all about it, and you will see to +what purpose he has travelled. He has betrothed himself in Berlin, +fancy--and very probably in Hamburg, in Paris, in Vienna, wherever he +may have been. He is a fine fellow! A pretty viper we were nourishing +in our hearts!'</p> + +<p class="normal">My aunt was easily reconciled to the course of events, and she gave the +young couple her maternal blessing. But it was me whom they all wanted +for a son-in-law and a brother-in-law. It was very flattering to be +such a favourite; however, as I was not to be had, they received Gustav +(for whom they had a great regard) with open arms. We all became as +sprightly as a parcel of children, and I would have been very happy had +not the many affectionate good wishes for the future welfare of myself +and my unknown <i>fiancée</i> in Berlin fallen like burning drops of molten +lead on my soul, and had I not had constantly before me the remembrance +that I must soon leave this pleasant circle, and for ever! My +proposition to spend that day entirely by ourselves was agreed to, and +orders were given to admit no visitors.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let me but live this day undisturbed to the end,' thought I, 'and I +shall demand nothing more from Fortune, which has hitherto been so kind +to me.' It was a day, the like of which I have never spent. You will, +perhaps, think it strange, dear reader, that my conscience should be so +much at ease; but I must frankly confess that the good action I had +accomplished, and the happiness I had bestowed, had entirely had the +effect of quieting that internal monitor. Jettè was right when she said +that I had already obtained some influence over her father; for I can +positively assert that my sudden and public announcement of the state +of affairs had been taken in good part. I was all activity and +excitement; and my exuberant mirth, which was almost without bounds, +did not permit a serious word, scarcely a serious thought. I obliged +them all to exert themselves, and fly about in order to make +preparations for a little dance in a round summer-house at one end of +the garden: the Justitsraad had to send to the village for two +fiddlers; his wife had to give out sheets and curtains to make hangings +for the walls; the young ladies wove garlands; Gustav and I +manufactured chandeliers out of barrel-hoops and vegetables. Everybody +was set to work, and before the evening the prettiest little ball-room +that could be was arranged; and the people on the estate declared they +had never seen anything so splendid before; 'but, to be sure, there had +never been a betrothal feast in the family before.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a clever fellow, Carl,' said the Justitsraad; 'you have got +this up so prettily and so well, that one might almost give a real +ball. Were it not that I should have my wife and children up in arms +against me, I really fancy I should like a dance. But there would be +too many difficulties in the way.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hannè flew up to her father, and hugged him in her joy; he was taken at +his word, and nothing else was talked of but the ball, which in the +course of eight days was to be given to celebrate Jettè's betrothal.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We will set about writing the invitations at once,' said Hannè; 'there +is an hour or more yet before the people are to begin to dance, and we +have nothing to do. Let us fetch pen, ink, and paper; I will dictate, +and Carl shall write; it will be done directly, almost, and early +to-morrow morning we shall send off the invitations. So, all the +difficulties are overcome. Now, cousin, mend your pen; you write a good +hand,' said Hannè.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Write! No, that I won't,' thought I. 'I shall take good care not to +betray myself by that.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gustav can write what you want; I have hurt my hand,' said I, looking +round; but Gustav and Jettè had both disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How? Let me see,' said Hannè. 'It is not true. Gustav and Jettè have +gone into the garden; we must let them alone; so you shall come, and +you may as well do it at once.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But I have really hurt my finger, Hannè; it is extremely painful. I +shall not be able to make the most wretched pothooks--my finger is +quite swollen.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Or rather you are extremely lazy, and won't take the trouble,' said +Hannè. 'But at least you shall help me to write a list of the people to +be invited, before I forget half of them; I have got them all in my +head just now, and your pothooks are good enough for that. Begin now! +Put down first our neighbours who were here yesterday. Kammerraad<a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a> +Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the tutor. Have +you got them down?' Hannè looked over my shoulder at the paper. 'But +what in the world stands there?' she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Kammerraad Tvede, with his wife, his two daughters, his son, and the +tutor,' I replied. 'These are Greek characters, Hannè; I can write +nothing but Greek with this finger.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But I can't read Greek, you refractory monster!' cried Hannè, +dolefully.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must learn it, then, Hannè. Task for task; if you force me to +write the list, I will force you to read Greek.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That's right, my boy!' exclaimed the Justitsraad, laughing heartily. +'If one gives the girls an inch, they are sure to take an ell; they +would take the command of us altogether, if they could.'</p> + +<p class="normal">After a great deal of joking and foolery, we accomplished making out +the list, and the last name given was that of my good uncle, the worthy +pastor, whom it was my purpose to visit, and whose guest I would be +before the sun rose on the following day.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you know him, too?' I asked, with a feeling of mingled surprise and +annoyance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He confirmed both Jettè and me,' said Hannè; 'he is an excellent man, +therefore I kept him to the last. You can hardly imagine how much we +are all attached to him. If ever I marry, he shall perform the +ceremony, I think you must remember him; at least, you saw him in this +house more than once when you were here as a child.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Very true. I think I recollect him; he is a tall, old man, with a +hooked nose. Yes, I remember him distinctly.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This time, at least, I had no need to help myself out with lies! In a +situation such as mine, one seizes with avidity every opportunity to +speak truth; it is so very refreshing when one is up to the ears in +untruth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Our chandeliers answered their purpose exceedingly well: the fiddlers +scraped loudly and merrily, and the floor shook under the powerful +springs and somewhat weighty footing of the country swains and damsels +who were dancing in honour of Miss Jettè's betrothal. I had taken a +turn in the waltz with each of the village belles, and danced that +furious <i>Fangedands</i> with Hannè--a dance that one must have seen the +peasantry execute, in order to form an idea how violent it is. Glee and +good-humour reigned around, and even the Justitsraad entered heartily +into the joyous spirit which seemed to prevail. And, although from time +to time, he whispered to me, 'I ought to be very angry at you--you have +played me a pretty trick,' yet he was not in the slightest degree +angry; on the contrary, he submitted with an extremely good grace to +what he could not help. But I--I who had been the originator and cause +of all this gaiety and gladness--I felt only profound melancholy, and +stole away to indulge in it amidst the most lonely walks of the garden, +or in the wood beyond. The hour of my departure was drawing rapidly +near.</p> + +<p class="normal">Perhaps you may imagine, dear reader, that it would be impossible for +me to be sad or serious. Could you have beheld me wandering about the +grounds alone, that September evening, when every one else was dancing, +you would have found that you were mistaken in your opinion of me. I +ascended the sloping hill, on which stands Hannè's favourite swing. By +day the view from thence is beautiful; and even at night it is a place +not to be despised. The garden, stretching out darkly immediately +beneath, looked like an impenetrable wood. The moon was in its first +quarter, and therefore shed but a faint uncertain light over objects at +a little distance, while its trembling rays fell more brightly on the +far-off waves of the Baltic Sea, making them appear nearer than they +really were. On the right, the walls and chimneys of the dwelling-house +gleamed through the openings of the trees; on the left, light blazed +from the illuminated summer-house, whence came the sound of a hundred +feet, tramping in time to the overpowered music. All else was as still +around me as it generally is in the evening in the country, where the +occasional bark of some distant dog, with its echo resounding from the +wood, is the only sign of life. Behind me lay the pretty grove; and +above my head stood the swing, on one of whose tall supporters my name +was fastened in derision.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had you seen how carefully I detached the piece of paper from the wood, +and placing myself in the swing where I had sat with Hannè, allowed +myself to rock gently backwards and forwards, while I gazed on the +strange name that had become dearer to me than my own, because <i>she</i> +had pronounced it and written it, you would have perceived that I also +could have my sad and serious moments. But people of my temperament +seek to avoid observation when a fit of blue-devils seizes them, and +only go forth among their fellow-beings when the fit has subsided.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè and Gustav took me by surprise. They had passed in silence +through the garden, and arm-in-arm they had as silently ascended the +little eminence.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What, you here! in solitude, and so serious, dear cousin?' said Jettè; +'you look quite out of spirits. Everyone connected with me should be +happy on this my betrothal day, and I must reckon you among the nearest +of those--you, whom I have to thank for my happiness. Come and take a +share in the joy you have created; if I did not know better, I might be +inclined to fancy that you are grieving over the irreparable loss you +have had in me: you really do assume such a miserable countenance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not ridicule me, Jettè; I have perhaps just lost more than I can +ever be compensated for.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is well that a certain person in Berlin cannot overhear what +politeness induces you to say in Zealand,' replied Jettè. 'But a truce +to compliments at present, they only cast a shade of doubt over your +truthfulness: keep them for those who know less of your affairs than I +do, and let us speak honestly to each other. In reality, you are glad +not to become more nearly connected with us than you are already: you +cannot deny that.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you think so? And if that were far from the fact?--if, on the +contrary, that were the cause of my melancholy--the knowledge of the +impossibility of my being so--what would you say?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I should be under the necessity of pitying you very much, poor +fellow!' said Jettè, laughing. 'But who would have thought that this +morning?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You may indeed pity me, Jettè, for when I leave this place my heart +and my thoughts will remain behind, with you--with all your dear +family; and I must leave you soon.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Soon! Are you going abroad again?' asked Gustav.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Two days after your arrival among us!' exclaimed Jettè; 'no, no, we +cannot agree to that.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And yet it must be,' I said. 'I shall be gone, perhaps, sooner than +you think. I have my own peculiar manner of coming and going, and ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But what whim is this, Carl?' asked Jettè, interrupting me. 'Did you +not come to spend some time with us? You may depend on it my father +will not hear of your going, though our wishes and requests may have no +influence over you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am compelled to go, dear Jettè; I must leave you for some time. +Perhaps we shall meet again ... but should that be impossible, I shall +write you, if you will permit me. And when I am gone, will you take my +part, if I should be made the subject of animadversion? Let me hope, +dear Jettè, that you and Gustav will think kindly of me, and that on +the anniversary of this day you will not forget me when you stroll +together through that wood which was this morning the scene of my +dismissal.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They both shook hands with me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But Carl, I hardly understand you,' said Jettè; 'you are so grave, so +strange; you speak as if we were about to part for ever. Have you any +idea of settling in Berlin?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I beseech you, Jettè, speak not of Berlin--that was a subterfuge, a +story, which came suddenly into my mind; I could not pitch upon any +better excuse wherewith to upset your father's plan in a hurry, or I +would not have lied against myself. I assure you I have never put my +foot in Berlin, nor am I betrothed to anyone.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè stepped back a few paces, and fixed on me a look of surprise and +earnest inquiry.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What!' she exclaimed, 'you have never been at Berlin? You have told +what is not true about yourself to help me? You are not engaged?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No; as certainly as that I stand at this moment in your presence, I am +not engaged, and have never attempted to become so. I have only put +myself in the way of receiving one refusal in my life,' I added, +smiling, as Jettè began to look suspiciously at me, 'and that was this +morning in yonder wood. Were it not superfluous, I could with ease give +you the most minute particulars.'</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a short silence; then Jettè exclaimed,</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a noble creature, Carl; may God reward you, for I cannot. But +day and night I will pray for your welfare.' She was much affected, her +voice faltered. Gustav shook my hand cordially.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My dear friends,' said I, 'do not accord to me more praise than I +deserve, for the higher one is praised the greater is the fall when +opinions change. Hear me before you promise to pray for me, and let me +tell you how ... but no, no, let me keep silence--let me say nothing. +Pardon my seeming caprice. Promise me that you will be my sincere and +unshaken friends, and let us go and dance again. May I have the honour +of engaging the bride for the next waltz?'</p> + +<p class="normal">I had been on the point of confessing all my foolish pranks, and how I +was imposing on them; but false shame prevented me. Was it better or +not? I scarcely knew myself. I begged them to accompany me back to the +summer-house. In the alley of pine-trees which led to it we met Hannè, +who, according to her own account, was looking about for us; she almost +ran against us before she perceived us.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But, good Heavens I have you all become deaf? I have been calling you +over and over, without receiving the slightest answer, and now I find +you gliding about in deep silence, like ghosts, scaring people's lives +out of them. I suppose Carl has been amusing himself, as usual, with +mischief, and has been haunting you two poor lovers, and disturbing +you. Do you not know, Carl, that you have no sort of business to be--in +short, are quite an incumbrance where Jettè and Holm are? Now answer +me--do you know this, or do you not, Carl?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' I replied, shortly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'"<i>No!</i>" Is that a fitting answer to a lady? Be so good as to reply +politely. I must take upon myself to teach you good manners before you +go abroad again, else we shall have reason to be ashamed of you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">And then she began to hum the song of 'Die Wiener in Berlin:'</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px"> +'In Berlin, sagt er,<br> +Musz du fein, sagt er,<br> +Und gescheut, sagt er,<br> +Immer sein, sagt er....'</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">'I wish Berlin were at the devil, Hannè!' I exclaimed, interrupting +her; 'that is my most earnest desire, believe me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A very Christian wish, and expressed in choicely elegant phraseology, +everyone must admit.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only think, Hannè, he has <i>never</i> been at Berlin, and is <i>not</i> +betrothed there. Carl only made these assertions because he could think +of no other way of making my father agree to our wishes,' said Jettè, +almost crying.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What! he is not engaged? He has never been in Berlin? Well! he is the +greatest story-teller I ever met. Did he not stand up, and make +positive declarations of these events, with the most cool audacity? It +is too bad. Lying is the worst of all faults--it is the root of all +evil.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, my little Hannè, idleness is the root of all evil.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I dare say you abound in that root too. But I don't think you can ever +have studied the early lesson-books, from which all children should be +instructed. I shall myself hear you your catechism to-morrow, and +rehearse to you the first principles of right and wrong; so that when +you leave us, you may be a little better acquainted with the doctrines +of Christianity than you are at present.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But he leaves us to-morrow, Hannè; he has assured us of that.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We positively will not allow him to make his escape,' said Hannè. 'At +night we shall lock him in his room, and during the day Thomas shall +watch him. That boy sticks as fast as a burr,--he won't easily shake +him off.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But suppose I were to get out by the window? You cannot well fasten +that on the outside.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And break your neck, forsooth. No, no; that way of making your exit +won't answer.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, people can climb up much higher than my window, and descend again +without breaking their necks,' said I.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè and Gustav coloured violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, we can discuss that point to-morrow. This evening, at least, you +will remain with us, on account of its being Jettè's betrothal day. +Come, give me your arm, and let us take a walk; it is charming, yonder +in the garden--within the summer-house one is like to faint from the +heat.'</p> + +<p class="normal">We strolled on, two and two, in the sweet moonlight; sometimes each +pair sauntering at a little distance from the other--Hannè and I +chatting busily, while Gustav and Jettè often walked in the silence of +a happiness too new and too deep for the language of every-day life.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is it really true that you are going to leave us?' asked Hannè.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is, indeed, too true; I must quit this place.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why? if I may venture to ask. But do not tell me any untruth.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Because I have been here too long already--because a longer residence +among you all ... near you, dear Hannè, would but destroy my peace.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I expressly desired you not to tell me any lies. Good Heavens! is it +impossible for you to speak truth two minutes together?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And is it impossible for you to speak seriously for two minutes +together? What I have just said is the honest truth.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Humph! However, tell me, is it true or not true that you are engaged +in Berlin? Who have you hoaxed--Jettè and me, or my father and mother? +I beseech you speak truth this once.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If any one is hoaxed, it is your father, Hannè; but at the moment I +could think of nothing else to shake his determination, or I certainly +should not have composed such a story, for telling which I blamed +myself severely.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, of course I believe you! To make a fool of one's own excellent +uncle! It is a sin that ought to lie very heavy on your conscience, +Carl. It is almost as great a sin as to make fools of one's cousins.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a sin from which I hope you will absolve me. Ah, Hannè! what +has most distressed me was, that my character must have appeared +dubious in your eyes. From the first moment I was wretched, because I +could not tell you that it was only a pretended engagement.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I do not see what <i>I</i> have to do with your being betrothed in Berlin +or not. As far as I am concerned, you might be betrothed in China, if +you liked.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your gaiety of temper makes you take everything lightly, and yet it is +you who have taught me that life has serious moments. You have +transformed me, Hannè; if you could only know what an influence the +first sight of you, the night I arrived here, has exercised upon my +fate ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed! Do tell me all about it; what was the wondrous and fearful +effect of the sight of me?' said Hannè, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear Hannè, without intending it, you have pitched upon the right +words, in calling it "wondrous and fearful." Yes, it will follow me +like a heavy sentence from a judgment-seat, ever reproaching me with my +thoughtlessness. Awake, and in dreams, will I implore forgiveness; I +will kneel and pray for it. Look at me once more with that captivating +glance which, yon evening, made me forget myself, and tell me that you +will not hate me--loathe me--despise me: see, upon my knee I entreat +one kind look--one kind word!'</p> + +<p class="normal">I had actually fallen on one knee before Hannè, and had seized her +hand--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let my hand go, you are squeezing it, so that you quite hurt me. That +is not at all necessary to the part you are acting. Get up, cousin; you +will have green marks on your knees, and I can't endure to see men in +such an absurd, old-fashioned plight. You should be thankful that it is +no longer the mode, when one is making love in earnest, to fall down on +one's knees. These pastoral attitudes are very ridiculous; they savour +of a shepherd's crook, and a frisky lamb with red ribbon round its +neck.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I arose quite crestfallen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'At any rate I must allow that you promise to be a capital actor,' +added Hannè. 'Next Christmas, when you come back, we shall get up some +private theatricals: that will be charming! Last year we could not +manage them, because we had no lover; Holm positively refused to act +the part, unless I would undertake to be his sweetheart; and a play +without love is like a ball without music.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hannè, let us speak seriously for once. I really am going away, and +shall be gone, perhaps, before you expect it; for I hate farewell +scenes. It is not without emotion that I can think of leaving my +amiable cousins, and God only knows if we shall ever meet again. Laugh +at me if you will, I cannot forbid your doing that; but believe me when +I tell you that your image will be present with me wherever I may go, +and ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will travel in very good company, then,' said Hannè, interrupting +me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let me take the happy hope with me that I shall live in your friendly +remembrance. Sink the cousin if you choose, dear Hannè; cousinship is +not worth much, and let the term <i>friend</i> supersede it. That is a +voluntary tie, for which I should have to thank but your own feelings. +It is as a friend that I shall think of you when I go from this dear +place, and as a friend that your image will follow me throughout the +world.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, it won't be very troublesome to you,' said Hannè. 'As to me, I +don't happen to be in want of cousins, still less of friends. Let me +see, in what office shall I instal you? Make a confidant of you? We do +not employ any in our family; I am my own confidante: assuredly I could +have none safer. I shall follow in this the example of my silent +sister, who never gave me the slightest hint of her love for Gustav. A +counsellor? Truly, such an accomplished fibber would make a trustworthy +counsellor? No, I am afraid, if you throw up the post you hold, you +will find it difficult to replace it by any other.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Very well, let me retain it then, but not as the gift of chance. You +must yourself, of your own free will, bestow on me the title of your +cousin, your chosen cousin: that is a distinction of which I shall be +proud.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And will you, then, promise to come back at Christmas, and act plays +with us?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I promise you into the bargain a summer representation, before autumn +is over,' said I. 'The Fates only know if I shall preserve the dramatic +talent I now have until winter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I had caught a portion of Hannè 's gaiety, and my sentimental feelings, +so much jeered at, shrank into the background.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then I will dub you my cousin of cousins; and besides, on account of +your many great services and merits, I will confer on you the +distinguished title of my court story-teller.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And on the occasion of receiving this new title, I must, as in duty +bound, kiss your hand; wherefore I remove this little brown glove, +which henceforth shall be placed in my helmet, in token of my vassalage +to a fair lady.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, stop! give up my glove, cousin--I cannot waste it upon you. It is +a good new glove, without a single hole in it. Give it up, I tell you; +the other will be of no use without it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She tried to snatch it from me, but I held it high above her head, and +speedily managed to seize its fellow-glove.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must redeem them, Hannè; a kiss for each of the pair is what I +demand; and they are well worth it, for they are really nice new +gloves. I will not part with them for less.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I think you must be a fool, Carl, to fancy for one moment that I would +kiss you to recover my own gloves. No, I will die first,' she +exclaimed, in a tone of comic indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">In answer to her mock heroics, I apostrophized the gloves in glowing +terms, finishing with--'On your smooth perfumed surface I press my +burning lips. Tell your fair mistress what I dare not say to her, what +I at this moment confide to you.' I kissed the gloves.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, well, give me back my gloves and I will let you kiss me,' said +Hannè. 'But it shall be the slightest atom of a kiss, such as they give +in the Christmas games, the most economical possible; it must not be +worth more than four marks, for that was the price of the gloves. Now, +are you not ashamed to take a kiss valued so low?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, I will take it. But the value I put upon it is very different, for +the slightest kiss from your lips, Hannè, is worth at least a million. +You will make me a <i>millionnaire</i>, Hannè.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I gave her the gloves, and was just on the point of kissing her, when +the voice of the Justitsraad broke on the silence around, calling, +'Jettè, Hannè, Carl, hollo! where are you all?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here,' cried Hannè, bursting away from me. 'We are coming.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But dearest, dearest Hannè! my kiss--my million?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We will see about it to-morrow; you must give me credit this evening.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My dearest Hannè, to-morrow will be too late; for Heaven's sake, have +compassion on me! I am going away to-night; there is no to-morrow for +me here. Give me but half the million now--but the quarter--but the +four marks' worth which you owe me! Dear Hannè, pay me but the smallest +mite of my promised treasure.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Nonsense! we must make the best of our way home, or we shall be well +scolded.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Gustav and Jettè joined us at that moment. The gloves and the kiss were +for ever lost!</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, children, what has become of you, all this time?' exclaimed the +Justitsraad. 'Come in now, and have a country-dance with the good folks +before we leave them and go to have some mulled claret. Stop, stop, +Carl, you can't dance with Hannè; she is engaged to one of the young +farmers. You must take another partner. There is poor Annie, the lame +milkmaid, she has scarcely danced at all; it is a sin that she is to +sit all the evening, because one leg is a little shorter than the +other. Go, dance with her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Don't turn the poor girl's head with your enormous fibs,' cried Hannè +to me, as I was entering the summer-house. 'Have pity on her +unsophisticated heart, and do not speculate upon <i>a million there</i>; the +herdsman would probably not allow it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A million? The herdsman? What is all that stuff you are talking?' +asked her father.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ill-nature--downright ill-nature, uncle.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Fie! cousin; that is not a chivalrous mode of speaking. But do go and +foot it merrily with lame Annie, and I promise you the dance shall last +at least an hour.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The dance was over--the mulled wine was finished--the happy Gustav had +gone to his home--the family had bid each other good night, and I was +alone in my chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This was the last evening,' thought I to myself; 'the short dream was +now over, and I had to leave that pleasant house, never more to return +to it.' A deep sigh responded to these reflections. 'My deception will +soon be discovered; they will revile and despise me. I shall most +probably be the cause of their being exposed to the ridicule of the +whole neighbourhood; that will annoy them terribly, and they will be +very angry that anyone should have presumed to impose so impudently on +their frank hospitality. And my kiss ... my million ... the realization +of that delightful promise!... What if I were to remain yet another +day--half a day--another morning even? Remain!--in order to add another +link to the chain which binds me here, and which I am already almost +too weak to sever? No--I will go hence. In about an hour the moon will +set, and when its tell-tale light is gone I will go too. One short +hour! Alas! how many melancholy hours shall I not have to endure when +<i>that one</i> has passed. It is incomprehensible to me how I became +involved in all this. Chance is sometimes a miraculous guide, when we +allow ourselves to be blindly led by it. But a truce to these tiresome +reflections; I have no time to think of anything but Hannè, now that I +am about to leave her for ever ... <i>For ever!</i> These are two detestable +words. Everything is now quite still in the house. I hear no sound but +poor Pasop, rustling his chains in his kennel; he will not bark when he +sees it is only I passing. They are all friendly to me here, even the +very dogs; yet how false I have been to them!'</p> + +<p class="normal">I threw my clothes and other little travelling appurtenances into my +<i>valise</i>, and opened the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But ought I to run away without leaving one word behind? The worthy +family might be alarming themselves about me. What shall I write? I +suppose I must play the cousin to the end; at any rate I must try to +put them on a wrong scent. I shall address my note to Hannè, that she +may see that my last thoughts were with her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I seized a pencil and wrote:--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hannè's cruelty has caused my bankruptcy and my flight. She could +have made me a <i>millionnaire</i>, but she has left me a beggar. Poor and +sad I quit this hospitable house, leaving behind my blessings on its +much-respected and amiable inmates, including the hard-hearted fair one +who has compelled me to seek a refuge at Fredericia, which, from the +time of Axel, has afforded <i>jus asyli</i> to unfortunate subjects.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I stuck the paper in the dressing-glass, where it would speedily be +observed.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had played out my comedy, and the sober realities of life were now +before me. I fell into a deep reverie, which lasted until the first +dawn of day, when I started up to prepare for my departure. First, I +threw my carpet-bag out of the window, and then, getting out myself +upon the tree, and cautiously descending from branch to branch, I +reached the ground safely and quietly. Taking a circuitous route, I at +length passed the woody village near my uncle's abode; and the sun +stood high in the heavens when, weary and dispirited, and out of humour +with the whole world, I entered the parsonage-house.</p> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>PART IV.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Eight days after my arrival, I was sitting in the dusk with the old +people, while my thoughts were at ---- Court. The good clergyman, +according to habit, was shoving the skull-cap he wore on his head to +and fro, and talking half-aloud to himself. At length he exclaimed,</p> + +<p class="normal">'In good sooth, nephew, I am quite surprised at you. Is it natural for +a young man to sit so much within doors? You have never gone a step +beyond the garden and our little shrubbery, and really there is some +very pretty scenery in our neighbourhood, quite worth your seeing.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is a sin that he should be shut up here with us two old people,' +said his wife; 'if our son had been at home, it would have been more +pleasant for him. It is very unlucky that he should be at Kiel just +now. How can we amuse such a young man, my dear? I am quite sorry for +him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I assured them that I had everything I wished at their house, and +was extremely comfortable. But the fact was, that I felt extremely +uncomfortable. I was miserable at knowing that I was so near ---- +Court, and yet could have no communication with its inhabitants; I was +certain that I must have thrown everything there into the greatest +commotion, yet, since my flight, I had heard nothing of or from the +place round which my heart's dearest thoughts hovered continually.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, instead of a wild, mischievous, merry madcap, as you were +represented to be, we find a staid, quiet, grave young man. It is not a +good sign when a gay temper takes such a sudden turn. You seem to be +quite changed, nephew. Indeed, it strikes me your very appearance has +altered; your hair looks darker to me, within these eight days, and +your skin is as yellow as if you had the jaundice.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, Heaven forbid! The Lord preserve him from that!' cried my worthy +aunt, much alarmed.</p> + +<p class="normal">I relieved her mind by assuring her that my health was excellent.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And you are allowing the hair on your upper lip to grow to a pair of +moustaches,' continued my uncle. 'You will soon look like an officer of +hussars. If you were not such a sensible, quiet youth, I should think +it was a piece of conceit and affectation, to look smart in the eyes of +the girls.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Without having formed any settled plan connected with the change of my +appearance, but not without considerable trouble, had I by degrees +blackened my hair, and darkened my complexion with walnut juice, so +that I could not be recognized if any of the people from ---- Court +should meet me. I had also cultivated moustaches for the same purpose, +but they were as yet very diminutive.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Just tell me, nephew, what do you want with moustaches?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I want them because ... I wish ... I must ... I belong to the corps of +riflemen, uncle, and the new regulation is, that every rifleman is to +have moustaches ... so I must mount a pair.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What a foolish regulation! Don't you think so, wife? But I suppose it +is a case in which one must do as others do.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This settled, I was left, as to my disguise, in peace. But my venerable +uncle commenced another attack. 'I must positively have you to go out +and look about you, Adolph. I am going to-morrow to see my friends +Justitsraad ----, whose country seat is not far from this. You shall +drive over there with me; the road is very pretty.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I was in agony. 'I would, much rather remain at home, uncle; I don't +know these people.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will introduce you to them. They are a very amiable, charming +family, and you will soon become acquainted with them. You absolutely +must go.'</p> + +<p class="normal">What excuse was I to manufacture? I had recourse to fibs again.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Justitsraad and my father are personal enemies--they quarrelled +about some matter of business. They are deadly foes--I should be very +unwelcome--my name is proscribed at ---- Court.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How very strange that I never heard of this before!' exclaimed the +unsuspecting old man. 'People should not hate each other for the sake +of sinful mammon. We must bring about a reconciliation between them. I +shall certainly preach upon the subject of forgiveness next Sunday--a +powerful discourse will I give.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is also my wish that they should be reconciled, dear uncle, and +therefore, I think it would be most prudent not to mention my name +<i>yet</i>. If I make the acquaintance of the Justitsraad without his +knowing who I am, I shall feel more at my ease with him. I assure you +this will be best.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well--so be it,' said my uncle; 'I will not then mention your being +here. But I shall throw out a few hints about forgiveness and Christian +feelings--these can do no harm.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No--that they cannot,' said my aunt. 'But I quite agree with Adolph. I +think his plan a good one.'</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as the old people had retired to rest, I stole softly through +the garden, and reaching the high road, took the way to ---- Court. As +I approached it, I saw with pleasure the white summer-house on the +outskirts of the garden. Soon after I reached the hill, where stood the +well-known swing. The moon was shining brightly, and it was a lovely +night. All was so still around, that I could hear the wind whistling +through the adjacent alleys of trees--and the rustling of the wind +amidst the branches of the pine and the fir has a peculiar sound. Far +away in the wood was to be heard the melancholy tinkling of the bells +worn by the sheep round their necks. There is a sadness in this +monotonous, yet plaintive sound, which has a great effect upon the +heart that is filled with longing--and where is the human being who has +nothing to long for? But such sadness is not hopeless, and as the bells +give tones sometimes higher, sometimes deeper, from different parts of +the woods or fields, so tranquillizing voices whisper to our souls, +'There is comfort for every sorrow--we shall not always long in vain.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The moon shed its soft light over the quiet garden, the clock struck +eleven--that was generally the time at which the family retired to +rest--therefore I ventured to leave my place of concealment, without +the fear of encountering anyone. Presently after I stood again behind +the bushes of fragrant jasmine, immediately beneath the windows, and +beheld one light extinguished after the other. In the room I lately +occupied, all was dark. At length the light also disappeared in Hannè's +chamber.</p> + + +<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">Sleep, sweetly sleep! Dream blessed dreams!</p> + + +<p class="continue">I whispered with Baggesen, and my heart added, in the words of the same +poet,</p> + + +<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">I love--I love--I love but only thee!</p> + + +<p class="normal">In Jettè's room there was still a candle burning; doubtless she was +thinking of her Gustav, perhaps writing a few kind words to him. I +could hardly refrain myself from climbing up <i>the</i> tree, and speaking +to her; I had a claim upon her indulgence, for had I not laid the +fountain of her happiness? <i>Laid the foundation!</i> How did I know that +the real cousin had not arrived? But even in that case it would be +scarcely possible to undo what had been done. I clung to the pleasing +idea that I had effected some good.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length Jettè's candle was extinguished also. The last--last light--I +had gazed on it, till I was almost blinded. With an involuntary sigh I +turned my steps slowly back towards the garden; something was moving +close behind me; it was my quondam friend, a greyhound belonging to the +Justitsraad, but he followed growling at my heels, as if he wished to +hunt me off the grounds I polluted by my presence.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Watchel! my boy! is that you? So--so--be still, be still, Watchel!' I +turned to pat his head, but he showed his white teeth, and barked at +me; and presently all the other dogs near began to bark also. +'Forgotten!' I exclaimed bitterly to myself, 'forgotten, and disliked!' +Watchel followed me, snarling, to the extremity of the garden, and +barked long at my shadow as I crossed the field.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day my uncle drove over to ---- Court. The moment he was gone +I hurried up to his study, which looked towards the east, and arranged +his large telescope to bear upon that place which had so much interest +for me. I could overlook the whole plain; at its extremity was some +rising ground studded with trees--this was the garden; to the left lay +the grove, and close to it was the hillock on which stood the swing! +Suddenly the swing, until then empty, seemed to be occupied with +something white, which put it in motion. 'It is Hannè who is swinging!' +I exclaimed aloud in my joy; and I spent the whole afternoon in gazing +through the telescope, with a beating heart, and with my eyes fixed +upon the swing to catch another glimpse of her who had vanished, alas! +too soon. One glance at the folds of her white dress had thrown my +blood into a tumult of excitement, but how wildly did not all my pulses +beat when, towards evening, my uncle's carriage rolled up the avenue of +the rectory.</p> + +<p class="normal">After he had greeted my aunt with all due affection, and delivered +the complimentary messages with which he was charged, inquired how +things had gone on during the hours of his absence, settled himself +comfortably in his old easy-chair, and lighted his pipe, he began +with--</p> + +<p class="normal">'I heard some very strange news over yonder; I really can think of +nothing else.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is it, dear? A great rise in the price of anything?' asked his +wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh no, my dear, not at all. It is a very ridiculous story. It is not +to be mentioned; but I know you will keep it to yourself when I +particularly request you to do so. Well--I will tell you all about it; +it is really quite a mysterious affair.'</p> + +<p class="normal">And the good man proceeded to relate how, one evening when they were +expecting a cousin who was betrothed to Jettè, a person arrived who +answered every question about the family, seemed to know all their +affairs, gave himself out to be Carl, whom they had not seen for eleven +years, and, as might be supposed, insinuated himself into the good +graces of the whole of them. 'He found out that Jettè was attached to +that young man Holm, who is studying agricultural affairs in this +neighbourhood; so he insisted on annulling his engagement to her, +declaring that he was not in love with her, but was betrothed abroad. +The Justitsraad was at first very angry, but he gave way at last, and +there were gay doings at ---- Court that evening. Next morning the +cousin was nowhere to be found; but he left behind him a paper of which +nobody can make anything. They expected him during two whole days, but +he did not make his appearance again. On the third day, another person +arrived, who also declared himself to be a cousin, said he was called +Carl, and that he was the expected guest. He brought letters from his +father, about whose handwriting there could be no doubt, and the whole +family recognized him at once from many things. The first, of course, +was an impostor. But Jettè is now betrothed to Holm as well as to the +cousin, who had come to arrange about the wedding. There was an awful +scene--he insisted on Holm's giving up Jettè to him, and her father had +at last to interfere to prevent the rivals carrying their wrath to some +fearful extremity. The cousin's obstinacy gave great offence, and he +took his departure the day after he had arrived. But he was so angry, +that it was with great difficulty he was induced to promise that he +would hold his tongue, and not blab about this absurd affair.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'May the Lord graciously preserve us all! It must have been some wicked +sharper!' exclaimed my aunt, clasping her hands in great agitation, +when her husband had finished his recital.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of course he was an impostor. But it is a very curious story. For what +could he have come--will anyone tell me that?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, to steal, to be sure. Did he break into none of the +keeping-places? Is there nothing missing--none of the plate? no forks +or spoons?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not the slightest article, and he was there for two days, and went +about like one of themselves.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is very surprising; but the fact is, he must have come to +reconnoitre the premises, and, when the nights are longer and darker, +they will hear of him again.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is a most incomprehensible affair,' said I, in a voice that might +have betrayed, me to more acute observers. 'And can they not guess at +all who he is--have they no clue to him?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not the slightest, nephew. They all describe him as a handsome, +gentlemanly young man, who knew how to conduct himself in good society; +and he acquitted himself so well in his assumed character, that none of +them had the least notion what a trick he was playing them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Believe me, my dear sirs, this person was no other than the celebrated +<span class="sc">Morten Frederichsen</span>, who was arrested and imprisoned at Roeskilde, but +made his escape. He must be a very clever fellow, that,' said my aunt; +'I have been told that he pretended to be a Russian officer once in +Copenhagen, made his way into the higher circles, and spoke Russian as +if it had been his mother tongue. No doubt he has contrived to get free +again; and he is a dangerous man. Heaven preserve us from him! Where +<i>he</i> is, there is always mischief going on. I will take care to see +that the house-doors are well bolted and secured, and I shall tell the +servants to let Sultan loose at night. One cannot be too careful when +there are such characters lurking in the neighbourhood.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady went out to superintend the safe fastening of the house, +without dreaming that he who caused her such alarm was dwelling under +her own peaceful roof.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day nothing else was spoken of, and it was easy for me to draw +from my uncle all that I wished to hear. I ascertained that the real +cousin had not made a favourable impression; and that, in fact, they +were all glad that the engagement between him and Jettè was at an end. +My extraordinary and mysterious disappearance had set them all +guessing, but they despaired of ever solving the riddle, since all the +investigations and inquiries which could be quietly instituted had +failed to yield the slightest trace of me. Gustav, following up the +hint I had given in the note I had left, had written to a friend in +Fredericia, but, of course, this had led to no result. Thomas daily +scoured the country round, searching the woods and the moors to find +me; but every succeeding day lessened his hopes of being able to bring +me a prisoner to his home.</p> + +<p class="normal">My imprudence, then, had been productive of no bad effects; fortune had +befriended the rash fool, as it so often does. I cannot describe with +what joy I gathered this happy intelligence; and when I had reflected +on it for some days, I came to the conclusion that I <i>might</i> venture +again to show myself at ---- Court, and entreat forgiveness of my sad +delinquencies. I formed a thousand plans and relinquished them again. +At length I wrote to Copenhagen for new clothes, and sent a letter, to +be forwarded from thence by the post to the Justitsraad, wherein I made +a confession, and candidly avowed all that my inclination for a frolic +and a succession of accidental circumstances had led me into. I threw +myself upon Miss Jettè's kindness to intercede for me, trusting that +she would not refuse me this favour; I dwelt on my contrition and deep +regret, and implored forgiveness for my misdemeanours. Nothing did I +conceal, except my name and my love for Hannè. I hope, dear reader, +that you will not find it necessary to ask why I concealed these.</p> + +<p class="normal">The blue coat arrived at length from Copenhagen, with information that +the letter had been forwarded. It was not difficult for me to put it +into my uncle's head to drive over to ---- Court, and ascertain if +there had been any elucidation of the mysterious story that had almost +entirely chased sleep from my good aunt's couch. I had intended to have +accompanied him, but when the time came my courage failed, and, +pleading a headache, I left him to go alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are not well, my dear nephew, that I can easily perceive,' said +he, as I saw him into his carriage; 'we must positively send for the +doctor. You will turn quite black in the long run, for in a fortnight +only you have become as dark as a Tartar, and that is not a healthy +colour. Perhaps you have got worms.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The worthy man little knew that I was purposely obliterating my good +complexion more and more, and had the greatest trouble in giving myself +this Tartar tint. 'He shall drink some of my decoction of wormwood,' +said my aunt; 'it is better than any apothecary's mixtures, and will do +him a great deal of good.' Whereupon she invited me to go with her to +her sanctum, and there I was compelled to swallow a horrid bitter +potion, which was enough to bring the most hardened sinner to a sense +of his guilt.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, tell me, have they found Morten Frederichsen?' asked my aunt, +when my uncle returned. 'Has he broken in over yonder?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, no, my dear. There was no housebreaker in question at all. Truly, +it is a laughable story. The man has written the Justitsraad from +Copenhagen.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Written? A threatening letter? A defiance? It is making nothing at all +of the police--a positive insult to them. But, God be thanked, he is no +longer in our neighbourhood.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now, my good wife, you are quite mistaken,' replied my uncle, who then +proceeded to relate the contents of my letter, which, it appeared, had +still further excited the baffled curiosity of the worthy family.</p> + +<p class="normal">My aunt could not recover from the state of amazement into which she +had been thrown.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But what says the Justitsraad?' I asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, what can he say? He is glad that the intruder was a gentleman, +for the letter is evidently written by one in that rank of life, but of +course he is angry at having been so hoaxed. But it was Jettè who +pacified him, for she did not stop entreating him until he promised her +not to vex himself any longer about the matter. I thought of you, +nephew, and took the opportunity to say a few words about forgiveness +and placability, grounding my lesson of Christian duty on the excellent +admonitions of the Scriptures. They talked a great deal about the +mysterious personage; and the Justitsraad said at length that he would +not wreak his vengeance upon him if he could see him, but would rather +feel a pleasure in meeting him again. The girls wanted their father to +put an advertisement in the papers addressed in a roundabout way to +him, but Mr. Holm dissuaded them from this.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That was very right of Mr. Holm,' said my aunt. 'He is a sensible +young man; for if the person really was a thief--of which there can be +no doubt--for he who tells a lie will also steal ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That does not by any means follow, dear aunt,' said I.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, be that as it may, we are invited to ---- Court to-morrow, and I +promised that we would go, and you, too, Adolph. I told them I had a +nephew on a visit to me at present.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I ... but ... you know, uncle, my father and the Justitsraad ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, we must manage to set all that to-rights; to entertain feelings of +enmity is quite unworthy of two such men. Leave the matter to me. I +have not yet mentioned your name, therefore you need be under no +embarrassment in presenting yourself to the Justitsraad. He is a very +pleasant man.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Sooner or later--it makes but little difference,' thought I; 'and if I +can but look him full in the face, without dreading to be discovered, I +shall be willing to acknowledge all his good qualities.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Had we not better take the bottle of wormwood with us in the +carriage?' said my aunt, next day. 'Adolph looks so black under the +eyes this morning, that I am sure he is worse than he was yesterday.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I confess I do not like his looks,' said my uncle; 'but perhaps that +dark shade is cast by his moustaches. One might really fancy, nephew, +that you had darkened your face with burnt cork. You don't look at all +like yourself. Truly, the rifle corps has a great deal to answer for.'</p> + +<p class="normal">My endeavours had been successful. Instead of the gay, fresh-looking, +light-hearted cousin, in a dark-green frock-coat, that had left +---- Court, came, along with the clergyman and his lady, a grave, +silent, dark-haired nephew, in a blue coat; with an olive complexion, +very sallow, and with black moustaches; my transformation was complete. +I scarcely recognized myself when I saw myself in the glass. The worst +that could happen would be to be taken for myself--the agreeably +characterized '<i>sad scamp</i>' from Hamburg. But for what would I not be +taken to see Hannè again!</p> + +<p class="normal">None of them knew me; the Justitsraad addressed me as 'Mr. Adolph,' and +received me very courteously. The guests were Kammerraad Tvede, the +Jutlander, and his family, Gustav, a friend of his, and ourselves. I do +not doubt that my heightened colour might have been visible even +through the swarthy shade of my cheek when Hannè entered the room. She +had become ten times prettier than ever in these fourteen days; she +looked really quite captivating. Gustav and Jettè cast many speaking +glances at each other, and her mother looked kindly at them. I stood +silent and grave in a corner window; the various feelings that rushed +upon me assisted me in playing the part of a somewhat embarrassed +stranger. Watchel rose from his mat, and walked round the room as if to +greet his master's well-known guests; he wagged his tail in token of +welcome to my uncle and aunt, but he growled at me, whereupon Hannè +called him away, and made him lie down in his usual place.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But tell me, my dear friend, how does this happen? When I was here +last your daughter was engaged to another gentleman. What has become of +him?' said the inquisitive neighbour, Tvede.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, that was only a jest from their childhood,' said the Justitsraad. +'He was my brother's son, and was on a visit to us. Jettè was betrothed +at that time to Mr. Holm, though her engagement was not generally +known.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, indeed; but where is your nephew now?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He left us some time ago.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A very nice young man your nephew is; perhaps what was only jest +between him and the elder sister may become earnest between him and the +younger one. What say you to that, Miss Hannè?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hannè blushed scarlet, but made no answer. The Justitsraad looked a +little confused, and smiled to my uncle; I sat as if on thorns.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So your father resides in Copenhagen, Mr. Adolph?' said the +indefatigable questioner, turning towards me.</p> + +<p class="normal">I rose in a fright, and bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is a merchant, is he not? and has a good deal to do with the West +Indies?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, he has a good deal to do with the West Indies,' I replied, in a +feigned voice, as different from my own as I possibly could make it.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My brother-in-law does a great deal of business with the provinces +also--commission-business--as a corn-merchant,' said my uncle; 'that is +safer than West India business.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, so he is your brother-in-law--married to your sister, no doubt? +Well, your nephew seems a fine young man. He is in the army, I +suppose?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, my dear sir, he is a clerk in his father's office; but as he has +joined a rifle corps, according to a new regulation he is obliged to +have moustaches,' replied my uncle, honestly believing the truth of my +assertion.</p> + +<p class="normal">The observation of all present was drawn upon me. I turned crimson. +Gustav and his friend cast a meaning glance at each other, and both +smiled, I interpreted the smile into this, 'He is a vain, conceited +puppy; the regulation is the coinage of his own brain.' What an +unmerciful interpreter is conscience! We were to take our coffee in the +garden; thither, therefore, we all proceeded. I approached Jettè, and +began to talk to her about the pretty country round.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have you been long at your uncle's?' she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have been there some little time, and I should have left it before +now, had not a strange commission been imposed on me--one which I find +it very difficult to fulfil. It is a commission which relates to the +family here,' I added, when I found she was not inclined to ask any +questions.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To us?' said Jettè; 'and the commission is so difficult?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is no other than to obtain for a man the restoration of that peace +of mind of which his inconsiderate folly has deprived him, and to +procure for him your father's forgiveness--his pardon of an injury that +otherwise will weigh him down with regret and remorse for the remainder +of his life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè looked at me in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What--Mr. Adolph? I do not understand.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A friend of mine has written to me from Copenhagen, and charged me to +try and make his peace with the Justitsraad; but the papers which he +has forwarded to me containing his case, really present it in such a +perplexing and unfortunate light, that I cannot attempt to carry out +his wishes, unless you, to whom he particularly desired me first to +apply, will grant me your valuable assistance. He certainly did most +shamefully abuse your confidence.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You know ... it is ... you are acquainted with that strange story?' +exclaimed Jettè, much embarrassed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know it thoroughly; and though this is the first time I have had the +honour of seeing you, I think I may say you yourself are not better +acquainted with the particulars of that affair than I am. It is on your +kindness that I principally rely; yet I may not mention my friend's +name until he has obtained entire forgiveness. He has given me very +positive directions.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I cannot but be much surprised that a person who insulted my father +and us all so much, should ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Insulted you, my dear young lady? I am shocked to hear it; I am sorry +that he should have written me what was not true; his letter led me to +believe that, on the contrary, he had rather been of service to you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jettè blushed deeply, and I thought I perceived tears in her eyes. 'He +shall certainly not find me ungrateful,' she said; 'I have not +forgotten what I owe him. What do you require of me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My friend entreats you, through me, to grant him your forgiveness for +a mystification to which purely accidental circumstances led at first, +but which was continued solely from an interest in your fate, and an +anxious desire to serve you. He entreats that you will use your +influence to mollify your father towards him, and procure for me a +private interview with him, which I trust will end in the pardon of my +friend, who has no dearer wish than to be received again into a circle +he so highly esteems and respects, and to be permitted to prove to them +how deeply he regrets his thoughtless folly.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Some others of the same party now approached, and I was obliged to drop +the conversation. Gustave and Hannè were disputing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Jeer at me as you will,' said Hannè, 'I hold to my opinion, that +nothing is so tiresome as family connections. If one only could choose +one's kindred those sort of ties would be much stronger. It is a pity +not to go a step further, and let it be a fixed rule, that relations to +a certain extent remote, should marry whether they suit each other or +not. This would certainly extirpate <i>love</i>, but it would be vastly +convenient, and in a recent case it would have hindered many doubts and +hopes, and all that followed.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pray recollect your last election; there was not much to boast of in +him. The ties of consanguinity could hardly have furnished any family +with a less desirable member.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes they could, for the member who came after him was much inferior, +notwithstanding he bore on his brow the stamp of legitimacy. Even +though my "election," as you call it, fell upon one who was +treacherous, he was at any rate pleasant, lively, and amusing, whereas +the legitimate one was cold, stupid, pedantic, tiresome; wearying one +with every slow word he uttered. You do not mean one syllable of all +the evil you speak of the stranger. The properly installed cousins and +nephews whom I have latterly seen have been miserable creatures, who +looked as if they could not count five, and as if they had not a +thought to bestow on anything but their own pitiful persons, on which +they placed the most exorbitant value, without the slightest grounds +for so doing.'</p> + +<p class="normal">As she finished this tirade, Hannè cast a side-glance at me, who, in +truth, played capitally the part of the most tiresome, self-satisfied +blockhead of a nephew anyone could imagine. She had no conception how +part of her harangue had enchanted me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Legitimate right is a good thing; in that I quite agree with the young +lady,' said the Jutlander, who had just approached us, and thought fit +to join in the conversation. He had only caught a word or two of what +Hannè had been saying, and mistook entirely her meaning.</p> + +<p class="normal">While we continued to stroll about, Jettè took her sister aside, and +whispered something to her. Hannè turned her eyes full on me, and +looked keenly at me. As soon as it was possible, I went up to her, and +began to talk about the weather, that invariable preface to even the +most important and most interesting subjects. We soon fell into +conversation, and it turned upon the communication Jettè had just made.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My sister tells me that your friend is anxious to obtain our +forgiveness,' said she. 'We have already given him that, for he has +done us a greater service than he thinks. Our regard is another affair; +that would be more difficult to bestow, and doubtless he does not +entertain the slightest idea of ever winning it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You would condemn him to a severe doom if you would forbid his +striving at least to deserve it. Without your good opinion, your +forgiveness would be a mere passing act of charity; without the former +he would be a beggar all his life, with it <i>he would become a +millionnaire</i>.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hannè coloured at the reminiscences these words awakened; but she only +said,</p> + +<p class="normal">'You put a high value on it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not higher than my friend does. <i>Your</i> regard, charming Miss Hannè, is +what he seeks, and were he not attracted to this place by a perhaps too +vivid <i>souvenir</i> of you, I should not be standing here as his +spokesman. Your sister has kindly promised to obtain for me a few +minutes' private conversation with your father; if your hatred of my +unfortunate friend cannot be softened, tell me so, I pray you, at once, +and I shall spare your father a communication which may perhaps remind +him of disagreeable impressions, for without your entire pardon I +cannot fulfil my errand, and I will not attempt to do it by halves.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a very zealous agent, there is no denying that. Well, you may +speak to my father; I will not be the most hard-hearted of the family. +Besides, I really feel that your friend has an advocate in my own +inclination for a joke, though his jest was carried rather too far.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I expected this goodness from you, or my friend would not have painted +you in true colours.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And pray in what colours did he paint me, if I may venture to ask? It +would be difficult to give anyone's likeness on so short an +acquaintance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'They were as radiant as if he had borrowed for his pencil tints from +heaven to do justice to the original ... He adores you, to say the +absolute truth.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed! He really does me too much honour,' she said, stiffly, and in +an offended tone of voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the 'tints from heaven,' and 'justice to the original,' she had +smiled; at the 'absolute truth,' she became angry.</p> + +<p class="normal">We were at the foot of the hillock, on which stood the swing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'There must be a fine view from the top of that rising ground,' said I.</p> + +<p class="normal">Politeness obliged her to ascend the bank. Gustav and his friend +followed us at a little distance in earnest conversation; the rest of +the party had gone to the summer-house, where coffee was prepared.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Really, this is a lovely view!' I remarked, mechanically.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yonder lies your uncle's church,' said Hannè; 'it makes the twelfth +spire we can see from this hill.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have remarked this place from my uncle's window; these white poles +shine out against the dark-green background.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Were you afraid of them? Did you fancy they were ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A gallows!' I exclaimed, interrupting her. 'No, Miss Hannè; I am +rather more rational than my foolish friend.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hannè looked inquisitively at me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have you remembered what he begged of you on this spot? That when you +heard evil of him, and doubts of his honour, you would come up here, +and judge leniently of the absent; that you would not condemn him +totally, although appearances might be against him?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He must have favoured you with a remarkably minute report of his +sayings and doings here,' said Hannè, laughing. 'You have got his +speeches by heart--word for word.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Every word which he exchanged with you remains for ever engraved on +his memory. You promised this to him. Dare he flatter himself that you +have not forgotten that promise, and have not deserted him, while he +relied on your compassion?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have taken his part a great deal more than he deserves,' she +replied. 'But now that is no longer necessary, and if he return here, +he shall find me his worst enemy, for I do not allow myself to be made +a fool of without taking my revenge.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have some mercy, fair lady! See, I sue for grace--he cannot stand your +ire. I have come to throw myself at your feet--acquitted by you, he +will have courage to meet any storm ... Miss Hannè,' I added, with my +own natural voice, 'you are the only one who knows that the unfortunate +sinner is here; condemn me irrevocably, if you have the heart to do +so--I will hear my sentence from your lips.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hannè looked at me with an arch smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will not betray me, or misuse my confidence,' I added, in a +supplicatory tone. 'Bestow on me your forgiveness, and procure for me +that of your parents. Without this I cannot live. You have discovered +me, notwithstanding my disguise; it was only under its shelter that I +ventured to come near you during the light of day. Ah! at night, I have +often been here, standing outside of the house, looking up at your +window, until the light was extinguished in your room, and I had no +longer any evidence of your proximity to feast upon.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at me for a moment with unusual softness,--nay, with +kindness; then clapping her hands together, she called out,</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gustav! Linden! Come here--make haste! Here he is--here he is!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who? What is it?' cried the two young men, as they came hurrying +towards us.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For Heaven's sake--Miss Hannè--you surely will not ... you abuse the +confidence I placed in you--I did not expect this of you. Will you +betray me? Will you disgrace me before that stranger?' I stammered out, +amazed and vexed at her sudden change.</p> + +<p class="normal">'There he is--the false cousin--standing yonder. Now he is caught,' +added Hannè, skipping about with joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The cousin--he!' exclaimed Gustav, in great astonishment; 'but tell me +then ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mr. Holm,' said I, 'and you, sir, with whom I have not the pleasure of +being acquainted ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">'True!' cried Hannè, interrupting me, 'I owe you an explanation. You +need not excuse yourself to Gustav, in his heart he acknowledges you to +be his benefactor; and this gentleman, <i>with whom you have not the +pleasure of being acquainted</i>, is quite as cognisant of your exploits +as any of us. "<span class="sc">You will not betray me, or misuse my confidence</span>,"' said +she, mimicking me, 'therefore let me present to you Mr. Linden, my +bridegroom elect. You once asked me what this ring I wear betokened--do +you remember that? I was then obliged to give you an evasive answer; +now I will confide the secret to you, my much honoured cousin--and much +admired truth-teller.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Could I have guessed <i>this</i>, or have had the slightest suspicion of it, +two hours earlier, I never again would have put my feet within the +doors of ---- Court.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was nothing for it now but to let myself patiently be dragged +about by them, after I had muttered something, that might as well have +been taken for a malediction as a felicitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">My uncle was walking in the alley of pine-trees with the Justitsraad +and Jettè; she had been preparing him for the audience I told her I +wished of him, but she had not yet the least idea that I was the person +for whom she had been pleading. I appeared before them as a poor +culprit.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear father,' said Hannè, 'I bring a deserter, who has given himself +up to me. He relies on your forgiveness, for which I have become +surety, and if you withhold it, my word will be broken.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let me speak, child,' said my uncle, who fancied that a disagreement +between my father and the Justitsraad was the affair in question.</p> + +<p class="normal">'As the servant of the Lord, it is my duty to exhort everyone to peace, +and forgiveness of injuries; you should all remember the divine mission +of Him who is the fountain of love, and who came to bring goodwill on +earth; remembering His example you should chase away hatred, and all +evil passions and thoughts from your mind. See, this young person comes +to you with confiding hope, and now do shake hands with him in sign of +reconciliation, and let not two worthy men remain longer enemies. Speak +kindly to him, my old friend, and do not oblige him longer to conceal +his name, because it is one which you once disliked--let the past be +now forgotten!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What, <i>you</i> also pleading for him, my worthy friend? Then, indeed, I +must give in. Well, the foolish madcap has found intercessors enough, I +think,' said the Justitsraad, as he held out his hand to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is petitioning for his friend,' said Jettè.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For my benefactor,' said Gustav.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For his old father,' said my uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For himself,' said Hannè. 'This is the pretended cousin himself, in +disguise; this is the very man himself who threw our family into such +confusion; but what his real name may be, Heaven only knows.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is my sister's son--Adolph Kerner, a son of Mr. Kerner, the +well-known Copenhagen merchant; he has no need to be ashamed of his +name,' said my uncle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Everyone was astonished; there was a general silence from amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length Jettè exclaimed, 'The pretended cousin himself?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The young Kerner who went to Hamburg?' asked the Justitsraad.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What! the impostor my own nephew?' cried my uncle, upon whom the truth +began to dawn. The formidable explanation was given, forgiveness +followed, and we were reconciled. The Justitsraad shook hands with me +cordially.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And now let us seek my mother,' said Hannè, 'and fall at her feet. For +the honour of our sex, I hope Mr. Kerner will have to undergo the pains +of purgatory in her presence.'</p> + +<p class="normal">We proceeded to the summer-house where the rest of the party were +sitting at table, taking coffee. The Justitsraad led me up to his wife, +and said, 'I beg to present to you your lost nephew, who returns, like +the prodigal son, and begs for forgiveness. Tomorrow he will show +himself without these moustaches, in his own fair hair, and he hopes to +find the same kind aunt in you whom the false cousin Carl learned so +speedily to love.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The lady gave me her hand, after having held up her finger as if to +threaten me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And here you see Morten Frederichsen, my dear, against whom Sultan was +to have guarded our house. The good-for-nothing, he has certainly +hoaxed all us old ones,' said my uncle, laughing. 'His liver-complaint +was nothing but a trick.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is that you say? Morten Frederichsen! How the idea of that +dreadful creature frightened me! But I have retaliated upon him with my +wormwood, I rather think.' The good woman was much puzzled, and could +hardly comprehend how it all came about.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And now I beg to introduce to Kammerraad Tvede, the younger Kerner, +son of Mr. Kerner of Copenhagen, a youth who has lately returned from +an educational trip to Hamburg,' said the mischief-loving Hannè, +pulling me up to the Jutlander.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A very fine young man,' stammered the Kammerraad. 'I have the pleasure +of knowing your father, and am aware of the high standing of your +house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I made my escape over to Jettè and Gustav, who kindly took compassion +on me.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Don't you all see now that it was not so stupid of me to propose +examining him in the almanack?' said Hannè.</p> + +<p class="normal">'At any rate, to <i>you</i> belongs the credit of having placed me in the +most painful dilemma,' said I, with some bitterness. 'Be merciful now, +and do not play with me as a cat does with a mouse; the conqueror can +afford to be magnanimous to the vanquished.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, the sun is about to set, and I suppose I must let my just +resentment go with it. I will forgive you for all your misdemeanours +upon one condition, that, according to our late agreement, you will +return by-and-by, and assist us in getting up some private theatricals, +to which I have the pleasure of inviting all now present. I think you +will shine in "<i>The April Fools</i>."'<a name="div2Ref_06" href="#div2_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">'Shame on you all!' cried Jettè. 'How can you be so revengeful, and +still persecute Mr. Kerner in this inhuman way?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I trust he will excuse the persecution,' said her father; 'and I hope +that it will not frighten him from a house which will always be open to +him, and where he will henceforth be as well received under his own +name as he was under that of--<span class="sc">Cousin Carl</span>.'</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_doomed" href="#div1Ref_doomed">THE DOOMED HOUSE.</a></h2> + +<h3>BY B. S. INGEMANN.</h3> + + +<p class="normal">'The house near Christianshavn's canal is again for sale--your worthy +uncle's house, Johanna! and now upon very reasonable terms,' said the +young joiner and cabinet-maker, Frants, one morning to his pretty wife, +as he laid the advertisement sheet of the newspaper upon the cradle, +and glanced at his little boy, an infant of about three months old, who +was sleeping sweetly, and seemed to be sporting with heavenly cherubs +in his innocent dreams.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let us on no account think of the dear old house,' replied his wife, +taking up the newspaper and placing it on the table, without even +looking at the advertisement. 'We have a roof over our heads as long as +Mr. Stork will have patience about the rent. If we have bread enough +for ourselves, and for yon little angel, who will soon begin to want +some, we may well rest contented. Notwithstanding our poverty, we are, +perhaps, the happiest married couple in the whole town,' she added +gently, and with an affectionate smile, 'and we ought to thank our God +that he did not let the wide world separate us from each other, but +permitted you to return from your distant journey, healthy and +cheerful, and that he has granted us love and strength to bear our +little cross with patience.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are ever the same amiable and pious Johanna,' said Frants, +embracing the lovely young mother, who reminded him of an exquisite +picture of the Madonna he had seen abroad, 'and you have made me better +and more patient than I was, either by nature or by habit. But I really +cannot remain longer in this miserable garret--I have neither room nor +spirits to work here; and if I am to make anything by my handicraft, I +must have a proper workshop, and space to breathe in and to move in.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your good uncle's house, near the canal, is just the place for me; how +many jovial songs my old master and I have sung there together over our +joiner's bench! Ah! <i>then</i> I shall feel comfortable and at home. It was +there, also, that I first saw you--there, that I used to sit every +evening with you in the nice little parlour, with the cheerful green +wainscoting, when I came from the workshop with old Mr. Flok. I +remember how, on Sundays and on holidays, he used to take his silver +goblet from the cupboard in the alcove, and drink with me in such a +sociable way. And when my piece of trial-work as a journeyman was +finished, and the large, handsome coffin was put out in state in the +workshop, do you remember how glad the old man was, and how you sank +into my arms when he placed your hand in mine, over the coffin, and +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">'"Take her, Frants, and be worthy of her! My house shall be your home +and hers, and everything it contains shall be your property when I am +sleeping in this coffin, awaiting a blessed resurrection."'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah! but all that never came to pass,' sighed Johanna; 'the coffin lies +empty up in yonder loft, and frightens children in the dark. The dear +old house is under the ban of evil report, and no one will buy it, or +even hire it, now, so many strange, unfortunate deaths have taken place +there.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'These very circumstances are in our favour, Johanna; on account of +this state of things Mr. Stork will sell it at a great bargain, and +give a half year's credit for the purchase-money. In the course of six +months, surely, the long-protracted settlement of your uncle's affairs +will be brought to a close, and we shall, at least, have as much as +will pay what we owe. The house will then be our own, and you will see +how happy and prosperous we shall be. Surely, it is not the fault of +the poor house that three children died there of measles, and two +people of old age, in the course of a few months; and none but silly +old women can be frightened because the idle children in the street +choose to scratch upon the walls, "<i>The Doomed House</i>." The house is, +and always will be, liked by me, and if Mr. Stork will accept of my +offer for it, without any other security than my own word, that +dwelling shall be mine to-day, and we can move into it to-morrow.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, my dear Frants, you cannot think how reluctant I am to increase +our debt to this Mr. Stork. Believe me, he is not a good man, however +friendly and courteous he may seem to be. Even my uncle could not +always tolerate him, though it was not in his nature to dislike any of +God's creatures. Whenever Mr. Stork came, and began to talk about +business and bills--my uncle became silent and gloomy, and always gave +me a wink to retire to my chamber.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know very well Mr. Stork was looking after you then,' said Frants, +with a smile of self-satisfaction, 'but <i>I</i> was a more fortunate +suitor. It was a piece of folly on the part of the old bachelor; all +that, however, is forgotten now, and he has transferred the regard he +once had for you to me. He never duns me for my rent, he lent me money +at the time of the child's baptism, and he shows me more kindness than +anyone else does.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But I cannot endure the way in which he looks at me, Frants, and I put +no faith either in his friendship or his rectitude. The very house +that he is now about to sell he hardly came honestly by, as he gives +out--and I cannot understand how he has so large a claim upon the +property my uncle left; I never heard my uncle speak of it. God only +knows what will remain for us when all these heavy claims that have +been brought forward are satisfied; yet my uncle was considered a rich +man.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The lawyers and the proper court must settle that,' replied Frants; 'I +only know this, that I should be a fool if I did not buy the house +now.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But to say the truth, dear Frants,' urged Johanna, in a supplicating +tone, 'I am almost afraid to go back to that house, dear as every +corner of it has been to me from my childhood. I cannot reconcile +myself to the reality of the painful circumstances said to have +attended my poor uncle's death. And whenever I pass over <i>Long Bridge</i>, +and near the Dead-house for the drowned, with its low windows, I always +feel an irresistible impulse to look in, and see if he is not there +still, waiting to be placed in his proper coffin, and decently buried +in a churchyard.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah--your brain is conjuring up a parcel of old nursery tales, my +Johanna! We have nothing to fear from your good, kind uncle. If indeed +his spirit could be near us, here on earth, it would only bring us +blessings and happiness. I am quite easy on that score; he was a pious, +God-fearing man, and there was nothing in his life to disturb his +repose after death. Report said that he had drowned himself on purpose, +but I am quite convinced that was not true. If I had not unluckily been +away on my travels as a journeyman, and you with your dying aunt--your +mother's sister, we would most likely have had him with us now. How +often I have warned him against sailing about alone in Kalleboe Bay! +But he would go every Sunday. As long as I was in his employ, I always +made a point of accompanying him, and when I went away he promised me +never to go without a boatman.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas! that was an unfortunate Christmas!' sighed Johanna, 'it was not +until he had been advertised as missing in the newspapers, and Mr. +Stork had recognized his corpse at the Dead-house for the drowned, and +had caused him to be secretly buried as a suicide,--it was not until +all this was over, that I knew he had not been put into his own coffin, +and laid in consecrated ground.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let us not grieve longer, dear Johanna, for what it was not in our +power to prevent; but let us rather, in respect to the memory of our +kind benefactor, put the house in order which he occupied and where he +worked for us, inhabit it cheerfully, and rescue it from mysterious +accusations and evil reports. <i>Our</i> welfare was all he thought of, and +laboured for.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'As you will then, dear Frants!' said Johanna, yielding to his +arguments. She hastened at the same moment to take up from its cradle +the child, who had just awoke, and holding it out to its young father, +she added, 'May God protect this innocent infant, and spare it to us!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Frants kissed the mother and the child, smoothed his brown hair, and +taking his hat down from its peg, he hurried off to conclude the +purchase on which he had set his heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">He returned in great spirits, and the next day the little family +removed to the house which belonged to Mr. Flok, Frants was rejoiced to +see his old master's furniture, which he had bought at an auction, +restored to its former place, and he felt almost as if the easy-chair +and the bureau, formerly in the immediate use of the old man, must +share in his gladness. But the baker's wife at the corner of the street +shrugged her shoulders, and pitied the handsome young couple, whom she +considered doomed to sickness and misfortune, because five corpses +within the last six months had been carried out of that house; and +because there was an inscription on its walls, that however often it +had been effaced had always reappeared. 'Et Forbandet Haus'--'The +Doomed House'--stood there, written in red characters, and all the old +crones in the neighbourhood affirmed that the words were <i>written in +blood!</i></p> + +<p class="normal">'Mark my words,' said the baker's wife at the corner of the street, to +her daughter, 'before the year is at an end, we shall have another +coffin carried out of that house.'</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal"> +Frants the joiner had bestirred himself to set all to rights in the +long-neglected workshop, and Johanna had put the house in nice order, +and arranged everything as it used to be in days gone by. The little +parlour, with the green wainscoting and the old fashioned alcove, had +its former chairs and tables replaced in it; the bureau occupied its +ancient corner, and the easy-chair again stood near the stove, and +seemed to await its master's return. Often, as the young couple sat +together in the twilight, while the blaze of the fire in the stove cast +a cheerful glare through its little grated door on the hearth beneath, +they missed the old man, and talked of him with sadness and affection. +But Johanna would sometimes glance timidly at the empty leather +arm-chair--and when the moon shone in through the small window panes, +she would at times even fancy that she saw her uncle sitting there--but +pale and bloody, and with dripping wet hair.</p> + +<p class="normal">She would then exclaim, 'Let us have lights; the baby seems restless. I +must see what is the matter with it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">One evening there were no candles downstairs. She had to go for them up +to the storeroom in the garret. She lighted a small taper that was in +the lantern, and went out of the room, while Frants rocked the infant's +cradle to lull it to sleep. But she had only been a few minutes gone, +when he heard a noise as if of some one having fallen down in the loft +above, and he also thought he heard Johanna scream; he quitted the +cradle instantly, and rushing upstairs after her, he found her lying in +a swoon near the coffin, with the lantern in her hand, though its light +was extinguished. Exceedingly alarmed he carried her downstairs, +relighted the taper, and used every effort to recover her from her +fainting fit. When she was better, and somewhat composed, he asked in +much anxiety what had happened. 'Oh! I am as timid as a foolish child,' +said Johanna. 'It was only my poor uncle's coffin up yonder that +frightened me. I would have begged you to go and fetch the candles, but +I was ashamed to own my silly fears, and when the current of air blew +out the light in my lantern up there, it seemed to me as if a spectre's +death-cold breathing passed over my face, and I fancied I saw amidst +the gloom the lid of the coffin rising--so I fainted away in my +childish terror.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That coffin shall not frighten you again,' said Frants, 'I will +advertise it to-morrow for sale.' He did so, but ineffectually, for no +one bought it.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day Mr. Stork made his appearance, bringing with him the contract +and deed of sale.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was a tall, strongly-built man, with a countenance by no means +pleasant, though it almost always wore a smile; but the smile, if +narrowly scrutinized, had a sinister expression, and seemed to convulse +his features. He sported a gaudy waistcoat, and was dressed like an old +bachelor, who was going on some matrimonial expedition, and wished to +conceal his age. This day he was even more complaisant than usual, +praised the beauty of the infant, remarked its likeness to its lovely +mother, and offered Frants a loan of money to purchase new furniture, +and make any improvements he might wish in the interior of the house. +Franks thanked him, but declined the offer, assuring him that he was +quite satisfied with the house and furniture as they were, and wished +everything about him to wear its former aspect. However, he said, he +certainly would like to enlarge the workshop by adding to it the old +lumber-room at the back of the house, the entrance to which he found +was closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mr. Stork then informed him that there was a door on the opposite side +of the lumber-room, which opened into the house <i>he</i> occupied, and that +he had lately been using this empty place as a cellar for his firewood; +but he readily promised to have it cleared out as speedily as possible, +and to have the entrance into his own house stopped up.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yet,' he added, in a very gracious manner, 'it is hardly necessary to +have any separation between the two houses, when I have such +respectable and agreeable neighbours as yourselves.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What made you look so crossly at that excellent Mr. Stork, Johanna?' +asked her husband, when their visitor was gone. 'I am sure he is +kindness itself. He cannot really help that he has that unfortunate +contortion of the mouth, which gives a peculiar expression to his +countenance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I sincerely wish we had some other person as our neighbour, and had +nothing to do with him!' exclaimed Johanna. 'I do not feel safe with +such a man near us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Frants now worked with equal diligence and patience--and often remained +until a late hour in the workshop, especially if he had any order to +finish. He preferred cabinet-making to the more common branches of his +trade, and was always delighted when he had any pretty piece of +furniture to construct from one of the finer sorts of wood. But he was +best known as a coffin-maker, and necessity compelled him to undertake +more of this gloomy kind of work than he liked. Often when he was +finishing a coffin, he would reflect upon all the sorrow, and perhaps +calamity which the work, that provided him and his with bread, would +bring into the house into which it was destined to enter. And when he +met people in high health and spirits, on the public promenades, he +frequently sighed to think how soon he might be engaged in nailing +together the last earthly resting-places of these animated forms.</p> + +<p class="normal">One night he was so much occupied in finishing a large coffin, that he +did not remark how late it had become, until he heard the watchman call +out 'Twelve.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment he fancied he heard a hollow voice behind him say,</p> + +<p class="normal">'Still hammering! And for whom is that coffin?'</p> + +<p class="normal">He started--dropped the hammer from his hand--and looked round in +terror, but no one was to be seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is the old gloomy thoughts creeping back into my mind, and +affecting my brain, now at this ghastly hour of midnight,' said he; but +he put away the hammer and nails, and took up his light to go to his +bed-room. Before he reached the door of the workshop, however, the +candle which had burned down very low--quite in the socket of the +candlestick, suddenly went out. He was left in the dark, and in vain he +groped about to find the door--at any other time he would have laughed +at the circumstance, but now it rather added to his annoyance that +three times he found himself at the door of the lumber-room, instead of +getting hold of the one which opened into his house. The third time he +came to it, he stopped and listened, for he fancied he heard something +moving within the empty room; a light also glimmered through a chink in +the door which was fastened, and on listening more attentively he +thought he distinctly heard a sound as if buckets of water were being +dashed over the floor, and some one scrubbing it with a brush. 'It is +an odd time to scour the floor,' he thought, and then knocking at the +door, and raising his voice--he called out loudly to ask who was there, +and what they were doing at so late an hour. At that moment the light +disappeared, and all became as still as death.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I must have been mistaken,' thought Frants, as he again tried to find +the door he had at first sought. In spite of himself, a dread of some +evil--or of something supernatural, seemed to haunt him, and the image +of his old master--who was drowned--appeared before him in that dark +workshop, where they had spent so many cheerful hours together. At last +he found the door, and retired as quickly as possible to his chamber, +where his wife and child were both fast asleep. He, too, at length fell +asleep, but he was restless in his slumbers, and disturbed by strange +dreams. In the course of the night he dreamed that his wife's uncle, +Mr. Flok, stood before him, and said,</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why was I not placed in my coffin? Why was I not laid in a Christian +burying-ground? Seek, and you will find--destroy the curse, before it +destroys you also!'</p> + +<p class="normal">In the morning when he awoke he looked so pale and ill that Johanna was +quite alarmed; but he did not like to frighten her by telling her his +dreams, and, indeed, he was ashamed at the impression they had made +upon himself, for, notwithstanding all the confidence he had expressed +on coming to the house, he could not help feeling nervous and +uncomfortable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nor did the unpleasant sensation wear off, his gay spirits vanished, +and he was also unhappy because the time was approaching when the +purchase-money for the house would become due, and the settlement of +the old man's affairs, to which he had looked forward in expectation of +obtaining his wife's inheritance, seemed to be as far off as ever. He +found it difficult to meet the small daily expenses of his family, and +he feared the threatening future.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Seek and you will find!' he repeated to himself; 'destroy the curse +before it destroys you! What curse? I begin to fear that there really +is some evil doom connected with this house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">It was also a very unaccountable circumstance that however often he +scratched out the mysterious inscription from the wall--'The Doomed +House'--it appeared again next day in characters as fresh and red as +ever. His health began to give way under all his anxiety, and the child +also became ill. One evening he had been taking a solitary walk to a +spot which had now a kind of morbid fascination for him--the Dead-house +for the drowned--and when he returned home, he found Johanna weeping by +the cradle of her suffering infant.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You were right,' he exclaimed, 'we were happier in our humble garret +than in this ill-fated house. Would that we had remained there! Tell +me, Johanna, of what are you thinking? Has the doctor been here? What +does he say of our dear little one?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If it should get worse towards night, there lies our last hope,' she +replied, pointing towards the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Frants took up the prescription, and gazed on the incomprehensible +Latin words, as if therein he would have read his fate. The tears stood +in his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And to-morrow,' said Johanna, 'to-morrow will be a day of misery. Have +you any means of paying Mr. Stork?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'None whatever! But <i>that</i> is a small evil compared to <i>this</i>,' he +answered, as he pointed to the feverish and moaning infant. 'Have you +been to the workshop?' he continued, after a pause, 'the large coffin +is finished; perhaps it may be our own last home--it would hold us +all!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh! if that could only be!' exclaimed Johanna, as she threw her arms +round him. 'Could we only all three be removed together to a better +world, there would be no more sorrow for us! But the hour of separation +is close at hand; to-morrow, if you cannot pay Mr. Stork, you will be +cast into prison, and I shall sit alone here with that dying child!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What do you say? Cast into prison! How do you know that? Has that man +been here frightening you? He has not hinted a syllable of such a +threat to me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Johanna then related to him how Mr. Stork had latterly often called, +under pretence of wishing to see Frants, but always when he was out. He +had made himself very much at home, and had overwhelmed her with +compliments and flattering speeches; he had also declared frequently +that he would not trouble Frants for the money he owed him, if she +would pay the debt in another manner. At first, she said, she did not +understand him, and when she <i>did</i> comprehend his meaning, she did not +like to mention it to Frants, for fear of his taking the matter up +warmly, and quarrelling with Stork, which would bring ruin on himself. +Mr. Stork, however, had become more bold and presuming, and that very +evening, on her repelling his advances and desiring him to quit her +presence, he had threatened that if she mentioned a syllable of what +had passed to her husband, nay, farther, if she were not prepared to +change her behaviour towards himself before another sun had set, Frants +should be thrown into prison for debt, and might congratulate himself +in that pleasant abode on the fidelity of his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well,' said Frants, with forced composure, 'he has got me in his +toils--but his pitiful baseness shall not crush me. I have, indeed, +been blind not to detect the villany that lay behind that satanic +smile, and improvident to let myself be deluded by his pretended +friendship. But if the Almighty will only spare and protect you, and +that dear child, I shall not lose courage. Be comforted, my Johanna!'</p> + +<p class="normal">It was now growing late--the child awoke from the restless sleep of +fever--it seemed worse, and Frants ran to an apothecary with the +prescription. 'The last hope!' he sighed, as he hurried along; 'and if +it should fail--who will console poor Johanna to-morrow evening, when I +am in a prison, and she has to clad the child in its grave clothes! Oh, +how we shall miss you--sweet little angel! Was <i>this</i> the happiness I +dreamt of in the old house? Yes--people are right--it <i>is</i> accursed!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The apothecary's shop was closed, but the prescription had been taken +in through a little aperture in the door, and Frants sat down on the +stone steps to wait until the medicine was ready. It was a clear, +starry December night, but the sorrowing father sat shivering in the +cold, and gazing gloomily on the frozen pavement--he was not thinking +of the stars or of the skies. The watchman passed and bade him 'good +morning.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It will be a good morning, indeed, for me,' thought poor Frants. 'A +morning fraught with despair.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the clock of a neighbouring church struck <i>one</i>, and the +watchman sang, in a full, bass voice, these simple words:</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px"> +'Help us, O Jesus dear!<br> +Our earthly cross to bear;<br> +Oh! grant us patience <i>here</i>,<br> +And be our Saviour <i>there!</i>'</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">Frants heard the pious song, and a change seemed to come over his +spirit--he raised his saddened eye to the magnificent heavens +above--gazed at the calm stars which studded the deep blue +vault--clasped his hands and joined in the watchman's concluding +words--</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help<br> +To make our burden light.'</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">A small phial with the medicine was just then handed out to him, +through the little sliding window; he paid his last coin for it, and, +full of hope that <i>his</i> burden might be lightened, hastened to his +home.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did you hear what the watchman was singing, Johanna?' asked Frants, +when he entered the little green parlour, where the young mother was +watching by her child.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hush, hush,' she whispered, 'he has fallen into an easy and quiet +sleep. God will have pity upon us--our child will do well now.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, Johanna, you look as happy as if an angel from heaven had been +with you, telling you blessed truths.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, blessed truths have, as it were, been communicated to me from +heaven!' replied Johanna, pointing to an old Bible which lay open upon +the table. 'Look! this is my good uncle's family Bible--that I have not +seen since he died, and God forgive me--I have thought too little +lately of my Bible. I found this one to-night far back on the highest +shelf of the alcove--and its holy words have given me strength and +comfort. Read this passage, Frants, about putting our whole trust in +the Lord, whatever may befall us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Frants read the portion pointed out to him, and then began to turn over +the leaves of the well-worn, silver-clasped book. He found a number of +pieces of paper here and there, but as he saw at a glance that they +were only accounts and receipts, he did not care to examine them, but +his attention was suddenly caught by a paper which appeared to be part +of a journal kept by the old man, the last year of his life. He looked +through it eagerly, Johanna observed with surprise how his countenance +was darkening. At length he started up and exclaimed,</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is horrible!--horrible--Johanna! Some one must have sought to take +your uncle's life. See, here it is in his own handwriting--listen!' and +he read aloud:</p> + +<p class="normal">'God grant that my enemy's wicked plot may not succeed! Why did I let +my gold get into such iniquitous hands, and place my life at the mercy +of one more ferocious than a wild beast? He has, cunningly plundered me +of my wealth--he has bound my tongue by an oath--and now he seeks to +take my life in secret. But my money will not prosper in his unworthy +hands--and accursed be the house over whose threshold his feet pass. +There are human beings who can ruin others in all worldly matters, but +mortal man has no power over the spirit when death sets it free.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What can this mean?' cried Frants, almost wild with excitement. Who is +the mortal enemy to whom he alludes, but whom he does not name? Who has +got possession of his house and his means? The same person, no doubt, +who bound him by an oath to silence, and threatened his life in secret; +who proclaimed to the world that he had drowned himself, and caused him +to be buried like a suicide? Why was no other acquaintance called to +recognize the body? We have no certainty that the drowned man was he. +Perhaps his bones lie nearer to us than we imagine. Ha! old master, in +my dream I heard you say, "Seek, and you shall find--why was I not +put into consecrated ground?" Johanna! what do you think about that +old lumber-room? There have been some mysterious doings there at +midnight--there are some still--that floor is washed while we are +sleeping. Before to-morrow's sun can rise I shall have searched that +den of murder, from one end to the other.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, dearest Frants, how wildly you talk; you make me tremble.'</p> + +<p class="normal">But as Frants was determined to go, she sat down by the cradle to watch +her sleeping child, while he took a light and proceeded to the +workshop. There he seized a hatchet and crow bar, and thus provided +with implements, he approached the door of the locked chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The room belongs to me,' said he to himself, 'who has a right to +prevent me from entering it?'</p> + +<p class="normal">To force the door by the aid of the iron crowbar, was the work of an +instant, and without the slightest hesitation he went in, though it +must be confessed he felt a momentary panic. But that wore off +immediately, and he began at once to examine the place. Nothing +appeared, however, to excite suspicion. There were some sacks of wood +in a corner, and he emptied these, almost expecting to see one of them +filled with the bones of dead men, but there was no vestige of anything +of the kind. The floor seemed to be recently washed, for it was yet +scarcely dry. He then began to take up the boards. At that moment he +heard the handle of the door which led into the neighbouring house +turning; holding the hatchet in one hand, and the light, high above his +head, in the other, he put himself in an attitude of defence, while he +called out:</p> + +<p class="normal">'Has anyone a desire to assist me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Presently all was still. Frants put down his light, and began again +hammering at the boards; almost unconsciously he also began to hum +aloud an air which his old master used always to sing when he was +engaged in finishing any piece of work. But he had not hammered or +hummed long before the handle of the door was again turned. This time +the door opened, and a tall, white figure slowly entered, with an +expression of countenance as hellish as if its owner had just come from +the abode of evil spirits.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What, at it again, old man? Will you go on hammering and nailing till +Doomsday? Must that song be heard to all eternity?' said a hollow but +well-known voice--and Frants recognized with horror the ghastly-pale +and wild-looking sleep-walker, who, with eyes open--but fixed and +glazed--and hair standing on end, had come in his night-gear from his +sleeping-chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where didst thou lay my bones?' said Frants, as if he had become +suddenly insane. 'Why was I not placed in my coffin?--why did I not +enter a Christian burying-ground?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your bones are safe enough,' replied the pallid terrible-looking +dreamer, 'no one will harm them under my pear-tree.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But whom didst thou bury under my name--as a self-murderer, when thou +didst fasten on me the stain of guilt in death?' asked Frants, +astonished and frightened at the sound of his own voice, for it seemed +to him as if a spirit from the other world were speaking through his +lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It was the beggar,' replied the wretched somnambulist, with a +frightful contortion of his fiendish face, a sort of triumphant grin. +'It was only the foreign beggar to whom you gave your old grey cloak +... but whom I drove from my door that Christmas-eve.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where <i>he</i> lies shalt thou rot--by <i>his</i> side shalt thou meet me on +the great day of doom!' cried Frants, who hardly knew what he was +saying. He had scarcely uttered these words when he heard a fearful +sound, something between a shriek and a groan--and he stood alone with +his light and his hatchet--for the howling figure had disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Was it a dream,' gasped Frants, 'or am I mad? Away, away from this +scene of murder--but I know <i>now</i> where I shall find that which I +seek.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He returned to Johanna, who was sitting quietly by the still sleeping +child, and was reading the holy Scriptures.</p> + +<p class="normal">Frants did not tell her what had taken place, and she was afraid to +ask; he persuaded her to retire to rest, while he himself sat up all +night to examine further the papers in the old Bible. The next day he +carried them to a magistrate, and the whole case was brought before a +court of justice for legal inquiry and judgment.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal"> +'Was I not right when I said that a coffin would come out of that +house before the end of the year?' exclaimed the baker's wife at +the corner of the street, to her daughter, when, some time after, a +richly-ornamented coffin was borne out of Frants's house. The funeral +procession, headed by Frants himself, was composed of all the joiners +and most respectable artisans in the town, dressed in black.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is the coffin of old Mr. Flok,' said the baker's daughter, 'he is +now going to be <i>really</i> buried, they say; I wonder if it be true that +his bones were found under a tree in Mr. Stork's garden.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Quite true,' responded a fishwoman, setting down her creel, while she +looked at the funeral procession.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Young Mr. Frants had everything proved before the judge--and that +avaricious old Stork will have to give up his ill-gotten goods.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ay--and his ill-conducted life too, perhaps,' said the man who kept +the little tavern near; 'if all be true that folks say, he murdered the +worthy Mr. Flok.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I always thought that fellow would be hanged some day or other--he +tried to cheat me whenever he could,' added the baker's wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But they must catch him first,' said another; 'nothing has been seen +of him these last three or four days.'</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal"> +On Christmas-eve there sat a cheerful family in the late Mr. Flok's +house near the canal. The child had quite recovered, and Frants, +filling the old silver goblet with wine, drank many happy returns of +the season to his dear Johanna.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How little we expected a short time ago to be so comfortable now!' he +exclaimed. 'Here we are, in our own house, which was intended for us by +your kind uncle. I am no longer compelled to nail away alone at coffins +until midnight, but can undertake more pleasant work, and keep +apprentices and journeymen to assist me. My good old master's name is +freed from reproach, and his remains now rest in consecrated ground, +awaiting a blessed and joyful resurrection.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The lumber-room with its fearful recollections was shut up. The outside +of the house was painted anew--and the mysterious inscription on the +wall, thus obliterated, never reappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">Frants had occasion one day, shortly after this favourable turn in +their affairs, to cross the long bridge; and as he passed near the +Dead-house for the drowned, he went up to the little window, saying to +himself--'Now I can look in without any superstitious fears, for I know +that my old master never drowned himself,--THAT foul stain is no longer +attached to his memory; and his remains have at length obtained +Christian burial.'</p> + +<p class="normal">But when he glanced through the window he started back in horror, for +the discoloured and swollen features of a dead man met his view, and in +the dreadful-looking countenance before him, he recognized that of the +murderer--Stork--who had been missing some time.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Miserable being!' he exclaimed, 'and you have ended your guilty career +by the same crime with which you charged an innocent man! None will +miss you in this world except the executioner, whose office you have +taken on yourself. I know that you had planned my death, but enemy as +you were, I shall have you laid decently in the grave, and may the +Almighty have mercy on your soul!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Prosperity continued to attend the young couple--but the lessons of the +past had taught them how unstable is all earthly good; the old family +Bible--now a frequent and favourite study--became the guide of their +conduct; and when their happiness was clouded by any misfortune, as all +the happiness of this passing life must sometimes be, they resigned +themselves without a murmur to the will of Providence, reminding each +other of the watchman's song on that memorable night when all hope +seemed to have abandoned them:</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">'Redeemer, grant Thy blessed help<br> +To make our burden light.'</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_felon" href="#div1Ref_felon">THE FELON'S REVERIE.</a></h2> + +<hr class="W20"> + + +<p class="normal">In a narrow cell sat one who was a prisoner for life. Around him were +the four dingy walls, covered with great black characters, scratched +thereon at sundry times with bits of charcoal: but there was no +pleasure in reading these hieroglyphics, for they were the fruit of +solitude and melancholy, whose heavy, heavy thoughts had thus expressed +themselves. High up was placed the little window, the only connection +with life, with nature, and with the heavens; but the black iron bars +kept watch over that, and obscured the clear daylight. The links of his +chain, round his hand and his foot, kept the prisoner bound in his +dreary cage, but they could not fetter the soul's deep longing after +liberty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Days and years had passed in this gloomy cell. A charming, fresh +summer's morning it was, when the door of this prison was first closed +on him, and when he was told that Death alone should set him free. Here +he had remained ever since; severed from the rest of mankind, shut up +from them as if he had been a wild beast; and their farewell words to +him had been--that Death alone was to be his deliverer. This was so +dreadful a thought that he did all he could to drive it away. He worked +diligently, he whistled, he sang, and he engraved strange names and +figures on the walls. He frequently gazed up at the window, though he +could only see through it a dead wall, but over that wall were the blue +skies. He soon came to know every stone in the wall; he knew where the +sun cast its streaks of light: where the little streams of water +trickled down when it rained; there was more variety in the sky--it +seemed to have compassion upon him, for sometimes the clouds were +chased along by the wind; sometimes they assumed strange, fantastic +shapes, and arrayed themselves in crimson and gold, like the gorgeous +garb of royalty; and sometimes they hung in heavy, dark masses over the +lofty wall--the boundary of his external world. But he saw no living +things; and once, when a daring swallow rested for a few minutes on the +outside ledge of his iron-barred window, he scarcely breathed, in his +anxiety to enjoy the sight of it as long as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">Winter was his saddest time, for <i>then</i> the snow blocked up his +little window, and intervened between him and the skies; then, too, it +became so early dark, and daylight was so long of coming. He sang and +whistled no longer; he worked, indeed, but not so diligently, for his +tormentor--<i>thought</i>--had more power over him. During the short day he +could partly escape it; but when it became dark--oh! what had it not +then to recall to him! And the worst was, he was obliged to bear it +all. He could have silenced another, but he could not hush the voice +that spoke within himself. In vain he sought to banish remembrance; it +<i>would</i> haunt him: so he dropped his head upon his hands, and listened.</p> + +<p class="normal">And it spoke to him of the time when he was a little boy with rosy +cheeks, who had never done harm to a living being, and who sat or lay +in the bright sunshine, humming the song his mother had taught him. And +that mother, who loved him so dearly, who worked for him during the +day, and slept with him at night--well! She was dead, God be praised! +'Perhaps if she had lived,' said he to himself. No, no! Does he not +remember well one day, when the little boy with rosy cheeks was coming +from school, that he passed a blind old man who was begging, and +holding out his hat in his hand, that he dived quickly into the hat, +and caught up the pence some charitable persons had placed in it? No +one saw him--no one knew that he had done this--why does he now +remember it with such bitter regret?</p> + +<p class="normal">His mother died, and a neighbouring family received the orphan kindly; +consoled and caressed him, and he slept by the side of their dog. But +they were very poor themselves, and could not maintain him long; +therefore he was sent to other people, where some one paid a small +board for him, and where he, the little stranger, was far from being +well treated. He had too little to eat--and he stole food; therefore he +was ignominiously turned away, and he fell among wicked people. They +talked to him of the paths of virtue--but they followed vicious courses +themselves, and he laughed at their admonitions. He grew older, and he +went to be confirmed<a name="div2Ref_07" href="#div2_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a> in the House of God; and there he was admitted +to the Holy Sacrament. The priest laid his hand with blessings on his +head, and he there pledged his heart to God, and vowed to forsake all +sin. How comes it that he now so distinctly remembers the solemn tones +of the organ as he was leaving the church, and the large painting of +the Saviour close by the altar, which he had turned to look at once +more before he passed from the crowded aisle? He had never been in that +church again to pray--alas! never.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had, indeed, been there again--but it was on another and a reprobate +errand--and <i>then</i> he was young at that time, and reflected less. Ah! +<i>then</i>, too, he thought more of the young and beautiful girl who had +knelt next to him at the altar, and with whom he had afterwards taken a +quiet walk. On other evenings he was wont to spend his time with some +wild, bad companions, and to join in their giddy mirth and mischievous +sports; but that evening, their company wearied and disgusted him, and +he followed the young girl to her father's house. He had now become an +apprentice: but he was careless and idle: to sit hard at work did not +suit his taste. And yet these were pleasant days when he looked back on +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">He became a journeyman, and was betrothed to his pretty friend of the +Confirmation-day. She had gone into service, and was a hard-working, +honest, well-principled girl; <i>he</i> continued to be idle. Often and +often she entreated him to be more industrious, to seek work, and not +to waste his time on riot and strife; and often he promised to reform. +But his only reformation was, that he took more pains to conceal from +her his bad habits. When he was sitting with her, and her anxious look +rested upon his dull eyes, or his faded cheek, he felt that it was time +to stop in his career of evil, and resolved to become a steady and +respectable workman. But these good resolutions vanished when he left +her presence. At length the evil spirit within him conquered; he wanted +money, and stole a watch from a fellow-workman. Then the arm of the law +seized him, never again to let him go.</p> + +<p class="normal">After he had undergone the punishment awarded to his theft, he came, +abashed and with downcast eyes, to his betrothed; but she had heard of +his guilt. With bitter tears she reproached him for his conduct, and +she forbade him ever again to show himself in her presence. He was +furious at her reception of him, and left her, vowing to be revenged. +Many wild schemes rushed through his brain:--now he determined to +murder her; now, that she should also be dragged into disgrace. But one +day he met her in the street, and her pale, tearful, melancholy +countenance disarmed his wrath, and annihilated his plans of revenge.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now, as the prisoner scrawls absently with that rusty nail on the +wall, and his sunken eyes fill with warm tears, what is memory +recalling to his saddened mind? Ah! is it not that short-lived time of +early affection--is it not those sweet, calm features--those speaking +eyes--that love, so true and so pure? Perhaps his fancy paints himself +as an honest, industrious citizen, as a happy husband and father, +with <i>her</i> by his side, and in a very different place from that dreary +cell--in a comfortable home, enjoying all that he so madly threw +away--love, happiness and respectability! But his thoughts wander on; +he throws the nail away from him, and leans back, with arms folded +across his chest.</p> + +<p class="normal">He left the town and went into the country. There was a voice in his +soul which urged him to reform. 'Return, return!' it said; 'return, for +there is yet time!' But another voice also spoke--that of the demon +which enslaved him; and that demon was--THE HABIT OF IDLENESS. +Unhappily he then fell in with a depraved wretch--a villain experienced +in crime--an escaped convict. They wandered about among the peasantry +and begged; but every door was closed against his companion, with +unmistakable signs of terror and distrust.</p> + +<p class="normal">One summer night they had taken shelter in a stable, and he had fallen +fast asleep. He was awakened by his comrade. 'Get up,' said he, 'men +will give us nothing--the Lord must help us, therefore.' He thought the +man alluded to some intended theft, and accompanied him without the +least reluctance. They stole along the gardens and fences on towards +the churchyard. He stopped his guide.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What are we to do here? 'he asked, with uneasiness. 'You surely will +not--'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What?' asked the other, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, let the dead rest in peace!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Fool!' cried the convict, 'do you think I am going to meddle with the +dead? Follow me!'</p> + +<p class="normal">And he scaled the walls of the churchyard, and broke open the Gothic +door of the church. Now he understood what his companion meant to do; +but his heart beat as if it would have started out of his breast. As he +went up the aisle, he felt as if he had lead in his shoes--as if the +flooring held him back at every step--as if it were a whole mile to +reach the altar. He had not entered the house of God since the day he +had been there to take upon himself his baptismal vow, and dedicate his +life to his Creator; and now--now he stood there to plunder! His hands +trembled violently, as he held open the sack for his comrade, who cast +into it the silver cups, the silver salvers, and everything that he +could find of value; and had it not been for fear of his ferocious +associate, he would assuredly have thrown down the sack and fled, for +he thought that the picture of Christ over the altar looked earnestly +and reproachfully at him. When his companion looked up from his +sacrilegious work, and observed his eyes fixed, as it were, by some +fearful fascination on the picture, he nodded to it in a scoffing +manner, and then closed the sack, and left the church.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they were out of it, the prisoner breathed more freely; and when +they placed themselves on a tombstone to divide the booty, he received +without hesitation the portion that his comrade chose to allot to him. +They buried their treasure in the earth, and separated. But the massive +altar-plate could not easily be disposed of. He was in want; he begged +from door to door, but he was driven from them all; so he had again +recourse to stealing. Since the night that he had been drawn into +robbing the church, he had felt that he was an outcast from the whole +world--an outcast from God himself. He knew that punishment was sure to +overtake him, and he was miserable. His companion in guilt was soon +after arrested; he confessed all, and they were both imprisoned, and +put to hard labour.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he had not yet quite lost all hope. He determined to work in future +for his daily bread. He came out of gaol a half-savage, half-frightened +being--lonely and deserted--bearing upon him that brand of infamy which +never more could be erased; but he had made up his mind to labour, and +he went far away to seek for employment.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the harvest-time. God had blessed the fields, and there were not +reapers enough to gather in the corn. No question was asked whence he +came, but his services were immediately accepted. There was something +in this display of the bounty of the Creator, in this activity, in this +working in the free open air, that pleased him; for the first time in +his life he toiled cheerfully. But the country people did not like him; +his look was downcast and dark--he was rough and passionate, abrupt in +speech, and he spoke little. After the farm-servants had one day +proposed to him to go to church, and he had refused positively, but +with an air of embarrassment, he was looked upon with great suspicion. +There was but one face that always smiled at him, and that was the face +of the youngest boy upon the farm. He had won the child's heart by +having once cut out some little boats for him, and sailed them in the +pond; and from that time the child always clapped his hands with joy +when he saw him. It was so new, so delightful to him to be beloved, +that he felt himself insensibly attracted towards the little creature. +He indulged him in all his childish whims, carried him about in his +arms, made toys for him, and seemed to feel himself well rewarded by +the innocent child's attachment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus passed the winter. Peace, hitherto unknown to him, was creeping +into his heart; and when he stood in spring on the fields with the +sprouting seeds, and heard the lark's blithe carol, a new light began +to dawn on his benighted mind. One day, when he returned from the +fields towards the farm-yard, his little friend ran up to him, jumping +and playing. He stretched out his arms to the child, but in an instant +he started back, pale and horror-stricken. His former associate stood +before him, with a malignant smile upon his sinister countenance, and +held out his hand to him, while he said, in a tone of bitter irony,--</p> + +<p class="normal">'So, from all I hear, you are playing the honest man in the place! +Excuse me for interrupting your rural content, but I have been longing +so much for you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Away, demon!' cried the unfortunate man. 'Go, go, and leave me in +peace!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not so fast!' replied the other, with a withering sneer. 'I have told +the people of the farm who you are. Do you think I am going to lose so +useful a comrade?'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the grandfather of the child came up, and when he saw +the little boy in the arms of him whom he had just been told was a +malefactor, he snatched him hurriedly away, in spite of the child's +tears and cries; and applying many abusive epithets to the man, ordered +him instantly to leave the farm. The disturber of his peace carried him +off with him, while his fiendish laughter rang around!</p> + +<p class="normal">See! the prisoner's chest is heaving with emotion. Hark! what deep +sighs seem to rend his heart, while a few scalding tears are falling +from his eyes! Of what is he dreaming now?</p> + +<p class="normal">He sees himself, in the grey dawn of day, stealthily creeping along the +hedges that surround the farm, to catch a glimpse of his little +favourite. He beholds the infant's soft cheek wet with the tears of +affection; he feels his tiny arms clasped lightly round his neck; the +kind words of farewell ring in his ears; he listens again for the sound +of the retiring little footsteps, as the child is leaving him, and sees +the little hand waving to him a last adieu from the door of his +mother's house. As he then threw himself down beneath the hedge on the +dewy grass, and burst into tears, he now hides his face on his hard +pallet, and sobs aloud.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he has risen from that recumbent position. He wrings his hands, and +his teeth chatter, in his solitary cell. What horror is passing through +his mind? What agonizing remembrance has seized him, and is shaking +soul and body, as the roaring tempest shakes the falling leaves? Let it +stand forth from its dark concealment! In vain he presses his hands on +his bloodshot eyes not to behold that scene--in vain he tries to close +his ears against those voices--the blackest night of his gloomy prison +cannot veil <i>that</i> picture, for it arises from the darkest depths of +his inmost soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">Listen how his evil-minded associate tempts him, and draws him on!</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yon old man at the farm has plenty of money--ready money--do you hear? +Do you think I lost my time there? His daughter and her husband are his +heirs; they do not need his gold so much as we do. The old man sleeps +in that low house near the larger one. It is but a step through the +window, and we shall be rich for a long time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But what if he should awake, and recognize us?' asked the prisoner, +with much anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other made a gesture which shocked him. He started back.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, no!' he cried, shuddering; 'no blood!'</p> + +<p class="normal">His companion laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What matters it whether the old man dies a few days sooner or later? +People have generally no objection to the death of those to whom they +are to be heirs. And have you forgotten how roughly he spoke to you? +How he abused you, and drove you away? At that time I am sure you +thirsted for revenge. Besides, how are you going to live? Perhaps you +think you may find some good-natured fool to take a fancy to you; but +you forget that <i>I</i> like you too well to separate from you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Want, fear, revengeful feelings, got the better of him; but at night, +when like two spectres they glided along the road, it seemed to him +constantly as if some one saw him; and notwithstanding his companion's +ridicule, he frequently looked back. And truly there was ONE who +watched him, but not with any mortal eye. They opened the window, and +got in one after the other, and easily found the old man's desk, which +was in the next room. The robber's practised hand soon opened it, and +he was about to take its contents, when the door of the bedroom was +suddenly thrown back and rapidly shut, and the old man, who was still +hale and strong, entered, armed with a thick cudgel. A short but +furious struggle ensued; he remembered having seized him by the back of +his neck with both his hands, and dragged him down on the floor; he +remembered having heard some dull blows, that made him shiver with +horror, and then having stood in breathless dismay by a dead body. The +two criminals looked at each other with faces of ashy hue; then the +most hardened kicked the corpse to one side, and went to secure the +booty, while the prisoner opened the door of the sleeping-room to +search it.</p> + +<p class="normal">But--oh, anguish unspeakable! oh, avenging God!--who should spring +forward to meet him, clinging to his knees and imploring his +protection--who but his innocent, unfortunate little favourite! He +started back, speechless and powerless; but when he beheld his comrade, +without uttering one word, brandish his knife, he clasped the child +with one arm in a convulsive embrace, and stretched out the other to +defend him against the ruffian.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Shall he be left to betray us both to-morrow?' mumbled the wretch. 'He +must die, for your sake as well as mine.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, let us take him with us!' prayed the other, in the deepest +agitation, while he tried to keep off the knife, which, however, he did +with difficulty, as the child held fast to his arm, and, in his terror +at the murderous weapon, hid his little face on that breast where he +had so often rested in happy confidence, his silver voice murmuring his +childish love.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are mad,' said his companion. 'What should we do with the boy? Let +go your hold of him, I say--we have no time to lose--let him go, or it +will cost you your own life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The quivering lips of the miserable man had scarcely uttered a prayer +to wait, at least, till he could withdraw, when the child was torn from +him, and like a maniac he rushed away, sprang out of the window, threw +himself upon the ground, and buried his head among the long damp grass. +What a moment of agony! Such agony, that at the remembrance of it the +prisoner groaned aloud, and dashed his head against the stone wall, +then coiled himself up like a worm, as if he would fain have shrunk +into nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The dear-bought, blood-stained booty was divided, and the criminal +associates separated. But suspicion fell upon them; they were pursued, +and soon taken. On being carried before a magistrate, he denied it all; +yet when he was placed by the dead body of the murdered child, guilt +spoke in his stiff, averted head--in the tell-tale perspiration that +stood on his brow--and in his clenched and trembling hands. He +confessed, and implored to be removed, even to prison, from the +harrowing spectacle. His accomplice was condemned to death, he himself +to imprisonment for life.</p> + +<p class="normal">There he was now, alone with the dreadful recollections of former +days. The summer came and went, without bringing any other joy to him +than that the sun's rays fell broader, and more golden in their gleams +upon the wall outside that bounded his narrow view; and that now and +then a bird would fly over it, quiver a few notes, then wing its flight +away. That sight always awoke a voice in his heart that cried for +'Freedom--freedom!' But he would hush it with the thought, that he +could not be happier were he at liberty than in his dungeon cell. At +other times, he would take a violent longing to see a green leaf--only +a single green leaf--or a corn-blossom from the fields, or a blade of +grass. Ah! these were vain wishes! When winter came, and the sun and +the daylight forsook him so soon, he was still more gloomy, for he +could not sleep the whole of the long, long night, and the phantoms +that haunted him were terrific.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once--it was a Christmas night--he was reflecting on all the joy that +was abroad in the world, and he thought if it would not be possible for +him to pray. Then long-forgotten words returned to his lips, and he +faltered out, 'Our Father, which art in heaven!'--but <i>then</i> he +stopped.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God is in heaven,' thought he, 'how can He condescend to hear the sigh +that arises from the hell within my breast? No, no--it is but mocking +Him for <i>me</i> to pray!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Days and years had gone by since the prisoner had inhaled the breath of +the fresh balmy air, had beheld the extended vault of heaven, or +wandered in the bright, warm sunshine; at length the spirit had +exhausted the body. He lay ill and feeble, and death was near. Then was +the narrow door of his dungeon opened, and he was removed to a more +cheerful place--to a place where the blessed air and light were freely +admitted, and where the voices of human beings were around him. But +their compassion came too late. Earnestly did he entreat them to let +him see a minister of the Gospel; and when one came, he poured out the +misery of his soul to him. He listened with the deepest attention while +the holy man discoursed about Him, who, in His boundless love, shed His +own blood to wash out the sins of mankind, and in whose name even the +darkest and most guilty criminal might dare to raise his blood-stained +hands in prayer. How consoling were not these precious words to him, +'My God and my Saviour! With what an earnest longing he waited to be +permitted to participate in that solemn rite which, by grace and faith, +was to unite him to that Redeemer! And how he trembled lest the lamp of +his mortal life should be extinguished before the first spark of that +sacred flame was lighted, which was to be kindled for an endless +eternity!</p> + +<p class="normal">The time that his repentant spirit so thirsted for arrived. And when he +had partaken of the holy communion, and tears of penitent sorrow had +streamed over his burning cheeks, peace--long unknown--returned to his +weary heart, and his gratitude found vent in thanksgivings and prayer.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh!' he exclaimed, as he looked out of his open window, 'it is spring, +my friends--I feel that it is spring, beautiful spring!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes,' replied the superintendent of the hospital, 'it is spring; even +the old tree by the wall is green. See here, as I passed it, I broke +off this budding twig for you;' and he placed the little green branch +in the hand of the dying man.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh!' said he, with a melancholy smile and a tear in his eye, 'that +old, decayed, withered tree--can it put forth new leaves--fresh, green, +sweetly scented as these? May I not then venture to hope that the +Almighty may call forth a new life from me in another world? Oh, that +such may be His will!'</p> + +<p class="normal">And with the green bough--the proof of God's power and goodness in his +hand, and with his Redeemer's promise on his lips, he passed to his +everlasting doom, in the blessed hope that he also might touch the hem +of his Saviour's garment, and hear these words of life--'Son, thy sins +be forgiven thee!'</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_morten" href="#div1Ref_morten">MORTEN LANGÈ.</a></h2> + +<h2>A Christmas Story.</h2> + +<h3>BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.</h3> + + +<p class="normal">Each midnight from the farthest Thule, to isles the South Sea laves, +To exercise themselves awhile the dead forsake their graves; +But when it is the Christmas time they stay much longer out, +And may in the churchyard be seen, then, wandering about; +And as they dance their merry rounds, the rattling of their bones +Produces, 'midst the wintry blasts, somewhat unearthly tones. +Poor things! For them there's neither wine, nor punch, nor supper +there, +The icicles are all they have, and a mouthful of fresh air. +When shines the moon strange forms are seen, tall spectral giants +some: +Such sights as these might even strike a chattering Frenchman dumb. +Scoff not at my poor hero, then, though once in a sad fright-- +He is a most discreet young man, and Morten Langè hight.</p> + +<p class="normal">One Christmas night the fates ordained a journey he must make, +So, for despatch, 'twas his resolve a horse and sledge to take. +Dark was the hour, and in the skies the ranks of stars looked pale, +While from a tower near hooted owls, as in a German tale. +And Morten Langè, by-the-by, was not unlearned, for +About Molboerne's exploits<a name="div2Ref_08" href="#div2_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a>--also the Trojan war, +'Octavianus,' Nisses, Trolls, Hobgoblins well he knew, +And all about 'the spectre white,' whose story is so <i>true</i>. +Too soon the sledge stood at the door, with many a jingling bell; +But ah! these sounds to his sad ears seemed like his funeral knell. +Yet, though the snow-flakes fell around, of them he took no heed, +But like a British runaway pair, he started at full speed. +He passed a regiment of old trees, whitened from top to toe, +And soon he gained an open plain, where nought he saw but snow. +Like Matthison's 'Gedichte,' 'twas very, very cold, +But still our hero tried to think that he was warm and bold. +He did not care to gaze about, and so half-closed his eyes; +Yet, spite of this precaution--lo! a curious sight he spies: +A muster of the Elfin-folk enjoying a gay spree, +The men were just five inches high, the women only three; +And though 'twas at the chill Yule-time, when cold reigns over all, +In clothes of flimsy cobwebs made, they capered at their ball; +The ancient dames, however, wore some more substantial gear, +For of bats' wings their shawls were formed--but, softly--what +comes here?</p> + +<p class="normal">Twelve harnessed mice, with trappings grand, fit for a monarch's +own, +They draw a car of fairy work, where a lady sits alone. +It stops, and Morten Langè sees the lady getting out-- +'Heav'n help me now! Heav'n help me now!' he sighed, for he dared +not shout. +'I'm no poltroon, and yet I feel the blood within my veins +Is freezing fast.' In mortal fear, his cold hand dropped the reins; +Then stooping to recover them out of the sledge he fell, +And with it scampered off the horse, whither he could not tell. +He felt that his last hour was come, all helpless as he lay-- +And with such thoughts upon his mind he fainted quite away.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, when consciousness returned, and when his swoon was o'er, +He heard a fearful buzzing sound, that frightened him still more. +What had he done to be exposed that night to such alarms? +A troop of demons round him thronged--one imp secured his arms. +Another seized his lanky legs, another caught his head-- +And powerless to resist them then, away with him they sped. +They carried him to some strange place, flames shone upon the walls, +Into another fainting-fit, half-dead with fright, he falls, +But when the pains of death seemed past, and trembling he looked +round, +He saw that in the other life a sad fate he had found. +The vaulted roof was black with smoke, and awful was the heat; +The devils stood with naked arms--he dared not scan their feet. +One held a hammer in his hand, and threatening, waved it nigh, +And in a burning furnace there, red flames were flashing high. +Soon guessed our hero where he was, and set himself to kneel, +And lustily for mercy prayed--but they laughed at his appeal.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then to his side an angel came, benignant was her smile, +And holding out her small white hand, she said to him the while; +'Well, Heaven be praised, you're better now! But why are you +afraid?' +Shaking with fear in every limb, in a faint voice he said: +'Oh, angel! 'tis not death I dread, but help me out of hell!' +The angel laughed: 'You're in good hands--you ought to know us well. +This is the smithy--from your sledge thrown out upon the ground, +Lying alone amidst the snow half-frozen you were found; +And I'm no angel, bless your heart! I'm Annie, don't you see?' +Rubbing his eyes, and staring round, up Morten jumped in glee; +And that he soon forgot his fright 'tis needless to declare-- +The roasted goose, the foaming ale, and other Christmas fare, +As might be guessed, put all to rights--and Annie by his side +At supper sat, that Christmas night, as Morten Langè's bride.</p> +<br> + +<h3><i>Note by the Translator</i>.</h3> + +<p class="normal">The ghost-story alluded to--'Den hvide Qvinde' (The White Woman)--is to +be found in Thiele's collection of Danish 'Folkesagn.' This spectre is +said to haunt some old ruins near Flensborg. Two soldiers, long, long +ago, were keeping their night-watch on the ramparts of the castle; one +of them left his post for a short time, and when he was gone the other +sentry was approached by a tall female figure in white, who accosted +him thus:--'I am an unblessed spirit, who have wandered here for many +hundred years, and have never found rest in the grave.' She then +informed him that under the walls was buried an immense treasure, which +could only be found by <i>three</i> men in the world, and that he was one of +the three. The soldier, fancying his fortune made, promised to obey her +in all things, and received her command to be on the spot the following +midnight. In the meantime the other sentinel had returned to his post, +and had overheard what the spectre had related to his comrade. He said +not a word, however, but the next night he went to the appointed place, +and concealed himself in some recess close by. When the soldier who was +to dig for the treasure arrived, with his spade and other implements, +the white spectre appeared to him, but knowing that he was watched, she +put off the <i>digging</i> till another night. The man who had intended to +act as a spy was taken suddenly ill as soon as he got home; and feeling +that he was about to die, he sent for his comrade, confessed that he +had watched him, implored him to avoid witchcraft and supernatural +beings, and recommended him to consult the priest, who was a wise and +good man.</p> + +<p class="normal">The soldier took his advice, and laid the matter before the priest, who +directed him to do the spectre's bidding, only taking care that <i>she</i> +should be the first to touch the treasure. The man accordingly met the +ghost at the appointed time and place, and she showed him the spot +where the treasure was deposited; but before taking it up, she told him +that one half would be for him, and the other half must be divided +between the church and the poor. But the demon of avarice had entered +into his heart, and he exclaimed: 'What! shall I not have the whole of +it?' Scarcely had these words passed his lips, than the spirit uttered +a fearful thrilling cry, and disappeared in a blue flame over the +castle moat. The soldier was taken ill, and died three days afterwards. +The story became noised about, and a poor student determined to try his +luck. He repaired to the old castle at midnight, saw the wandering +'White Woman,' told her his errand and offered his services. But she +informed him that he was not one of the chosen three, and could not +assist her, and that the walls would thenceforth stand so firmly, that +hand of man should never overthrow them. However, she promised at some +future time to reward him for his good intentions.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day, long after, when he happened to be loitering near the old +castle, and thinking with compassion of the fate of the restless spirit +who haunted it, he stumbled over something; and, on stooping to see +what it was, he discovered a large heap of gold, of which he forthwith +took possession. As foretold by the spectre, the walls of the castle +are still standing, and the story goes, that whenever any portion of +them has been overthrown, it has always been raised again by invisible +agents during the night. Matter-of-fact people assert that the locality +of this ghost tradition is a <i>hill</i>, not a <i>castle</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_tale" href="#div1Ref_tale">A TALE OF JUTLAND.</a></h2> + +<h3>BY S. S. BLICHER.</h3> + + +<p class="normal">I had often beheld the highest hill in Denmark, but had not hitherto +ascended it. Frequently as I had been in its neighbourhood, the +objects of my journeys had always required me to turn off in another +direction, and I was thus obliged to content myself with seeing at some +distance the Danish Schwarzwald; and as I passed on, to cast a hurried +glance down the valleys to the charming lake, dotted with green leafy +islets, and which winds, as it were, round jagged tongues of land. At +length I overcame all obstacles, and resolved to devote two days to a +pleasure-trip amidst this much-admired scenery. My cousin Ludwig, who +had just arrived from the capital, agreed to accompany me.</p> + +<p class="normal">The morning was clear and warm, and gave the promise of a fine evening, +but shortly after mid-day there gradually arose in the south-west a +range of whitish clouds tinged at the sides with flame-colour. My +cousin did not notice them; but I, who am experienced in the signs of +the weather, recognized these indications of thunder, and announced to +him 'that the evening would not be as fine as the morning.' We were +riding exactly in such a direction that we had these clouds opposite to +us, and could, therefore, perceive how they kept rising higher and +higher, how they became darker at the base, and how they towered like +mountains of snow over the summit of the hill. Imagination pictured +them to us like the Alps of Switzerland, and we tried to fancy +ourselves in that mountainous country; we saw Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn, +and the Jungfrau; in the valleys between the clouds we pictured to +ourselves the glaciers; and when a solitary mass of cloud, breaking +suddenly, sank down, and seemed to mingle with the mountain chain, we +called it an avalanche which would overwhelm villages and scattered +chalets with everlasting snow. We continued, absolutely with childish +pleasure, to figure to ourselves in the skies the majestic scenery of +the Alps, and were quite wrapt up in our voluntary self-deception, when +the sudden roar of thunder awoke us from our fantastic dreams. Already +there stretched scarcely the thinnest line of light in the heavens +above us, and the wood which lay before us seemed as if in a moment +enveloped in a thick mist by the fast-falling rain. We had been too +long dilatory, and now we rode as hard as possible to reach the nearest +village; and we were soaked to the skin before we got to Alling, where +we sought shelter under an open gateway.</p> + +<p class="normal">The owner of the place, an elderly farmer, who seemed a sort of +half-savage foreigner to us, received us with old Danish hospitality; +he had our horses taken to his stable, and invited ourselves into his +warm parlour. As soon as he observed our drenched condition, he offered +us garments belonging to his two sons to wear while our own wet ones +were dried by the blazing hearth. Joyfully did we avail ourselves of +his kind proposal; and in a room upstairs, called the best apartment, +we soon made the comfortable change of apparel, while laughing and +joking at our unexpected travestie. Equipped as peasant lads in their +Sunday's clothes, we shortly after rejoined the family. Our host was +much amused at the change in our outward men, and warmly extolled our +homely appearance, while his two daughters smiled, and stole sly +glances at us--</p> + + +<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">'Blushed the Valkyries, whilst they turned and laughed.'</p> + + +<p class="normal">The coffee-urn stood ready on the table, surrounded by china cups; the +refreshing beverage, amply provided with brown sugar and rich +unadulterated cream, poured out and handed by one of the pretty +daughters, speedily restored genial heat to our chilled blood; and then +the father of the family thought it time to inquire the names, +occupations, and places of abode of his unexpected guests.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the thunderstorm had passed away; the sun smiled again in the +cloudless west; far away to the east, indeed, could still be heard the +distant whistling and rattling of the winds, but where we were all was +mild and tranquil. The spirits of the storm had folded their dripping +wings, and the raindrops sparkled like diamonds upon every leaf and +flower. The evening promised once more to resemble the morning in +beauty.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And now for the ascent of the mountains!' we exclaimed to each other.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But your clothes?' interrupted the farmer. We hastened into an outer +room, where the other fair daughter was busy drying them; but, alas! +they were still quite damp, and she said she feared she could not +promise that they would be in a fit state to be put on for at least an +hour; and then it would probably be too late to enjoy the view from the +top of the hill, as the ascent, proceeding from where we were at that +moment, would take, perhaps, another hour. What was to be done? The +good-natured countryman helped us out of our dilemma.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If you are not ashamed of wearing the boys' clothes,' said he, 'why +should you not keep them on?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a capital idea,' we both replied, and thanking him for the +offer, as we shook hands with him cordially, we asked him where we +could find a guide.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will myself be your guide,' he said, as he took from a corner a +juniper-stick for each of us. We then lost no time in commencing our +journey, and still more gaily than before, for we were much amused at +our masquerade, especially my cousin, who seemed to feel no small +admiration for himself in the rustic blue frock-coat, ornamented +with silver buttons--the jack-boots--and the head surmounted by a +high-crowned hat.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I sincerely wish,' said he, 'that we could fall in with some other +travellers up yonder; that would be great fun.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Our guide laughed, and hinted that he would not be able to talk like +the peasantry.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, I can though,' said my cousin, who immediately began to speak in +the Jutland dialect, to the infinite diversion of the worthy Peder +Andersen who, however, found still another stumbling-block to the +perfections of the pretended peasant--namely, that his nice white hands +would betray him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I can put them in my pocket' ('A ka put em i e Lomm),' cried my gay +cousin, who was determined to admit of no drawback to his assumed +character.</p> + +<p class="normal">Presently we reached the river Gudenade, which is here tolerably wide, +and has rather a swift current. We crossed in a boat something like a +canoe, and then entered on quite another kind of a country; for here +commenced the moorlands, covered with heather whose dark tints formed +a strong contrast to the bright green on the east of the river. We +had yet a good way to walk, and as the heather, which almost reached up +to our knees, was still wet with rain, we had good reason to be +grateful to our long boots. We approached the wood--a wood of +magnificent beech-trees--which appeared to me here doubly beautiful, +standing out, as it did, against so dark a background. Amidst sloping +dales the path wound always upward; but the thickness of the foliage +for a time deprived us of any view. At last we emerged from the wood, +and found ourselves upon the open summit of the mountain.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I hear delightful music, or witness an interesting theatrical +representation, I always like to enjoy it for a time in silence. +Nothing acts more unpleasantly, jars more on my feelings, than when any +one attempts to call my attention to either. The moment the remark is +made to me, 'How beautiful that is!' it becomes less beautiful to me +These audible outbursts of admiration are to me like cold shower-baths, +they quite chill me. After a time, when I have been left undisturbed, +and by degrees have cooled in my excitement, I am willing to exchange +thoughts and mingle feelings with those of a friend, or of many +friends; indeed, I find desire growing within me to unburden, if I may +so express it, my overladen mind. It is thus that a poet utters his +inspirations: at the sweet moment when he conceives his ideas, they +glow within him, but he is silent; afterwards he feels constrained to +give them utterance; the voice or the pen <i>must</i> afford the full heart +relief. Our guide's anxiety to please was a dreadful drawback to my +comfort, for, with the usual loquacity of a cicerone, he began to point +out and describe all the churches that could be described from the +place where we were standing, invariably commencing with, 'Yonder you +see.' I left my cousin to his elucidation of the country round, and, +wandering to some little distance, I sat down where I could <i>see</i>, +without being compelled to <i>hear</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Stolberg had finished translating Homer into German, he threw down +his pen, and exclaimed, despondingly, 'Reader, learn Greek, and burn my +translation!' What is a description of scenery but a translation? Yet +the most successful one must be as much inferior to the original as the +highest hill in Jutland is lower than the highest mountain in Thibet. +Therefore, kind reader, pardon my not describing to you all I saw. +<i>What</i> I saw I might, perhaps, be able to relate to you, but scarcely +<i>how</i> I saw it. My pen is no artist's pencil; go yourself and take a +view of it! But you, who perhaps have stood on the summit of the +Brochen, or of St. Bernard, smile not that I think so much of our +little mountain! It is the loftiest that I, or perhaps many of my +readers, have beheld; therefore, what is diminutive to you is grand to +us.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was startled in my meditations by a thump on my shoulder--it was from +my cousin, who was standing behind me. He informed me that our guide +had gone home at least half-an-hour, and that I had been sitting for a +long time perfectly motionless, without giving the slightest sign of +life. He told me, moreover, that he was tired of such solemn silence, +and I must really awaken from my fit of abstraction.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And at what have you been looking that has engrossed your thoughts so +much?' he added.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The same as you have been looking at,' I replied: 'Air, and earth, and +water.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, cast your eyes down now towards the lake,' said he, handing me +his spy-glass, 'and you will see that there are some strangers coming +over this way.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I took the glass and perceived a boat a little way from the shore, +which seemed to be steering straight across the water; it was full of +people, and three straw bonnets indicated that there were women among +them. My cousin proposed that we should await their coming, although it +would be late before we should reach our quarters for the night at +Alling. As the evening was so charming, I willingly consented; we could +not have wished a finer one. The sun was about to set, but it seemed to +us to sink more slowly than usual, as if it lingered to behold longer +the beauty of earth when tinged with its own golden rays. The winds +were hushed, not a blade of grass, not a leaf was stirring. The lake +was as a mirror, wherein were reflected the fields, the groves, the +houses that lay on its surrounding sides, while here and there, in the +valleys towards the west, arose a thin column of smoke from dwellings +that were concealed by trees. But if in the air all was silence, sounds +enough proceeded from the earth. Feathered songsters carolled in the +woods behind us, and before us the heath-lark's love-strains swelled, +answering each other from the juniper-bushes. From the bulrushes which +grew on the margin of the lake was heard the quacking of the wild +ducks; and from a greater distance came the plashing of the fisherman's +oar, as he was returning to his home, and the soothing tones of his +vesper hymn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun had now sunk below the horizon, and the bells that rang from +many a church for evening prayer, summoned the weary labourer to rest +and sleep. The heavy dews of night were already moistening the ground, +and its mist was veiling the woods, the lake, and the sloping banks. +Now broke upon the ear the cheering yet plaintive music of wind +instruments. It seemed to come nearer and nearer, and must undoubtedly +have proceeded from the boat we had observed putting off from the +opposite shore. When the music ceased, we could distinctly hear the +voices of the party in the boat, and presently after the slight noise +made by their landing. We stood still for a few minutes, expecting to +see them ascending the hill, but soon perceived that, on the contrary, +they were going in another direction, for the sound of the voices +became fainter and fainter, and was lost at last apparently among the +woods to the west. Had it not been that the airs they had played were +of the newest fashion, we might have fancied it a fairy adventure--a +procession of woodland elves, or the bridal of the elf king himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The shades of night were falling around. Here and there a star +glimmered faintly in the pale-blue skies. In the north-west was visible +a red segment over the horizon, where the king of day was wandering +beneath, on his way to lighten another hemisphere. Now, all was still; +only at a distance on the heath we heard the plover's melancholy note, +and beneath us, on the lake, the whizzing of the water-fowls' wings as +they skimmed its darkened surface. 'Let us go homewards now!' cried my +cousin. 'Yes, home!' I replied. But we had not gone far before we both +stopped at once with a 'Hush! hark!' From the margin of the wood, +through which we had just come, issued suddenly the sound of harmonious +voices, singing as a duet a Tyrolese air. There is something +indescribably charming and touching in this unison of voices, +especially in the open air, when the sweet tones seem to float upon the +gentle breeze; and now, at the calm evening hour, when the surrounding +hills were awakened from the deep repose into which they had just +subsided, the sweet tones had the effect of the nightingale's +delightful song. My cousin seized my hand and pressed it, as if to +entreat that I should not, by any exclamation, disturb his auricular +treat. When the vocalists ceased, he sighed deeply. I gazed in +astonishment on him; he was in general so gay, and yet at that moment +tears actually stood in his eyes! I attributed to the mighty +enchantment of music, the power of softening and agitating the hardest +and the lightest heart, and I remarked this to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, well!' he replied, 'the human breast is like a sounding-board, +which, although untouched, yet gives an echo when certain chords are +struck.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are right,' I said; 'as, for instance, the story of the tarantula +dance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He sighed again, and said gravely,--</p> + +<p class="normal">'But such chords must be connected with peculiar events--must awaken +certain recollections--yes'--he took my hand, and pointing to the trunk +of a tree which had fallen, we placed ourselves on it--'yes, my friend, +yon air recalls to me a souvenir which I have in vain tried to forget. +Will you listen to the story?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Tell it,' I said, 'though I can partly guess what it must be.'</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal"> +It was on such an evening as this (he continued), about two years ago, +that, accompanied by a friend, I had gone on a little tour of pleasure +to Lake Esrom. We remained sitting a long time on a fallen tree before +we could prevail on ourselves to wend our way homewards, so charmed +were we with the beauty of the scenery and of the evening. We had +just arisen when a Tyrolese air--the very one you and I have recently +heard--sung delightfully as a duet, attracted our attention. It came +from the side of the lake, but the sounds appeared to be gradually +approaching nearer. We soon heard the plashing of oars, which kept time +to the music, and shortly after we saw a boat making for the part of +the shore where we were. When the song was ended, there was a great +deal of talking and laughing in the boat, and the noise seemed to +increase the nearer they came to the shore. We now saw distinctly the +little skiff and its merry freight. 'Lay aside your oars!' said one; 'I +will steer you straight in to the land.' They did so. 'I know a quicker +way of making the land,' cried another, as he sprang up, and striding +from gunwale to gunwale, set the boat rocking frightfully. 'Be quiet! +be quiet!' roared a third; 'are you mad? The fool will upset the boat!' +'You shall have a good ducking for that,' said the madcap, swaying the +boat still more violently. Then came shouts of laughter mingled with +oaths; in the midst of the uproar a loud voice called out, 'Be done. I +tell you! Fritz cannot swim.' But it was too late--the boat was full of +water--it upset. Happily it was only a short way from the shore. In one +moment they were all silent; we heard only the splashing and hard +breathing of those who were swimming. There were six of them. Presently +one of them cried, 'Fritz! Fritz! come here! take hold of me!' Then +cried another, 'Fritz, come to me!' And then several voices shouted, +'Fritz! Fritz! where are you?' Two of them had by this time reached the +shore, and they stood looking anxiously at those who were still +swimming in the lake. One of them began counting, 'Three, four!' Then +crying in a voice of extreme consternation, '<i>One</i> is wanting!' he +sprang again into the water, and the other instantly followed his +example!</p> + +<p class="normal">My friend and I could no longer remain mere spectators of this scene; +we threw off our coats and were speedily in the water, searching with +the party for their lost friend. We thought he must be under the boat; +therefore we all gathered round the spot where it lay keel upwards, +and the best swimmer dived beneath it. In vain! he was not there. But +at a little distance, amidst the reeds, one of us observed something +dark--it was the missing Fritz! He was brought on shore; but he was +lifeless. Zealously, anxiously, did we try all means of restoring him; +they were of no avail. It was decided that he should be carried to the +nearest house. A plank, which had formed one of the seats of the boat, +and which had floated to the shore, was taken up; he was placed upon +it, and they carried him towards the road. We followed them +mechanically. What a contrast to their late boisterous mirth was their +present profound silence! We had not proceeded far, when one of the +foremost of the bearers turned round and exclaimed, 'Where is Sund?' We +all looked back, and beheld the unfortunate madcap who had caused the +accident half-hidden behind a tall bush, stuffing his pockets with +pebbles.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He will drown himself,' said the person who had just spoken; 'we must +take him with us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They stopped, and my companion and I offered our assistance to carry +the body, whilst two of the party went to their repentant friend. The +way to the house to which the drowned man was to be carried lay through +a wood. It was so dark amidst the trees that we were close upon two +female figures, dressed in white, before we observed them,</p> + +<p class="normal">'Good Heavens!' cried the foremost of the party; 'if it should be +Fritz's betrothed! She said she would probably come to meet us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">It was indeed herself. You may imagine the painful scene: first, her +horror at meeting us carrying a drowned man, and then her agony when +she found out that the unfortunate victim was the one dearest to her on +earth; for she could not be deceived, as she knew them all. She +fainted, and her companion caught her in her arms as she was falling to +the ground. What was to be done? My friend and I hastened to the +assistance of the ladies, while the other gentlemen hurried on with the +inanimate body to the house, which was at no great distance. I ran to +the lake, and brought back some water in my hat; we threw a little on +her face, when she soon came to herself again, poor thing!</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where is he?' she screamed; 'oh! where is he? He is not dead--let me +go to him--let me go!' She strove to rise and rush forward.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Leave her, kind gentlemen,' said her companion, as she threw one arm +round her waist, and with the other pressed her hand to her heart. +'Thanks--thanks for your assistance, but do not trouble yourselves +further; I know the way well.'</p> + +<p class="normal">We bowed and stood still, while she hastened on with her poor friend; +and as they went we could hear the sorrowful wailing of the one, and +the sweet soothing tones of the other. Having received no invitation we +had no right to follow them, and we sought our carriage, both deeply +impressed by the melancholy catastrophe which we had involuntarily +witnessed.</p> + +<p class="normal">We were not acquainted with any member of the party, nor were we able +to hear anything of them. In vain we searched all the newspapers, and +conned over all the announcements of deaths in their columns; there +never appeared the slightest reference to the unfortunate event I have +just mentioned, nor did we ever hear it alluded to in society. We +should certainly, after the lapse of some time, have looked upon the +whole affair as a freak of the imagination--a phantom scene--had we not +played a part in it ourselves. It did not make so light an impression +on me, however; you will think it strange, perhaps absurd, but I +actually was partially in love! Love has generally but one pathway to +the heart--the eyes; it took a by-path with me--through the ears. It +was so dark that I had not seen the young lady's features; I had only +heard her voice. But, ah! what a voice it was! So soft--<i>that</i> does not +describe it; so melodious--neither does that convey an idea of what it +was. I can compare it to nothing but the echo of tones from celestial +regions, or to the angel-voices which we hear in dreams. Her figure was +as beautiful as her voice--graceful and sylph-like. If you have ever +been bewitched in a night vision, you will be able to comprehend my +feelings. I saw her, and I did not see her. Her slight form with its +white drapery looked quite spiritual in the dim light, and reminded me +of Dido in Elysium, floating past Æneas, who was still clothed in the +garb of mortality.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of whom are you speaking?' I asked. 'Of the friend?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of course,' he replied; 'not of the widowed girl, as I may call the +other.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I do not see anything so very extraordinary in what you have been +telling me,' I said. 'When it is almost dark, fancy is more easily +awakened; everything wears a different aspect from what it does in the +glare of day--objects become idealized, and sweet sounds make more +impression on the mind, while imagination is thus excited. But is this +the end of your drama?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No; only the first act,' he replied. 'Now comes the second.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The summer passed away; winter came, and it too had almost gone, when I +happened to attend a masquerade at one of the clubs. For about an hour +I had been jostled among the caricaturists, and was becoming very +tired,--and falling into sombre reflections upon the illusions of life, +and the masks worn in society to conceal people's real characters from +each other, when my attention was attracted by twelve shepherds and +shepherdesses in the pretty costume of Languedoc, who came dancing in, +hand in hand. The orchestra immediately struck up a French quadrille, +and the French group danced so gracefully that a large and admiring +circle was formed round them. When the quadrille was over, the circle +opened, and the shepherds and shepherdesses mingled with the rest of +the company. One of the shepherdesses, whose charming figure and +elegance of motion had riveted my attention, as if by a magic power +drew me after her. I followed wherever she went, until at last I got so +near to her that I was able to address her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Beautiful shepherdess!' I said in French, 'how is it that our northern +clime is so fortunate as to be favoured by a visit from you and your +lovely sisters?'</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned quickly towards me, and after remaining silent a few +moments, during which time a pair of dark eyes gazed searchingly at me,</p> + +<p class="normal">'Monsieur,' she replied in French, 'we thought that fidelity had its +true home in this northern clime.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have each brought your lover with you,' I said.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Because we hoped that they would learn lessons of constancy here,' was +her answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Lovely blossom from the banks of the Garonne!' I exclaimed, 'who could +be inconstant to you?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There is no telling,' she continued, gaily. 'You are paying me +compliments without knowing me. You call me pretty, yet you have never +seen <i>me</i>. It must be my mask that you mean.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your eyes assure me of your beauty,' said I; 'they must bear the blame +if I am mistaken.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Just at that moment another dance commenced; I asked the fair +shepherdess to be my partner, and consenting, she held out her hand to +me. We took our places immediately. It was then that a recollection +came over me of having heard her sweet voice before. I thought that I +recognized it--yes! Surely it could be no other's than hers--my fairy +of Esrom Wood! But I was determined to be certain of the fact. I said +nothing, however, while we were dancing. The dance seemed to me very +short, and at the same time endless.</p> + +<p class="normal">I interrupted him somewhat uncivilly with--'At any rate your story +seems endless.' He continued, however.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the dance was over I conducted her to a seat, and placed myself +by her side.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It strikes me,' I remarked in Danish, 'that T have once before heard +your voice, but not on the banks of the Garonne--'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' she replied, interrupting me, 'not there, but perhaps on the +borders of Lake Esrom?'</p> + +<p class="normal">A sweet feeling at that moment, as it were, both expanded and +contracted my breast. It was herself--the Unseen! She must also have +remarked my voice, and preserved its tones in her memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A second time we meet,' I sighed, 'without beholding each other. This +is really like an adventure brought about by some magician's art; but, +oh! how I long for the moment when you will no longer hide that +charming countenance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She laughed slightly; and there was something so sprightly, musical, +and winning in her laugh, while her white teeth glistened like pearls +under her mask, that I forgot what more I was going to say. She, +however, began to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why should I destroy your illusion? Leave our adventure, as you call +it, alone; when a mystery is solved it loses its interest. If I were to +remove my mask, you would only see the face of a very ordinary girl. +Your imagination gallantly pictures me beautiful as some Circassian, or +some Houri; let me remain such in your idea, at least till the watchman +cries the hour of midnight, and wakes you from your dreams.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'All dreams are not delusive,' I said. 'They often speak the truth,' I +added; 'yet sometimes one is tempted to wish that truths were but +dreams; as, for instance, the very unfortunate event which was the +occasion of our first meeting.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked surprised, while she repeated--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unfortunate? Ah! true. You probably never heard--' At that moment one +of the shepherds ran up, and carried her off hurriedly to a quadrille +which was just forming.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was following the couple with my eyes, when my sister tapped me on +the arm and asked me to dance with her, as she was not engaged. +Mechanically I took my place in the quadrille, the same in which my +<i>incognita</i> was dancing, and mechanically I went through the figures +until she had to give me her hand in the chain. I pressed it warmly, +but there was no response. Ashamed and angry, I determined not to cast +another glance at her; and resolutely I turned my head away. The +quadrille was over, and once more I found myself constrained to look at +her. But she was gone--the shepherds and shepherdesses had all +disappeared. Whether they had left the ball, or--what was more +probable--had changed their attire, I saw them no more. In vain at the +supper-table my eyes wandered over all the ladies, to guess, if +possible, which was the right one. Many of them were pretty; many had +dark eyes and white teeth; but which of all these eyes and teeth were +hers? It was by the voice alone that I could recognize her; but I could +not go from the one to the other, and ask them to speak to me. And thus +ended the second part of my drama.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal"> +'Now, then, for the third act,' said I, with some curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For that,' he replied, 'I have waited in vain, above a year and a +day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But do you not know her name?' I asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Or none of the party of shepherds and shepherdesses?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I found out shortly after that I knew two of the shepherds; but of +what use was that to me? I could not describe my shepherdess so that +they could distinguish her among the twelve; they mentioned a dozen +names, all equally unknown to me. That gave me no clue; to me she was +both nameless and invisible.'</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not help smiling at my usually-gay cousin's doleful +countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are laughing at me,' said he. 'Well, I don't wonder at it. To fall +in love with a girl one has never seen is certainly great folly. But do +not fancy that I am going to die of despair. I only feel a sort of +longing come over me when I think of her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The singers had now come so near that we could hear their conversation. +After a few moments my cousin whispered to me that he knew one of them +by his voice, and that he was an officer from Copenhagen. In another +minute they made their appearance. There were three of them, all +dressed as civilians, but the moustaches of one showed that he was a +military man. My cousin squeezed my arm, and whispered again--</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is he, sure enough; let us see if he knows me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">We rose, and stood stiffly, with our caps in our hands. They nodded to +us, and the officer said--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Put your hats on, lads. Will you earn a shilling for something to +drink, and help to erect our tent?'</p> + +<p class="normal">We agreed to his proposal, and at his desire we joined two men in +fetching, from a cart near, the canvas and other things required to put +the tent up; also cloaks, cushions, baskets with provisions, and +bottles of wine, benches for seats, and a wider one for a table. When +our services were no longer needed, the officer held out some money to +me, which, of course, I would not receive. My cousin also refused +payment; whereupon he swore that we should at least take something to +drink, and, filling a tumbler from his flask, he handed it to my +cousin, who received it with a suppressed laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What are you grinning at, fellow?' said the officer; but, as my cousin +carried the tumbler to his lips, he exclaimed--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your health, Wilhelm!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The individual thus addressed started back in astonishment, while his +two companions peered into our faces. My cousin burst into a fit of +laughter; and the officer, who now recognized him, cried, laughing +also,--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ludvig! What the deuce is all this? and why are you equipped in that +preposterous garb?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The matter was speedily explained; the three travellers expressed much +pleasure at meeting us, and pressed us so cordially to join their +party, and stay the night with them, that we at length acceded to their +request.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the officer's companions was a young, handsome, and very +fashionable-looking man; he was extremely rich, we understood, +therefore they called him <i>the merchant</i>, and they would not tell us +his name, or if that were his <i>real</i> position in society. The other +introduced himself to us with these words:</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gentlemen, of the respectable peasant class! my name here in Jutland +is Farniente. My agreeable occupation is to do nothing--at least +nothing but amuse myself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a great deal more joking among our hosts, and then we +presented each other in the same bantering way, after which we all +adjourned to the tent, where we wound up with a very jovial supper. At +midnight the merchant reminded us that we had to rise next morning with +the first rays of the sun, and that it was time to retire to rest. We +made up a sort of couch, with cushions and cloaks, and on it we five +faithful brothers stretched ourselves as best we might. The other four +soon fell asleep. I alone remained awake; and when I found that slumber +had fled my pillow, rose as quietly as possible, and left the tent.</p> + +<p class="normal">All around was still as the grave. The skies were without a cloud, but +of their millions of eyes only a few were now open, and even these +shone dimly and feebly, as if they were almost overcome by sleep. The +monarch of light, who was soon to overpower their fading brightness, +was already clearing his path in the north-east. It is not the +darkness, still less the tempest, that renders night so extremely +melancholy; it is that deep repose, that corpse-like stillness in +nature; it is to see oneself the only waking being in a sleeping +world--one living amidst the vast vaults of the grave--a creature +trembling with the fearful, giddy thought of death and eternity. How +welcome then is any sound which breaks the oppressive silence of that +nocturnal solitude, and reminds us that human beings are about to +awaken to their daily round of occupation and pleasure--and, it must be +added, of anxiety and trouble! How cheerful seems the earliest crowing +of the cocks from the nearest huts, rising almost lazily on the dusky +air! The drowsy world was beginning to move; and after a time I +discerned faint, sweet tones proceeding from the direction of the +wood. I listened attentively, and soon became convinced that it was +music--the music of wind instruments--which I heard. To me music is as +welcome as the first rosy streaks of morn to the benighted wanderer, or +a glimpse of the brilliant sun amidst the gloom of a dark wintry sky.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sweet sounds ceased, and I began to ponder whether it might not +have been unearthly strains which I had heard--whether they might not +have come from the fairies who perhaps dwell amidst the surrounding +glades, or among the wild flowers that enamelled the sloping sides of +the hills. The music, however, was certainly Weber's, and the question +was, whether the elfin people had learned the airs from him, or he from +them. I returned to the tent, where the still sleeping party produced a +very different and somewhat nasal kind of music.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gentlemen! gentlemen!' I shouted, 'there are visitors coming.'</p> + +<p class="normal">My cousin was the first to awaken, then the officer, who sprang up, and +immediately endeavoured to arouse the other two.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The ladies will be here presently,' he said; 'get up both of you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'They are too early,' groaned one; 'I have not had half my sleep.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let them wait outside the tent till I am ready,' said Farniente. 'Good +night!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The rest of us, however, went towards the wood to meet the three +ladies, who were making their way to our temporary domicile, preceded +by two musicians playing the horn, and two youths bearing torches, the +latter being the sons of a clergyman in the neighbourhood, at whose +house the ladies had slept. Observing the peasant costume of my friend +and myself, the ladies asked who we were, and were told by the military +man that we were two soldiers of his regiment, who, being in the +adjacent village, had assisted in putting up the tent.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Lads,' said he, addressing us in a tone of command, 'can you fetch +some water for us from the nearest stream, and get some wood for us to +boil our coffee? I will go with you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, no, sir--that would be a shame,' said my cousin, in the Jutland +dialect; 'we will bring all that is wanted ourselves.'</p> + +<p class="normal">When we returned to the tent it was broad daylight; Farniente had been +compelled to vacate his couch of cloaks, and in his lively way was +greeting the fair guests with 'Good morning, my three Graces.' The +officers told us, aside, that two of the ladies were his sisters, and +were about to tell us more, when a waltz on the turf was proposed by +Farniente, who seized one of the ladies, whom he called Sybilla, as his +partner. <i>The merchant</i> danced with another, to whom it appeared he was +engaged, and the officer took his youngest sister. Their hilarity was +infectious, and my cousin dragged me round for want of a better +partner, whereupon the fair Sybilla, who had observed our dancing, +remarked that we were 'really not at all awkward for peasant lads.'</p> + +<p class="normal">While they were taking their coffee afterwards, during which time we +stood respectfully at a little distance, my cousin whispered to me how +much he admired the lieutenant's youngest sister, who was indeed +extremely pretty. He had not hitherto heard her voice, but he could not +help seeing that she looked attentively--even inquisitively at him. By +Farniente's request, the ladies handed us some coffee, after having +done which they made some remarks upon us to each other in German. At +that moment my cousin let his coffee-cup drop suddenly to the ground, +and standing as motionless as one of the trees in the wood, he fixed +his eyes upon the youngest girl with a very peculiar expression, which +called the deepest blushes to her cheek. We all looked on in surprise, +but I began to suspect the truth. Farniente was the first to speak.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Min Herre!' said he, 'it is time that you should lay aside your +incognito, for it is evident that you and this lady have met before.'</p> + +<p class="normal">My cousin had by this time recovered his speech and his +self-possession. He went up to the young lady, and said:--'For the +first time to-day have I had the happiness of seeing those lips from +which I have twice heard a voice whose accents delighted me. In that +voice I cannot be mistaken, so deep was the impression it made upon me. +Dare I flatter myself that my voice has not been quite forgotten by +you?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Catherina--that was her name--replied with a smile,--</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have neither forgotten your voice nor your face, though last time we +met you were a Spanish grandee.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is all this?' exclaimed the officer; 'old acquaintances--another +masquerade!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are now truly all partaking of rural life,' said Farniente; 'so +come, you two peasants, and place yourselves with the fair shepherdess +and us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">We joined the circle, and after our names having been told, my cousin, +leading the conversation to Lake Esrom, and the events which took place +on its banks, asked Catherina how her poor friend had taken that sad +affair, and if she had ever recovered her spirits?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh yes, she has,' replied Catherina; and pointing to the young lady +who was engaged to <i>the merchant</i>, 'there she is!'</p> + +<p class="normal">My cousin started, and said, in some embarrassment, 'It was a sad +event, but--'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not so very sad,' cried <i>the merchant</i>, interrupting him, 'for the +drowned man returned to life. He was no other than myself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be thanked!' exclaimed my cousin, sincerely rejoiced at the +pleasant intelligence. 'That is more than we <i>then</i> dared to hope. But +what became of the poor foolish madcap who first upset the boat and +then wished to drown himself?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here he is,' said Farniente, pointing to himself; 'and as I once +thought I might be promoted to the dignity of court jester, I took a +wife, and there,' bowing to Sybilla, 'sits the fair one who has +undertaken to steer my boat over the dangerous ocean of life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The morning mists by degrees cleared away from the wooded valleys and +the hill-encircled waters; the larks had ended their early chorus, and +the later songsters of the grove had commenced their sweet harmonies; +all seemed joy around, and I looked with pleasure at the gay group +before me. Never had the cheering light of day shone upon a circle of +more contented human beings, and among them none were happier than +Ludwig and his recently-found shepherdess, whose countenance beamed in +the radiant glow of dawning love.</p> + +<p class="normal">Six months have passed since then, and they are now united for this +world and for that which is to come.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_secret" href="#div1Ref_secret">THE SECRET WITNESS.</a></h2> + +<h3>BY B. S. INGEMANN.</h3> + + +<p class="normal">In the year 1816 there lived in Copenhagen an elderly lady, Froken +F----, of whom it was known that she sometimes involuntarily saw what +was not visible to anyone else. She was a tall, thin, grave-looking +person, with large features, and an expressive countenance. Her dark, +deep-set eyes had a strange glance, and she saw much better than most +people in the twilight; but she was so deaf, that people had to speak +very loudly to her before she could catch their words, and when a +number of persons were speaking at the same time in a room, she could +hear nothing but an unintelligible murmur. A sort of magnetic +clairvoyance had, doubtless, in the somewhat isolated condition in +which she was placed, been awakened in her mind, without, however, her +being thrown into any peculiar state. She only seemed at times to be +labouring under absence of mind, or to have fallen into deep thought, +and then she was observed to fix her eyes upon some object invisible to +all others. What she saw at those moments were most frequently the +similitude of some absent person, or images of the future, which were +always afterwards realized. Thus she had often foreseen unexpected +deaths, and other unlooked-for fatal accidents. As she seldom beheld in +her visions anything pleasing, she was regarded by many as a bird of +ill omen, and she therefore did not visit a number of families; those, +however, who knew her intimately both respected and loved her. She was +quiet and unpretending, and it was but rarely that she said anything, +unsolicited, of the results of her wonderful faculty.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was a frequent guest in a family with whom she was a great +favourite. The master of the house was an historical painter, and his +wife was an excellent musician. The deaf old lady was a good judge of +paintings, and extremely fond of them; also, hard of hearing as she +was, music had always a great effect upon her; she could add in fancy +what she did not hear to what she did hear; she had been very musical +herself in her youthful days, and when she saw fingers flying over the +pianoforte, she imagined she heard the music, even when anyone, to dupe +her, moved their fingers back and forwards over the instrument, but +without playing on it.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day she was sitting on a sofa in the drawing-room at the house of +the above-mentioned family, engaged in some handiwork. The artist had a +visitor who was a very lively, witty, satirical person, and they were +standing together near a window, discoursing merrily; they often +laughed during their conversation, and the tones of their voices seemed +to change, occasionally, as if they were imitating some one, whereupon +their hilarity invariably increased, which, however, was far from being +as harmless and goodnatured as mirth and gaiety generally were in that +house.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the visit was over, and the artist had accompanied his friend to +the door, and returned to the drawing-room, the old lady asked him who +had been with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">He mentioned the name of his lively friend, whom, he said, he thought +she knew very well.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, yes, I know him well enough,' she replied; 'but the other?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What other?' asked the painter, starting.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why the tall man with the long thin face, who stood yonder; he with +the dark, rough, uncombed-looking hair, and the bushy eyebrows--he who +so often laid his hand on his breast, and pointed upwards, especially +when you and your merry friend laughed heartily.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did you ever see him before?' inquired the artist, turning pale. 'Did +you observe how he was dressed, and if he had any peculiar habit?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I do not remember having ever seen him before; as to his dress, it was +very singular, much like that of an old-fashioned country +schoolmaster.' And she described minutely his long frock-coat, with +large buttons and side-pockets, and his antiquated boots, that did not +appear to have been brushed for a very long time. 'The peculiar habit +you speak of,' she added, 'was probably the manner in which he slowly +shook his head, when he seemed to differ in opinion from you and your +other guest; in my eyes there was something noble and striking in this +movement, there was an expression of pain or sadness in his +countenance, which interested me; it was particularly observable when +he laid his right hand on his breast, and raised his left hand upwards, +as if he were solemnly affirming something, or calling God to witness +to the truth of what he said. Nevertheless, I remarked with surprise, +that I scarcely saw him open his lips. It was of course impossible for +me to hear what you were all talking about.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The terrified artist became still paler--he tottered for a moment, and +was obliged to lean on the back of a chair for support. Shortly after +he seized his hat and hurried out of the house. The individual whom the +old lady had so graphically described had been a friend of his in +youth, but with whom he had been on bad terms for the last two years, +and whom he had not seen lately.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole conversation with his amusing visitor had been about this +very man. They had been engaged in a laughable and, at the same time, +merciless criticism of his character, and appearance, and had been +turning into ridicule every little peculiarity he had; his very voice +they had mimicked, and in their facetious exaggeration, had not only +made a laughing-stock of his person and manners, which were indeed odd, +but had attributed to him want of heart and want of judgment, which +latter sentence they based upon his somewhat peculiar taste, and a kind +of dry, pedantic, schoolmaster tone in conversation, from which he was +not free.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That old maid is mad--and she has made me mad, too,' mumbled the +artist, pausing a moment when he had gained the street. '<i>He</i> certainly +was not there--we do not meet any longer. She never saw him before. +There is something strangely mysterious in this matter--perhaps it +bodes some calamity. But, whether she is deranged--or I--or both of us, +I have wronged him--shamefully wronged him--and I must see him, and +tell him all.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He stepped into a bookseller's shop, and asked to look at a Directory. +After about half-an-hour's walk he entered a house in a small back +street, and ascending to the third story, he rang at a door. A girl +opened it, and, in answer to his inquiries, told him that the person he +asked for was ill, and could not see anyone.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But I must see him--I must speak to him,' cried the painter, almost +forcing himself in.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was then ushered into a darkened room, where he found his poor +friend of bygone days looking pale and emaciated, lying perfectly still +upon a sofa, in his old grey frock-coat and soiled boots. The kind +anxiety with which the unexpected visitor asked about his health seemed +equally to surprise and please the invalid.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You!' he exclaimed, '<i>you</i> here! Do you still take any interest in me? +Have you any regard left for me? I did you shameful injustice two years +ago, when I saw your great masterpiece; and had not an enthusiastic +word for what I have though, often since, thought of with the greatest +admiration. Nay, within this very last hour I have wronged you, though +in quite a different manner. I was dreaming of you, and I fancied you +were speaking of me with scorn and derision--pulling me to pieces in a +jesting conversation with a very satirical person, who vied with you in +ridiculing me, and in mimicking all my oddities.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Forgive me--oh, forgive me! you dreamed the truth,' cried the painter, +in great agitation, while he threw himself down by the sick man's +couch, and embraced his knees.</p> + +<p class="normal">An explanation ensued between the two friends who had so long been +estranged from each other--mutual confessions were made--old feelings +were revived in the hearts of both--and an entire reconciliation +immediately took place. The unusual emotion, and the surprise at the +event related to him, did not, as might have been expected, increase +the illness of the nervous and debilitated invalid; on the contrary, +the meeting with his former friend appeared to have had a good effect +on his health, for in the course of a few weeks he had quite recovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old lady's qualifications as a seer, or rather her strange faculty +of beholding, to others invisible, apparitions, had been productive of +good; but it was such an extraordinary revelation, agreeing so entirely +with what both the reconciled friends knew to be the truth, that they +could only look upon it as a proof of the reality of what was then +beginning to be so much talked of--the magnetic clairvoyance.</p> + +<p class="normal">They continued unalterable friends from that time. From that time, +also, the artist felt an involuntary horror at ridiculing the absent, +or making or listening to any censorious remarks upon them; he always +fancied that the injured party might be standing <i>as a secret witness</i> +by his side, with one hand on his breast, and the other raised in an +appeal to that great Judge, who alone can know what is passing in every +heart and every soul.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_agnete" href="#div1Ref_agnete">AGNETE AND THE MERMAN.</a></h2> + +<h3>BY JENS BAGGESEN.</h3> + +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0">Agnete she was guileless.</p> +<p class="t1">She was beloved and true,</p> +<p class="t0">But solitude, it charm'd her,</p> +<p class="t1">And mirth she never knew--</p> +<p class="t8">She never knew--</p> +<p class="t0">She made the joy of all around</p> +<p class="t0">Yet never felt it too.</p> +<p class="t1"> </p> + +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Over the dark blue waves,</p> +<p class="t1">Agnete, gazing, bends,</p> +<p class="t0">When lo! a merman rising there</p> +<p class="t1">From ocean's depths ascends;</p> +<p class="t8">Up he ascends.</p> +<p class="t0">Yet still, Agnete's bending form</p> +<p class="t1">With the soft billows blends.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">His glossy hair, it seemed as spun</p> +<p class="t1">Out of the purest gold,</p> +<p class="t0">His beaming eye, it brightly glow'd</p> +<p class="t1">With warmest love untold--</p> +<p class="t8">With love untold!</p> +<p class="t0">And his scale-cover'd bosom held</p> +<p class="t1">A heart that was not cold.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">The song he sang Agnete,</p> +<p class="t1">On love and sorrow rang;</p> +<p class="t0">His voice it was so melting soft,</p> +<p class="t1">So sadly sweet he sang--</p> +<p class="t8">Sadly he sang.</p> +<p class="t0">It seemed as if his beating heart</p> +<p class="t1">Upon his lips it sprang.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'And hearken, dear Agnete!</p> +<p class="t1">What I shall say to thee--</p> +<p class="t0">My heart, oh! it is breaking, sweet!</p> +<p class="t1">With longing after thee!</p> +<p class="t8">Still after thee!</p> +<p class="t0">Oh! wilt thou ease my sorrow, love,</p> +<p class="t1">Oh! wilt thou smile on me?'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Two silver buckles lay</p> +<p class="t1">Upon the rocky shore,</p> +<p class="t0">And aught more rich, or aught more bright,</p> +<p class="t1">No princess ever wore,</p> +<p class="t8">No, never wore.</p> +<p class="t0">'My best beloved,'--so sang he--</p> +<p class="t1">'Add these unto thy store!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Then drew he from his breast</p> +<p class="t1">A string of pearls so rare--</p> +<p class="t0">None richer, no, or none more pure</p> +<p class="t1">Did princess ever wear--</p> +<p class="t8">Oh! ever wear.</p> +<p class="t0">'My best beloved,' so sang he,</p> +<p class="t1">'Accept this bracelet fair!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Then from his finger drew he</p> +<p class="t1">A ring of jewels fine--</p> +<p class="t0">And none more brilliant, none more rich,</p> +<p class="t1">Midst princely gems might shine;</p> +<p class="t8">'Here, here from mine.</p> +<p class="t0">My best beloved,' so sang he,</p> +<p class="t1">'Oh, place this upon thine!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete, on the deep sea</p> +<p class="t1">Beholds the sky's soft hue,</p> +<p class="t0">The waves they were so crystal clear,</p> +<p class="t1">The ocean 'twas so blue!</p> +<p class="t8">Oh! so blue!</p> +<p class="t0">The merman smiled, and thus he sang,</p> +<p class="t1">As near to her he drew:--</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Ah! hearken, my Agnete,</p> +<p class="t1">What I to thee shall speak:</p> +<p class="t0">For thee my heart is burning, love,</p> +<p class="t1">For thee, my heart will break!</p> +<p class="t8">Oh! 'twill break!</p> +<p class="t0">Say, sweet, wilt thou be kind to me,</p> +<p class="t1">And grant the love I seek?'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Dear merman! hearken thou,</p> +<p class="t1">Yes, I will list to thee!</p> +<p class="t0">If deep beneath the sparkling waves</p> +<p class="t1">Thou'lt downward carry me--</p> +<p class="t8">Take thou me!</p> +<p class="t0">And bear me to thine ocean bow'r</p> +<p class="t1">There, I will dwell with thee.'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Then stoppeth he her ears,</p> +<p class="t1">Her mouth then stoppeth he;</p> +<p class="t0">And with the lady he hath fled,</p> +<p class="t1">Deep, deep beneath the sea!</p> +<p class="t8">Beneath the sea!</p> +<p class="t0">There kiss'd they, and embraced they,</p> +<p class="t1">So fond, and safe, and free!</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">For full two years and more,</p> +<p class="t1">Agnete, she lived there,</p> +<p class="t0">And warm, untiring, faithful love</p> +<p class="t1">They to each other bear;</p> +<p class="t8">Such love they bear.</p> +<p class="t0">Within the merman's shelly bower</p> +<p class="t1">Are born two children fair.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete--she sat tranquilly.</p> +<p class="t1">And to her boys she sang;</p> +<p class="t0">When hark! a sound of earth she hears,</p> +<p class="t1">How solemnly it rang!</p> +<p class="t8">Ding--dong--dang!</p> +<p class="t0">It was the church's passing bell</p> +<p class="t1">In Holmé Vale that clang.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete, from the cradle,</p> +<p class="t1">Springs suddenly away,</p> +<p class="t0">She hastes to seek her merman dear,</p> +<p class="t1">'Loved merman, say I may--</p> +<p class="t8">Say--Oh say,</p> +<p class="t0">That I, ere midnight's hour, may take</p> +<p class="t1">To Holmé's church my way?'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Thou wishest ere the midnight</p> +<p class="t1">To Holmé church to go?</p> +<p class="t0">See then that thou, ere day, art back</p> +<p class="t1">Here, to thy boys below--</p> +<p class="t8">Go--go--go!</p> +<p class="t0">But ere the morning light return</p> +<p class="t1">Come to thy sons below!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">He stoppeth then her ears,</p> +<p class="t1">Her mouth then stoppeth he;</p> +<p class="t0">And upwards they together rise</p> +<p class="t1">Till Holmé Vale they see.</p> +<p class="t8">'Now part we!'</p> +<p class="t0">They part, and he descends again</p> +<p class="t1">Beneath the deep blue sea.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Straight on to the churchyard,</p> +<p class="t1">Agnete's footsteps hie:</p> +<p class="t0">She meets--O God! her mother there,</p> +<p class="t1">And turns again to fly.</p> +<p class="t8">'Why--O why?'</p> +<p class="t0">Her mother's voice her steps arrests</p> +<p class="t1">Thus speaking with a sigh:--</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Oh hearken, my Agnete,</p> +<p class="t1">What I shall say to thee,</p> +<p class="t0">Where has thy distant dwelling been</p> +<p class="t1">So long away from me?</p> +<p class="t8">Away from me!</p> +<p class="t0">Say, where hast thou, my child, been hid</p> +<p class="t1">So long and secretly?'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'O mother! I have dwelt</p> +<p class="t1">Beneath the boundless main,</p> +<p class="t0">Within a merman's coral bower,</p> +<p class="t1">And we have children twain,</p> +<p class="t8">Beneath the main.</p> +<p class="t0">I came to pray--and then I go</p> +<p class="t1">Back to the deep again!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'But hearken thou, Agnete,</p> +<p class="t1">What I to thee shall say--</p> +<p class="t0">Here thy two little daughters weep</p> +<p class="t1">Because thou art away;</p> +<p class="t8">By night, by day,</p> +<p class="t0">Thy little girls bemoan and grieve;</p> +<p class="t1">With them thou'lt surely stay?'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Well--let my daughters small</p> +<p class="t1">For me both grieve and long,</p> +<p class="t0">My ears are closed--I cannot hear</p> +<p class="t1">Their cries yon waves among!</p> +<p class="t8">Oh! I belong</p> +<p class="t0">To my dear sons, and they will die</p> +<p class="t1">If I my stay prolong.'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Have pity on thy babes--</p> +<p class="t1">Let them not pine away!</p> +<p class="t0">Oh! think upon thy youngest child</p> +<p class="t1">Who in her cradle lay!</p> +<p class="t8">With them oh stay!</p> +<p class="t0">Forget yon elves, and with thine own,</p> +<p class="t1">Thy lawful children stay!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Nay, let them bloom or fade--</p> +<p class="t1">The two--as Heav'n may will!</p> +<p class="t0">My heart is closed--their cries no more</p> +<p class="t1">Can now my bosom thrill--</p> +<p class="t8">Oh! no more thrill!</p> +<p class="t0">For now my merman's sons alone</p> +<p class="t1">All my affections fill.'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Alas! though thou canst thus</p> +<p class="t1">Thy smiling babes forget;</p> +<p class="t0">Yet think upon their father's faith,</p> +<p class="t1">Thy noble lord's regret,</p> +<p class="t8">The fate he met!</p> +<p class="t0">As soon as thou wert lost to him</p> +<p class="t1">His sun of joy was set.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Long--long he search'd for thee,</p> +<p class="t1">He went a weary way;</p> +<p class="t0">At last from yonder shelving rock</p> +<p class="t1">He cast himself one day--</p> +<p class="t8">One dismal day.</p> +<p class="t0">His corpse upon the pebbly strand</p> +<p class="t1">In the dim twilight lay!</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'And here--'twas not long since--</p> +<p class="t1">His coffin they did bring;</p> +<p class="t0">Ha! list, my daughter, hearest thou?</p> +<p class="t1">The midnight bells they ring!</p> +<p class="t8">Ding--dong--ding!'</p> +<p class="t0">Away her mother hastens then</p> +<p class="t1">As loud the church bells ring.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete, o'er the church-door</p> +<p class="t1">Stepp'd softly from without,</p> +<p class="t0">When all the little images</p> +<p class="t1">They seem'd to turn about;</p> +<p class="t8">Round about.</p> +<p class="t0">Within the church, the images</p> +<p class="t1">They seem'd to turn about.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete gazes on</p> +<p class="t1">The altar-piece so fair;</p> +<p class="t0">The altar-piece it seem'd to turn,</p> +<p class="t1">And the altar with it there.</p> +<p class="t8">All where'er</p> +<p class="t0">Her eye it fell within the church,</p> +<p class="t1">Seem'd turning, turning there!</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete, on the ground</p> +<p class="t1">She gazed in thoughtful mood,</p> +<p class="t0">When lo! she saw her mother's name</p> +<p class="t1">That on a tomb-stone stood.</p> +<p class="t8">There it stood!</p> +<p class="t0">Then, sudden from her bursting heart,</p> +<p class="t1">Flow'd back her chill'd life's blood.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Agnete--first she stagger'd back,</p> +<p class="t1">She fainted, then she fell.</p> +<p class="t0">Now may her children long in vain</p> +<p class="t1">For her they loved so well.</p> +<p class="t8">Oh, so well!</p> +<p class="t0">Now, neither sons nor daughters more</p> +<p class="t1">To her their wants may tell.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Ay! Let them weep, and let them long,</p> +<p class="t1">And seek her o'er and o'er!</p> +<p class="t0">Dark, dark, are now her eyes so bright,</p> +<p class="t1">They ne'er shall open more!</p> +<p class="t8">Oh, never more!</p> +<p class="t0">And crush'd is now that death-cold heart,</p> +<p class="t1">So warm with love before.</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_waking" href="#div1Ref_waking">A WAKING DREAM.</a></h2> +<hr class="W20"> + +<p class="normal">He sat alone. It was not twilight, it was night, deep, dark night. He +had extinguished the lamp, for he wished that all around him should be +gloomy as his own sad thoughts. Even the pitiful glimmering light, +which was cast by the fire in the stove on the objects near it, was +disagreeable to him, for it showed him a portion, at least, of the +scene of his bygone happiness. His bitter sorrow seemed to have +petrified all his faculties, and entirely blasted his life; he did not +appear to reflect, he only felt. The deep sighs that every now and then +burst from his compressed lips were all that gave sign of existence +about him. That agitated tremor, those wild lamentations, those burning +tears,--the glowing look which griefs volcano casts forth, lay hidden +amidst the ashes of mute and agonized suffering.</p> + +<p class="normal">But a few years before he had been the most hopeful of lovers; and +somewhat later, the happiest of husbands and of fathers. Now all--all +was lost! Death had stretched forth his mighty hand and taken his +treasures from him; blow after blew had fate thus inflicted on +his bleeding heart. He--the strong man--the high-minded--the +richly-endowed--sat there like a lifeless statue, without purpose, +without motion, without energy: all had been swept away in the +earthquake which had engulphed the happiness of his home, and he had +not power to raise a new structure upon the ruins of the past.</p> + +<p class="normal">While he was sitting thus, a momentary blaze in the fire showed him the +portrait of his departed wife, which hung against the wall. How many +recollections the sight of it awakened! Oh, how distinctly he +remembered the day when that painting had been finished for him! It was +a short time before his marriage; he was gazing on it in an ecstasy of +delight, when the lovely original cast her beaming eyes on him and +whispered, 'Do you really think it beautiful? Is it so beautiful that +when I become old and grey-headed, you may look at my picture and +remember your love, your feelings for me, when we were both young?' And +when he assured her, that for him she would always be young, she +replied so sweetly, 'Oh, I am not afraid of becoming old by your side; +it will be so delightful to have lived a long life of love with you!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alas! he was still young, but he had to wander through perhaps a long, +long life alone. How had he beheld her last? She was lying in her +coffin--young and lovely, but pale and motionless. And he--who +still breathed and felt--he it was who had clung in despair to that +coffin--he who, with a breaking heart, had laid her dark hair smoothly +on her marble-white cheek, had pressed his lips for the last time on +her cold forehead, had folded her transparent hands and bedewed them +with his tears, and had laid his throbbing head on that so lately +beating heart, which never, never more would thrill with sorrow or with +joy. But who could describe that depth of grief, that rending of the +soul, that agonizing convulsion of the heart, when the last farewell +look on earth--the long, eager, parting look--was taken, and the head +was raised from the harrowing contemplation of these beloved features, +which were soon to be snatched and hidden from his gaze! Then despair +seized upon him, and his grief could find no relief in tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">In these heart-breaking recollections his spirit was long absorbed; at +length he pressed his hands on his aching temples, burst into a flood +of tears, and exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, thou whom I loved so truly! hast thou indeed forsaken me? Can it +be possible that thou hast dissevered thyself from my soul! Oft +have I dreamed that thou wert harkening to my lamentations, that +thou wert lingering by my side, and soothing my sorrow! But it was +fancy--cheating fancy! Thou who didst feel so much affection for +me--thou who wert never deaf to my prayers--hast thou heard me, and yet +not answered me? How often during the sad weary night have I not called +upon thee! See--I stretch forth my arms and embrace only the empty +air--I gaze around for thee, but am left in oppressive solitude. Oh, if +thou <i>canst</i> hear me, beloved spirit! if it be possible that thou canst +hear me--come, oh come!' His voice was choked by tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, when the water mist had passed from his eyes, removing, as it +were, a veil from before them, he gazed wearily on the darkness around, +and perceived a faint ray of light, which gradually seemed to become +clearer. At first he thought it was the moon casting its uncertain +gleams through the window; but the light seemed to extend itself. The +corner of the room opposite to him seemed illumined by a pale, +tremulous lustre that spread down to the floor. His heart beat +violently as he gazed intently at the miraculous light. By degrees it +assumed something like a shape, an airy, transparent figure, clad in a +shining garment that glittered like the stars of heaven; and when it +turned its countenance towards him, he recognized the features of her +he had lost, but radiant in celestial peace and glory. Her clear eyes, +which were fixed upon him, beamed with an expression of indescribable +benignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">The deep grief that had oppressed his spirit gave place to a wonderful, +a mysterious feeling of holy calmness which he had never before +experienced.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, speak!' he entreated softly, as if he were afraid to disturb the +beautiful apparition, and holding his clasped hands beseechingly +towards it--'Oh let me hear that voice, the echo of whose dear accents +still lives in my heart! Hast thou taken compassion on me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Didst thou not call me?' replied the apparition in a faint, subdued +tone, yet so full of tenderness and affection that it seemed to inspire +him with new life. 'Hast thou not often called me? I could no longer +withstand thy supplication. The sorrows and sufferings of earth have +lost their bitterness and their sting for those who have become +heavenly spirits--those who have seen the Omnipotent face to face; but +thy grief touched my heart even in the midst of blessedness. I could +not be happy whilst thou wert wretched. Often have I hovered around +thee, often lingered by thy side, often wafted coolness to thy burning +brow; and when thy sadness would seem to be somewhat soothed, I have +lain at thy feet, and contemplated thy beloved countenance. I was by +thee when thou didst lean weeping over my coffin, and in an agony of +woe didst cling to that body whence my soul had fled. Oh! how much I +wished then that thou couldst look up at me, and know how near I was to +thee! Oh! how willingly I would have embraced thee, had the Almighty +permitted me! I was also with thee when our beloved infant lay in its +last earthly struggle. My dying child called for me, and the heart of +the mother yearned to respond to that call which had reached her, even +when surrounded by the happiness of eternity, I came down to earth to +answer it. Like an airy shadow, I glided through the garden paths in +the still summer night, and all the plants and the flower exhaled their +sweetest fragrance to salute me, for they felt that I had come from a +better world. And Nature spoke to me with its spirit voice, and +besought me to consecrate its soil with my ethereal step. The dark +elder-tree and the blushing rosebush made signs to me, asking me if I +remembered how often they had shed their perfume around us, when you +and I, wrapped in our mutual happiness, used to wander in the soft +evenings, arm in arm--heart answering heart--eye meeting eye--through +the verdant alleys and flower-enamelled walks; but I could not linger +over these sweet remembrances, I passed on to watch the death-bed of +the little innocent who longed so for its mother. And when thou, my +beloved! overcome by affliction, let thine aching head sink in helpless +sorrow on its couch, our child lay, peaceful and joyous, in my embrace, +and ascended to heaven with me to pray for thee. Oh, dearest one I how +canst thou think that death has power to sever hearts that have once +been united in everlasting love!'</p> + +<p class="normal">He listened in mute and breathless ecstasy to these words, which +sounded as the softest melody to his enraptured ear. When the voice +ceased, he stretched forth his arms towards the beloved shade, and said +beseechingly:</p> + +<p class="normal">'Forgive me, angel of Paradise--forgive me! I feel now that the +happiness of heaven is so great that nothing mortal can compare with +it. Yet for my sake thou hast left awhile this inconceivable felicity, +and deigned to assuage my grief, and to speak balm to my heart. Thanks, +blessed spirit--thanks! My path shall no longer be gloomy--my life no +longer lonesome!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou wilt sigh no more--thou wilt no longer weep?' asked the spirit, +with a radiant smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou shalt be my guardian angel, blessed spirit!' he replied, in deep +emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be thanked!' ejaculated the spirit in holy joy. It waved its +shadowy hand to him, and as it seemed to turn to move away, its airy +robe sparkled luminously for a moment; it then glittered more and more +faintly, till it looked like the twinkling of some distant star.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then earth-born wishes seized again upon <i>his</i> heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas;' he cried, as he made an involuntary movement towards the +vanishing shadow, 'shall I, then, never behold thee more in this +world?'</p> + +<p class="normal">A holy light passed over the scarcely defined features of the spirit, +while it replied, as if from afar--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes! once more--but only once. When thy last hour approaches--when the +bitterness of death is passed--then shalt thou tell those that watch by +thy couch, and who, incredulous, will deem thy words the raving of +delirium--then shalt thou tell them that a messenger from a glorious +world is standing by thy side. That messenger will be me. I shall come +to kiss the last breath from thy pale quivering lips, to gladden the +last glance of thy closing eyes, and, after the heart's last pulsation, +to receive thy parted soul, and be its guide to the realms of endless +happiness, where I now await thee.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He listened and bowed his head. When he raised it--all was dark and +empty. He went to the window, and looked out upon the dazzling snow, +and up to the brilliant star-lit heavens, and prayed in sadness, but +with earnest devotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">He lives to perform his duties, to do good to his fellow-creatures, to +serve his God. He is never gay nor lively; but he is tranquil and +content. He loves quiet and solitude. He loves in winter to lose +himself in meditation while gazing on the calm, cold face of nature; +and in summer to loiter in silence, till a late hour at night, amidst +his garden's sweetly-scented walks. He is a lonely wanderer on the +earth; yet not quite so lonely as he is thought to be, for he is often +soothed by delightful dreams, and then he smiles happily, as if in his +visions he had been consoled by the presence of a beloved being.</p> + +<p class="normal">If his soul sometimes ventures humbly to indulge in the wish that it +might soon enter into death's peaceful land, none can tell; his silent +aspirations are known to none--to none but <i>Him</i> who sees into the +deepest recesses of the human heart.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_confessional" href="#div1Ref_confessional">THE CONFESSIONAL.</a></h2> + +<h3>BY CHRISTIAN WINTHER.</h3> + + +<p class="normal">In the Magdalene Church at Girgenti<a name="div2Ref_09" href="#div2_09"><sup>[9]</sup></a> preparations had been made for a +grand festival. It was adorned, as usual on such occasions, with red +tapestry and flowers. The hour of noon had struck, the workmen had left +the church, and there reigned around that deep, solemn stillness which, +in Catholic places of worship, is so appropriate and so imposing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two gentlemen, who conversed in a low tone of voice, were pacing up and +down the long aisle that runs along the northern side of the building, +and seemed to be enjoying the shade and coolness of the church, as if +it had been a public promenade. The elder was a man of about thirty +years of age, stout, broad-shouldered, and strongly built, with a grave +countenance, in which no trace of passion was visible: this was Don +Antonio Carracciolio, Marquis d'Arena. The other, who seemed a mere +youth, had a slender, graceful figure, an animated, handsome face, and +dark eyes, soft almost as those of a woman--which wandered from side to +side with approving glances, as if he had some peculiar interest in the +interior of the sacred edifice. And such he certainly had; for he was +the architect who had planned the church and superintended its +erection. He was called Giulio Balzetti, and had only lately returned +from Rome. Suddenly they stopped.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I shall entrust you with a secret, which I think will amuse you, +Signor Marquis,' said the younger man, in the easy intimate tones in +which one speaks to a friend at whose house one is a daily visitor--'a +secret with which, I believe, no one is acquainted but myself. You see +the effects of acoustics sometimes play us builders strange tricks +where we least expect or wish them. Chance, a mere accident, has +revealed to me, that when one stands here--here upon this white marble +slab--one can distinctly overhear every syllable, even of the lowest +whisper, uttered far from this, yonder, where you may observe the +second last confessional; while, in a straight line between this point +and that, you would not be sensible of any sound, were you even much +nearer the place. If you will remain standing here, I will go yonder to +the confessional in question, and you will be astonished at this +miracle of nature.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He went accordingly, but scarcely had he moved the distance of a couple +of steps, when the Marquis distinctly heard a whisper, the subject of +which seemed to make a strong impression upon him. He stood as rigid +and marble-white as if suddenly turned to stone by some magician's +wand; while the painfully anxious attention with which he listened, and +which was expressed in his otherwise stony features, gave evidence that +he was hearing something of excessive importance. He did not move a +muscle--he scarcely breathed--he was like one who is standing on the +extreme verge of an abyss, into which he is afraid of falling, and his +rolling eyes and beating heart alone gave signs of his violent +agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a very few minutes the young architect came back smiling, and called +out from a little distance, 'I could not manage to make the experiment, +for some one was in the confessional--from the glimpse I got, a lady +closely veiled--but, Heavens! what is the matter with you?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The only answer which the Marquis gave the Italian was to place his +finger on his mouth, and he continued to stand motionless. After a +minute or two he drew a deep sigh. The statue passed out of its +speechless magic trance, and returned again to life.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is nothing, dear Giulio!' said he, in a friendly tone. 'Do not +think that I am superstitious; but I assure you this mysterious and +wonderful natural phenomenon has taken me so much by surprise, that it +has had a strange effect on me. Come, let us go! I shall recover myself +in the fresh air,' he added, as he took Balzetti's arm, and led him to +the promenade on the outside of the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two gentlemen walked up and down there for about an hour, when the +Marquis bade the young man adieu, saying, at the same time, 'Tomorrow, +after the festival is over, will you come out as usual to our villa?'</p> + +<p class="normal">At a very early hour the next morning the Marquis entered his wife's +private suite of apartments. The waiting-maid, who just at that moment +was coming into the anteroom by another door, started, and looked quite +astounded.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did your lady ring?' asked the Marquis.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, your excellency!' replied the woman, curtseying low and colouring +violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then wait till you are called,' said the Marquis, as he opened the +door of the dressing-room, which separated the sleeping-room from the +antechamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he crossed the threshold he was met by his lovely young wife, +attired in a morning-gown so light and flowing, that it looked as if it +must have been the one in which she had arisen from her couch. The +Marquis stopped and stood still, as if struck with his wife's extreme +beauty. He did not appear to observe the uneasiness, the inward tempest +of feelings that, chasing all the blood from her cheeks, had sent it to +her heart, and caused its beating to be too plainly visible under the +robe of slight fabric which was thrown around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are up early this morning, Antonio!' said the young Marchioness, +in a scarcely audible tone of voice, with a deepening blush and a +forced smile. 'What do you want here?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Could you be surprised, my Lauretta? Light of my eyes!' said the +Marquis, in the blandest and most insinuating of accents, 'could you be +surprised if I came both early and late? And yet, dearest, this morning +my visit is not to you alone. You know to-day is the feast of the Holy +Magdalene, and a great festival in the Church. I have taken it into my +head to usher in this day by paying my tribute of admiration to the +glorious Magdalene of Titian, which you had placed in your own sleeping +apartment. Will you permit me?' he asked, very politely, as with slow +steps, but in a determined manner, he walked towards the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Everything is really in such sad disorder there,' said his young wife, +with a rapid glance through the half-open door; 'but ... go, since you +will. I shall begin making my toilette here in the mean time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">And he went in.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How charming,' he cried, in a peculiar tone of voice--'how charming is +not all this disorder! This graceful robe thrown carelessly down--these +fairy slippers! There is something that awakens the fancy, something +delicious in the very air of this room! All this is absolutely poetry.'</p> + +<p class="normal">His searching look fastened itself upon the snow-white couch, the +silken coverlet of which was drawn up and spread out, but could not +entirely conceal the outline of a human figure, lying as flat as +possible, evidently in the endeavour to escape observation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will sit down awhile,' said the Marquis, in the cheerful voice of a +person who has no unpleasant thought in his mind, 'and contemplate this +master-work.'</p> + +<p class="normal">As he said this he took up a pillow, its white covering trimmed with +wide lace, and laid it on the spot where he thought the face of the +concealed person must be, and placed himself upon it with all the +weight of his somewhat bulky figure, whilst he placed his right hand +upon the chest of the reclining form, and pressed on it with all his +force.</p> + +<p class="normal">Without heeding the involuntary, frightful, and convulsive +heavings--the death-throes of his wretched victim--the Marquis +exclaimed, in a calm, firm voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">'How beautifully that picture is finished! How noble and chaste does +not the lovely penitent look, all sinner as she was, with her rich +golden locks waving over that neck and those shoulders whiter than +alabaster, while these graceful hands are clasped, and these contrite, +tearful eyes seem gazing up yonder, whence alone mercy and pardon can +be obtained! One could almost become a poet in gazing on so splendid a +work of art. But ah! I never had the happy talent of an improvisatore. +In place, therefore, of poetizing, I will tell you something that +happened yesterday. Our little friend Giulio Balzetti took me round the +Magdalene Church; and, whilst we were wandering about, he pointed out a +particular spot to me, and bade me stand quite still there, telling me +that <i>there</i> might be overheard what was said at another spot at some +distance in the church. And he was right. At that other place stood the +confessional No. 6. I had hardly placed myself on the marble flag +indicated to me, than I heard a charming voice--God knows who it was +speaking!--but she was confessing the sorrows of her heart and her +little sins to the holy father. She had a husband, she said, whom she +loved--yes, she loved him, and he loved her: he was very kind to her, +and left her much at liberty; in short, she gave the husband credit for +all sorts of good qualities, but, unfortunately, she had fallen in love +with another man! She did not mention his name. I should like to have +heard it. He must be one of our handsome young cavaliers about the +town. And this other loved her, too--she could not help it, poor +thing!--and so she found room for him in her heart as well as +for the husband. This other one was so handsome, so pleasing, so +fascinating!... Well ... if her husband did not know what was going on, +he could not be vexed, and ... it would do him no harm. So she had +promised to admit the lover early this morning. Do you hear? This is +what the French dames call "passer ses caprices." At last, she begged +the good priest to give her absolution beforehand. And he did so: he +gave the absolution! What do you think of all this, my love?' said the +Marquis, as he rose from the couch, where all was now still as death, +'Well,' he continued, in a jocular tone, 'our worthy priests are almost +too complaisant and indulgent--at least, most of them. Our old Father +Gregorio, however, would have taken <i>you</i> to task after a different +fashion, if you ...'</p> + +<p class="normal">He broke off abruptly, while he quietly laid the pillow in its own +place, and deliberately turned down the embroidered coverlet. It was +the architect Giulio Balzetti whom the Marquis beheld: he had ceased to +breathe!</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have you been to confession lately, my Laura?' asked the Marquis. +There was no answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is it long since you have been to confession?' he asked, in a louder +and sterner voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No!' replied the young woman, in the lowest possible tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Apropos,' said the Marquis, as he covered the frightfully distorted +and blue face of the corpse with the coverlet, 'shall we not go to the +grand festival at the church to-day? The procession begins exactly at +twelve o'clock. I shall order the carriage--we really must not miss +it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He returned to the dressing-room. The Marchioness was sitting in a +large cushioned lounging-chair, the thick tresses of her dark hair +hanging negligently down, her lips and cheeks as pale as death, and her +hands resting listlessly on her lap.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is the matter, my dear child?' asked the Marquis, inwardly +triumphing at her distress, but with fair and friendly words upon his +lips. 'You have risen too early, my little Laura; and you have also +fatigued yourself in trying to dress without assistance. Where is +Pipetta? I shall ring for her now.' He pulled the bell-rope--approached +his wife--slightly kissed her brow--and then left her apartments.</p> + +<p class="normal">At mid-day, when all the bells of the churches were pealing, the +Marquis's splendid state carriage, with four horses adorned with +gilded trappings, stood before the gate of his palace, and a crowd of +richly-dressed pages, footmen, and grooms, were in waiting there. +Presently the Marquis appeared in his brilliant court costume, with +glittering stars on his breast, his hat in one hand, whilst with the +other he led his young and beautiful but deadly-pale wife. With the +utmost attention he handed her down the marble steps, and while her +countenance looked as cold and stony as that of a statue, his eyes +flashed with a fire that was unusual to them. The servants hurried +forwards, the carriage-door was opened, the noble pair entered it, and +it drove off towards the town. In the crowded streets the foot +passengers turned round to gaze at it, and exclaimed to each other, +'There go a happy couple!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The architect had disappeared. No one suspected that on the day of the +grand festival he lay dead--a blue and terrible-looking corpse--amidst +boots and shoes, at the bottom of a noble young dame's wardrobe; or +that, the following night, without shroud or coffin, his body was +secretly transported by the lady's faithful servants to a neighbouring +mountain, and there thrown into a deep cave. But the lady paid a large +sum to the convent of the Magdalens for the sake of his soul's repose.</p> + +<p class="normal">The monk Gregorio--the accommodating and favourite confessor of the +fashionable world--was also soon after missing. But <i>he</i> was not +dead--he lingered for some years in a subterranean prison belonging to +a monastery of one of the strictest orders: a punishment to which he +had been condemned through the influence of the Marquis d'Arena.</p> + +<p class="normal">That the confessional No. 6 was removed, will be easily believed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Marquis never alluded to these events before his wife. When they +appeared in public together, as also in society at his own home, he +treated her with respect, often with attention. But he never again +spoke to her in private, nor did he ever again enter those apartments +which had once been the scene of so dreadful a tragedy.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_ancestress" href="#div1Ref_ancestress">THE ANCESTRESS; OR, FAMILY PRIDE.</a></h2> + +<h3>FROM THE SWEDISH OF THE LATE BARONESS KNORRING.</h3> +<br> +<br> + +<h3>I.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Adelgunda was one of the most beautiful creatures ever moulded by the +great Master's hand, and one on whom He might deign to look with the +same paternal complacency as Pygmalion looked on his Galathea.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adelgunda was also as the apple of their eye to her father and mother; +but not the less did they bring her up with the utmost strictness and +severity, in the awful loftiness of their aristocratic principles, +which made no allowance for a single error, a single imperfection, a +single weakness even, among any who belonged to them. Everyone was to +be super-excellent, and supremely high-bred like their ancestors; for +their ancestors had only <i>virtues</i>, their failings being entombed with +their bodies. The slightest infringement of the stately decorum, +the formal propriety--and, to the honour of their ancestors we must +add--the rectitude, the loyal and chivalric conduct of these worthies, +called forth as unmerciful punishment as a heinous fault. And +Adelgunda, from her earliest infancy, learned to form grand ideas about +her noble, ancient, and opulent family; it was impressed on her mind +that she would be very degenerate indeed if she did not resemble all +those long departed, and now mouldering dames and damsels, whose +portraits hung in long rows in the great picture-gallery, as a large +old-fashioned apartment was called, which, in spite of accidental +fires, of repairs and renovations in the old baronial castle, had +preserved unaltered its antique appearance since the middle of the +sixteenth century.</p> + +<p class="normal">In her infancy, Adelgunda had often been taken into this venerable +saloon, and, counting with her five small fingers, she could repeat the +names of all those haughty-looking, long-bearded cavaliers, equipped in +heavy armour, or these stiff, richly-dressed nobles, most of them +decorated with jewelled orders, or other tokens of a high worldly +position; and these grand-looking ladies, encased in whalebone and +stiff corsets, with towering powdered heads and magnificent jewellery, +evincing the wealth of the family. These ladies and gentlemen hung, as +has been said, in straight rows on each side of the long, narrow, dark, +oak-paneled hall; and they were all half-length portraits in oval or +almost square frames, the gilding of which had long since faded into a +sort of a brownish-yellow cinnamon tint. But at the end of the hall, +between two deep Gothic windows, with small old-fashioned panes of +glass, there hung alone in state the great <i>ancestress</i>, or founder of +the family--a tall, dark, stern-looking woman, whose countenance was +grave, austere, and almost menacing, though the features, when narrowly +examined, were regular and beautiful.</p> + +<p class="normal">In contrast to the half-length portraits around, this picture was +almost colossal in size; and the noble lady it represented, who in +Roman Catholic times had ended her days as the Abbess of a convent, +stood there so stately and so stiff in the close black garb, with the +unbecoming white linen band across her forehead, and with one hand, in +which she held a crucifix, resting on a dark-looking stand, on which a +missal, a skull, and a rosary, lay near each other, the other hand hung +carelessly down by her side, and almost reached the lower portion of +the picture-frame, which seemed considerably darker and more time-worn +than all the rest. This picture was painted on thick wood, or on canvas +stretched on wood, it was not certain which, but everyone knew that it +was as heavy as lead--and so it proved to be.</p> + +<p class="normal">The likeness of the patriarch of the family--of the father of the +race--painted to correspond in size and everything else to that of the +high-born lady above mentioned, had in former days hung also in this +saloon, but had been destroyed in a fire which had taken place between +the years 1740 and 1750, so that the stern imperious-looking dame now +occupied the place of honour alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her parents had never omitted, when they accompanied Adelgunda into the +picture gallery, to take her up first to one, then to another of the +noble ladies whose lineaments adorned the walls, saying, 'How fortunate +for you if you could be as good as <i>this</i> ancestress of yours was--as +clever as <i>that</i> one--as beautiful as <i>she</i> was--as dutiful and +affectionate as <i>yon</i> lady!' Adelgunda would fix her eyes on each by +turns, and every time she looked at them her desire to resemble them +increased. But the great gloomy portrait of the tall dark lady always +awakened a thrill of terror in the little girl's mind. This was partly +owing to the tales with which the servants frightened her about this +harsh, awful-looking abbess, partly to her being obliged, whenever she +was naughty, to go into the sombre apartment where the picture was, +and, curtseying before it, to beg pardon of the stern, threatening +figure.</p> + +<p class="normal">With her tearful looks fixed upon it, she had often fancied that the +eyes of the portrait moved; but it was a still greater trial to poor +Adelgunda, when she had been guilty of some great offence, to be +condemned, as a punishment, to stand for a quarter of an hour, or +half-an-hour, under the dreaded portrait with her back to it.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a tradition in the family that many, many years back, during +the lifetime of one of the more ancient lords of the castle, a little +girl, a member of the race, who was undergoing a similar punishment, +distinctly felt the terrible lady's hand, which hung unemployed by her +side, stretch over the picture-frame and seize roughly hold of her +hair. The recollection of that tradition was martyrdom to Adelgunda +when this most dreaded penance was inflicted on her; and on one +occasion, when her conscience was not of the clearest, and she had +cried herself almost into a fever from fright, she fancied that she +actually felt a grasp at her little golden tresses.</p> + +<p class="normal">It is easy to imagine how anxious, in consequence of all this, +Adelgunda was to avoid committing any faults, and with what terror the +picture inspired her. And even in riper years, when she began to lay +aside her childish dress and childish ideas, and when reason told her +that a painted figure could have no more power or influence than any +other inanimate object, she still looked with a certain degree of awe +upon the portrait of her frowning ancestress, especially when her +conscience told her that she had been guilty of any slight +indiscretion; while, on the contrary, she felt some pleasure at gazing +on the other family pictures, which all seemed to smile upon her.</p> + +<p class="normal">But years and time wore on, and the aristocratic bones of Adelgunda's +proud, high-born parents were laid in the dust to mingle with the +honoured remains of the old stock. She was then still in her minority, +and found a new home with a kind aunt, who had resided too short a time +under the same roof with the ancestral portraits, and in the place +which had been the cradle of their race, to have imbibed their +exaggerated family pride.</p> + +<p class="normal">The estate, which was entailed, with everything belonging to it, +including the much-prized portrait, passed in trust, for future +generations, to Adelgunda's only brother, of whom we purposely have not +spoken, that we might not be obliged to give an account of all the +exaggerated ideas of the consequence of his family which his father and +mother had diligently and zealously laboured to imprint on the mind of +their son--the only male scion of that ancient house, which was now +threatened with speedy extinction--he who, after them, was alone to +represent the glory of their time-honoured ancestry. What precepts and +exhortations he, the only son and last hope, received under his +progenitor's portrait--what deference and devotion were inculcated to +the name of the haughty-looking abbess, whose severe virtue and pious +deeds were held to reflect honour on her descendants--what aristocratic +ideas and exclusive principles were there engrafted on his soul, we +will not stop to relate--they would be incomprehensible to many, and do +not require to be dwelt on in our short tale.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the aunt's cheerful, hospitable, pleasant, light modern villa quite +another tone prevailed, and quite another mode of life from that within +the solid walls of the old baronial castle or under its gloomy roof. At +Adelgunda's age new impressions are soon received, new associations and +new ideas are welcomed with avidity, and seldom fail to influence the +mind. Adelgunda--truth obliges us to confess--soon forgot a very +stringent and important paragraph in the paternal and maternal +lectures--forgot the faithful portraits of the defunct females of her +noble house, and even the threatening glance--the dark eye that shone +from beneath the white linen fillet of the haughty abbess--forgot them +all amidst new-born and overflowing happiness in the arms of an adored +and adoring husband, a young naval officer, rich in all nature's +brightest gifts, and standing high in the opinion of the world, but on +whom the great ancestress would certainly never have permitted her hand +to be bestowed, had she known of the matter; for his patent of nobility +was not mouldy from age, was not even made out, and still worse, was +not likely ever to be drawn up, because he did not feel the slightest +wish ever to possess one.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adelgunda, nevertheless, felt unspeakably happy, and her noble brother, +to whom the family mode of thinking had descended as an heirloom in +conjunction with the entailed property, winked at the plebeian +match--partly because he well knew that Adelgunda's very limited +portion would never tempt any among the needy and impoverished of his +own class to lay their hearts at her feet--partly because it was the +preservation of the family name and tree in his own person that lay +nearest to his heart, not the offshoots from the female line--and +partly that, though he was a proud man, and unflinching in his +aristocratical notions, he had a kind heart, was fondly attached to his +sister, rejoiced in her happiness, and was well aware how much superior +in character his estimable brother-in-law was to the generality of the +young men of the day.</p> + +<p class="normal">But for himself, this brother and lord of the castle sought a spouse +who should entwine no vulgar burgher twig around the fair branches of +his genealogical tree, but one who counted as many generations as other +good qualities; for ancient lineage is not apt, like wealth, to corrupt +the heart, and Adelgunda's sister-in-law was truly an amiable lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the lordly halls of the ancient castle became the abode of +domestic happiness; and it was admitted that it could not be otherwise, +for not one alone, but many of the old servants who had passed into the +service of the heir of entail, and who were not notorious for their +superstition, had clearly and distinctly observed that the first time +the young countess entered the picture gallery, the majestic ancestress +had relaxed her stern lips almost into a smile of approbation, which +had never happened but once before--in the year 1664, on a similar +occasion; a remarkable event, which had been recorded by the chaplain +of the castle, with many subscribing witnesses, in a document which was +preserved like a holy relic amidst the family's most valued papers, +parchments, and deeds.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the young count and countess were happily wedded, and comfortably +settled at the castle, which however, did not happen until about five +years after Adelgunda's marriage to her delightful naval hero, the +brother and sister felt a strong wish to meet once more under the +paternal roof. And Adelgunda's husband promised that on his return in +autumn from an expedition in which he was then engaged, he, his wife, +and their little son, a boy about four years of age, should without any +delay accept of the count's invitation, and make the visit so much +desired by all parties--even by the young countess, Adelgunda's +sister-in-law, who was by no means a stranger to her. They had been +friends in childhood, indeed were distantly related to each other; for +it so happens that almost all the families amongst the most ancient of +the Swedish nobility are connected by ties of consanguinity.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length the long-looked-for day arrived, and Adelgunda beheld, with +tears of mingled joy and sorrow, the grey old towers of the castle +where she was born, and where she had spent her earliest years--those +years which, on comparing them with the subsequent epochs of our life, +we denominate the gayest and the happiest. Adelgunda and her husband, +who had had a long day's journey, arrived late in the evening at the +castle, and were shortly after conducted to their sleeping-rooms, a +suite of lofty arched apartments in one of the farthest towers, and in +the olden time the principal guest-chambers, but which did not bear the +best of reputations as regarded spectres, midnight noises, groans, +rattling of chains, and the like horrors. Adelgunda had all her life +entertained great respect for, but also no little fear of, these +apartments; and those feelings were probably heightened by an old +tradition which averred that some most extraordinary and mysterious +events had taken place in these chambers. Some pretended to know that +one of these apartments, which along with the picture-gallery had +remained most unchanged during the lapse of years, had served as the +bridal-chamber for the great ancestress of the family; at any rate, +there was something that savoured of awe and discomfort about them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Never in her life had Adelgunda slept in any of these gloomy +apartments, and in former days nothing would have induced her to do so; +but now, with her brave, bold sailor by her side, she smiled at her old +childish fears,--at least when he laughed at her recital of them. She +would not, however, on any account, allow her little Victor to sleep in +the first antechamber with the trembling waiting-maid, but placed the +child's crib close to her own bed, and often during the long, dark, and +stormy autumnal night, when the wind shook the panes of glass, and +howled through the adjacent forest, and she was awakened by its +violence, she turned quickly, and with a beating heart, towards the +child, leaned over his little bed, and felt unhappy until she had +ascertained that her darling was sleeping soundly and peacefully.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well!' said her husband the next morning, when the sun was already +pretty high in the heavens, and cast his cheerful rays through the +narrow casements of these haunted chambers--'well, dearest Adelgunda, +have you heard or seen any spectre last night--been visited in any way +by a ghost?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' she replied laughingly, as the bright sunshine restored her +courage; there was but one spirit near me last night--one dear, good +spirit;' and she embraced her husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And you, Annette?' cried the incredulous visitor to the poor +waiting-maid, 'I hope you have not been disturbed by the ghosts +either?'</p> + +<p class="normal">But Annette, who was half-dead from fear, asserted that she had not +closed her eyes the whole night; that she had distinctly heard sighs +and groans, and heavy footsteps up and down the floor; and there had +been many other frightful things that she could not describe.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now, in the cheering daylight, Adelgunda laughed heartily at these +<i>fancies</i>, as she called them; but the previous night she would not +have done so,--at least not with a heart so much at ease.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I wonder what his uncle and aunt will say of my little Victor, now +that he is nicely dressed, and not so sleepy and cross as he was last +night, after that long fatiguing journey!' said Adelgunda to Annette, +with a mother's pride in her pretty boy, and while they were both +engaged in arranging his curly hair, and putting on his handsome new +green dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Adelgunda's husband had risen early and gone out to stroll round the +old castle, and the former young lady of the mansion, who had now +become a wife and mother, took up her little son in her arms to go down +to her sister-in-law, who had already sent to inquire how she had +slept, and to let her know that breakfast was ready.</p> + +<p class="normal">Humming an air, Adelgunda proceeded with her light burden through the +dear old well-remembered passages where her very footsteps echoed, +until she came close to the door which opened into the picture-gallery; +she then stopped, seized suddenly with a strong impulse to enter it, +while a strange, sad foreboding of evil filled her heart. Influenced, +as it were, by an invincible power over which she had no control, she +laid her hand upon the lock, turned it, and stood, she scarcely knew +how, in presence of the mute family, who seemed gazing on her from both +sides. Adelgunda's heart beat quickly; recollections from her childhood +and her youthful days began to rush back on her. These aristocratic +feelings, which had so long slumbered, began to start up in her mind, +and she dared not look towards the terrible lady at the extreme end, +for fear of meeting her angry, implacable glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a pretty lady! And there is another nice lady! What a grand +gentleman! and see, yonder is a fine gentleman, too!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Such were little Victor's exclamations, as Adelgunda went slowly with +him past all these well-known portraits of uncles and aunts, +grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and other members of the family, all +long since asleep in their graves.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But, oh, mother, look!' cried Victor, as he first caught sight of the +largest; 'see how horrible that one up yonder looks! See, mother, how +that tall woman there on the wall frowns down at us!' And Victor knit +his little brows, and drew in his small mouth, to make his face look +very terrible in return.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh, do not speak so--do not speak so!' exclaimed his mother, trying +in vain to hush the child. 'On the contrary,' she added, in a +faltering voice, 'she is an excellent lady, and very kind to all good, +well-behaved children. We will go up yonder, and beg her pardon and her +blessing.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, no!' screamed Victor, kicking his little legs with all his might; +'I won't have anything to do with her: she looks as cross as if she +would bite me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Again his mother entreated Victor to be a reasonable, good boy, and by +that time they stood under the great lady's picture. A tremor crept +over Adelgunda as she encountered that austere, repulsive look, and +involuntarily she dropped her eyes beneath it. But reason soon +triumphed; she approached closer to the portrait, and said to her +little son, whom she still held in her arms, 'Now we shall say good +morning to that lady;' and she curtseyed herself, and bent with her +hand the obstinate little head; 'and we shall beg her to look kindly +and gently down upon us, for your dear, good papa's sake, and we will +kiss her hand.' And Adelgunda kissed the hand in the picture that was +hanging down; but when she attempted to raise the child's face up +towards the hand, the little fellow, in whose infantine breast was +aroused a portion of his father's bold spirit, and perhaps impetuous +temper, and who, though somewhat frightened, felt his courage rising, +and was, withal, extremely angry, struggled furiously, clenched his +little fist, and instead of kissing the great lady's drooping hand, +thumped it with all his might--and at that moment he was strong enough.</p> +<br> +<br> +<h3>II.</h3> + +<p class="normal">Adelgunda's brother and sister-in-law waited in vain for her appearance +at the breakfast-table. She came not! But at length the startling +intelligence was brought to them that a strange, frightful noise had +been heard in the picture-gallery. No one knew what was the cause of +it, for no one had dared to venture in to see what had happened, but +now every one rushed in. A cloud of dust, a heap of mortar and wood was +before them; and a sight so dreadful, so shocking, so appalling, met +their eyes, that every heart was like to break.</p> + +<p class="normal">But only one heart <i>did</i> break, for notwithstanding his strength of +mind--his unconquerable spirit--his undeniable fortitude, the bereaved +husband and father almost sank beneath the frightful calamity that had +suddenly deprived him of the wife he adored, and the child on whom all +his hopes were centred. Yet he was the first--the only one who had +sufficient energy, and presence of mind to drag the lifeless remains of +his wife and son from under the destroying weight of the heavy +portrait.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a frightful event, and made a great sensation. A rotten rope, +and the mouldering state of the wall which should have upheld the +enormously heavy wooden frame, had done all the evil.</p> + +<p class="normal">The naval officer passed over distant seas to many a foreign land--the +world was all before him, but he never forgot what he had lost.</p> + +<p class="normal">The picture of the awful ancestress met with little injury in its fall; +but several years elapsed before it was hung up again in its former +place. It was, however, at length restored to its old position, but +fastened with new rope, and everything necessary to make it more +secure. The dreadful occurrence was beginning to be forgotten, and the +brotherly affection which had somewhat cooled, seemed to have displayed +itself sufficiently in having banished the lofty dame for some years to +a lumber-room. She could not always be left there! So at length she +hung in her old place again, as stern, as frowning as formerly. And the +count, who had now become an old man, generally when he alluded to the +terrible event, reasonably ascribed it to natural causes. But, once +upon a time, when he observed his youngest daughter, a girl not much +more than sixteen years of age, casting <i>furtive</i> and <i>rather friendly</i> +glances at a young man, the son of a country parson, who, on account of +his handsome person and pleasant manners, was often received at the +baronial castle,--when he saw this, by means of some sidelong looks +with the corner of his eye, which were not perceived by the young +couple, then he took his daughter by the hand, led her silently and +solemnly into the picture-gallery, walked with her up to the replaced +portrait of their great ancestress, and said with the gravity of an +anxious father, and the dignity of an aristocratic nobleman,--</p> + +<p class="normal">'Beware, my daughter! Remember the fate of your aunt!'</p> + +<p class="normal">These words were all he uttered.</p> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="normal">'And this happened in the nineteenth century, and here in our +father-land? 'Such an inquiry will assuredly be made by one or other of +our readers. But we will not answer it ourselves; we shall only advise +the inquirer to address himself to the descendants of <i>one of the most +ancient families in Scania</i>, and ask <i>them</i> whether it be true or not.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><a name="div1_man" href="#div1Ref_man">THE MAN FROM PARADISE.</a><a name="div2Ref_10" href="#div2_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></h2> + +<h2>A Comic Tale.</h2> + +<h3>FROM THE DANISH OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN.</h3> + +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0"> +There was a widow, once upon a time--<br> +Yet stop--with <i>truth</i> we must commence our rhyme--<br> +She <i>had</i> been such, but now another spouse<br> +Had sought her love, and won the widow's vows.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">One evening she was quite alone at home<br> +(For the best husbands sometimes like to roam);<br> +She sat, her cheek reposing on her hand,<br> +The tea-things spread upon the table, and<br> +The kettle singing by, or on the fire--<br> +A sort of a monotonous steam lyre:<br> +Her thoughts from this low world of fogs had flown<br> +Up to the husband she first called her own;<br> +She could not <i>quite</i> the dear, kind soul forget--<br> +And ah! the other one was absent yet.<br> +'But thou art happy now,' she cried--'in case<br> +In Abraham's bosom thou hast found a place:<br> +Thou pitiest us, in these rooms close and old,<br> +Where one so often gets a cough or cold.'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Then into a brown study she did fall,<br> +When suddenly some sounds her thoughts recall;<br> +She hears a gentle knocking at the door;<br> +She starts--looks at the roof, then at the floor--<br> +Then peers into each corner, as she cries,<br> +'Well--who is there?' To be right brave she tries,<br> +But truth to tell, she almost shook with fear<br> +To see some ghost, or corpse-like form appear.<br> +Another knock--then in the doorway stood<br> +No spectre, but a youth of flesh and blood<br> +'Twas an apprentice who had run away<br> +From work, and chose from town to town to stray:<br> +The rogue lived by his wits as best he might,<br> +For nought he scrupled at--except to fight.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">The quondam widow very soon perceived<br> +The intruder was not what she had believed--<br> +That he was mortal, not a form of air.<br> +She questioned whence he came, and also where<br> +He might be bound. 'I'm on my way,' said he,<br> +'To Paris, madam, <i>viâ</i> Germany.'<br> +With joyous heart she listened to his tale,<br> +And then she placed before him meat and ale,<br> +Kindly inviting him to eat and drink;<br> +While she exclaimed, 'How very strange to think<br> +That you to Paradise are journeying on!--<br> +Why, that's the land where my first husband's gone!<br> +Please give my love to him, our daughter's, too,<br> +And--<i>his successor's compliments</i>, will you?'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Quickly the knave observed that the good dame<br> +In her geography was rather lame--<br> +That <i>Paradise</i> with <i>Paris</i> she confounded.<br> +And though one moment he looked up astounded,<br> +The next into her droll conceit he fell,<br> +Saying, 'Oh, yes! I know the good man well.'<br> +'What! have you really been already there?'<br> +She cried. 'Then say, how does the dear one fare?'<br> +'Ah! very badly. 'Tis a tale of woe!<br> +I was up there about a month ago.<br> +A sort of a dog's life the poor thing led,<br> +Early he had to rise--get late to bed;<br> +Worked hard, and scarce a stitch of clothing had.<br> +His shroud and grave-clothes from the first were bad;<br> +They very soon wore out, and now he goes<br> +Without a coat, and with bare legs and toes.'<br> +These words went like a dagger to her heart;<br> +She shuddered--groaned--then, with a sudden start,<br> +She rose, and soon an ample bundle made<br> +Of linen, coats, warm woollen socks; and said,<br> +Whilst with big tear-drops both her eyes looked dim.<br> +'This package, sir, I pray you take to him.<br> +Tell the poor fellow I shall send him more<br> +By the first opportunity--a store<br> +I'll surely send. Oh dear! oh dear! 'tis sad<br> +His fate in yonder place should be so bad!'</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">The rogue had stuffed quite to his heart's content,<br> +So, taking up the bundle, off he went;<br> +But first he thanked her for the food, and vowed<br> +The clothes she sent should soon replace the shroud.<br> +Long, long she sits, her eyes still full of tears;<br> +The absent husband now at length appears<br> +('Tis to the <i>second</i> one that I allude--<br> +The <i>first</i>, as has been shown, was gone for good).</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Well, I have curious tidings for your ear--<br> +A man from Paradise has just been here;<br> +He knew poor <i>Thi--is</i> there.' (Such was the name<br> +Of him who was first husband to the dame.)<br> +And thereupon, with a most serious face,<br> +She told him all that had just taken place.<br> +The husband, when he heard her, smelled a rat,<br> +But only saying he would have a chat<br> +Himself with the great traveller, he sent<br> +For his best horse, and after him he went.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Twas a sweet night, the moon was shining clearly--<br> +Just such a night as poets love most dearly;<br> +The nightingales were pouring forth their notes,<br> +The owls were exercising, too, their throats;<br> +But, what was better still, he found the track<br> +The thief had ta'en, and hoped to bring him back.<br> +Thieves, by the way, like the moon's silver rays<br> +Far better than the sun's meridian blaze.<br> +And now, how fared it with the thief himself,<br> +Thus making off with his ill-gotten pelf?</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">He spied a man, who like old Nick was riding,<br> +And felt that he was in for a good hiding;<br> +Therefore into a neighbouring ditch he flung<br> +The burden that across his back had slung,<br> +Then casting himself down upon a bank,<br> +Quite in a lounging attitude he sank,<br> +And gazing on the clear calm skies above,<br> +He sang some ditty about ladies' love.<br> +Up comes the rider at a rapid trot--<br> +The pace had made him and his steed both hot--<br> +And asked abruptly, reining in his grey,<br> +If he had seen a rascal pass that way,<br> +Who on his shoulders a large bundle bore--<br> +A horrid thief he was, the horseman swore.<br> +'Why, yes,' was the reply. 'I have just seen<br> +A fellow with long legs pass by--I ween<br> +It is the same you seek; for he looked round<br> +Soon as your horse's footfall on the ground<br> +Was heard--and then, as quickly as he could,<br> +He fled to hide himself in yonder wood.<br> +If you make haste, you there will catch him soon.'<br> +The horseman thanked him much and craved a boon--<br> +It was to hold his steed, while in pursuit<br> +He went himself into the wood on foot.<br> +'Twas granted, and the husband rushed among<br> +The bushes tall--while the thief laughing sprung<br> +Upon the horse; he took the bundle too,<br> +And fast away he rode, or rather flew.</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">Angry, fatigued, and scratched till he was sore,<br> +The husband came, his bootless errand o'er.<br> +Fancy what was his grief, his rage, to find<br> +The horse he thought he left so safe behind,<br> +Gone too! he cried, 'Hey! hey!' its name he called,<br> +But all in vain he shouted and he bawled--<br> +The clever thief the faster rode away.<br> +There was no creature near on whom to lay<br> +The blame; so the poor foolish dupe abused<br> +The moon, for having thus her light misused.<br> +Home on his weary legs he had to trudge;<br> +His steed to the vile thief did he not grudge!</p> +<p class="t0"> </p> + +<p class="t0">'Well, did you find him?' asked his smiling wife.<br> +He answered, in a tone subdued, 'My life,<br> +I did. I found him, and--and--for <i>your</i> sake,<br> +Our best, our swiftest horse I let him take,<br> +That he with greater speed might find his way.'<br> +The dame smiled on him, and in accents gay<br> +Exclaimed, 'O best of husbands! who could find<br> +Your equal--one so thoughtful, wise, and kind!'</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<h3>MORAL.</h3> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0"> +The moral of this story shows,<br> +Though knaves on women oft impose,<br> +That men are sometimes quite as <i>green</i>,<br> +But hold their tongues themselves to screen.</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: A Danish +title, signifying councillor of justice.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: Danish mile, equal to about 4 3/4 English miles.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: Fourteen and a quarter English miles.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: 'To give a basket,' in Danish, signifies a refusal.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: A Danish title.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_06" href="#div2Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: 'Aprilsnarrene.' A Danish vaudeville.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_07" href="#div2Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: The ceremony of Confirmation is deemed of the highest +importance in Denmark, and is never neglected in any rank of life, from +the prince to the peasant.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_08" href="#div2Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: For these, and 'Octavianus,' see Ludwig Tieck's works. +They have been translated into Danish by Adam Oehlenschlæger.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_09" href="#div2Ref_09">Footnote 9</a>: A town of Sicily, in the Val di Mazzara, on the site of +the ancient Agrigenum, the magnificent ruins of which are still to be +seen.</p> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_10" href="#div2Ref_10">Footnote 10</a>: Manden Fra Paradiis. En komisk Fortælling.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOL. I.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>LONDON. PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET,<br> +AND CHARING CROSS.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Danes Sketched by Themselves. Vol. +I (of 3), by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANES SKETCHED BY THEMSELVES, VOL I *** + +***** This file should be named 37831-h.htm or 37831-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/8/3/37831/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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