anne lisbeth-第2部分

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coffee；　for　she　could　smell　the　coffee…berries　roasting。　But

suddenly　it　seemed　to　her　that　there　stood　on　the　threshold　a

beautiful　young　form；　as　beautiful　as　the　count's　child；　and　this

apparition　said　to　her；　〃The　world　is　passing　away；　hold　fast　to　me；

for　you　are　my　mother　after　all；　you　have　an　angel　in　heaven；　hold

me　fast；〃　and　the　child…angel　stretched　out　his　hand　and　seized　her。

Then　there　was　a　terrible　crash；　as　of　a　world　crumbling　to　pieces；

and　the　angel…child　was　rising　from　the　earth；　and　holding　her　by

the　sleeve　so　tightly　that　she　felt　herself　lifted　from　the　ground；

but；　on　the　other　hand；　something　heavy　hung　to　her　feet　and　dragged

her　down；　and　it　seemed　as　if　hundreds　of　women　were　clinging　to

her；　and　crying；　〃If　thou　art　to　be　saved；　we　must　be　saved　too。

Hold　fast；　hold　fast。〃　And　then　they　all　hung　on　her；　but　there　were

too　many；　and　as　they　clung　the　sleeve　was　torn；　and　Anne　Lisbeth　fell

down　in　horror；　and　awoke。　Indeed　she　was　on　the　point　of　falling　over

in　reality　with　the　chair　on　which　she　sat；　but　she　was　so　startled

and　alarmed　that　she　could　not　remember　what　she　had　dreamed；　only

that　it　was　something　very　dreadful。

　　　　They　drank　their　coffee　and　had　a　chat　together；　and　then　Anne

Lisbeth　went　away　towards　the　little　town　where　she　was　to　meet　the

carrier；　who　was　to　drive　her　back　to　her　own　home。　But　when　she

came　to　him　she　found　that　he　would　not　be　ready　to　start　till　the

evening　of　the　next　day。　Then　she　began　to　think　of　the　expense；　and

what　the　distance　would　be　to　walk。　She　remembered　that　the　route　by

the　sea…shore　was　two　miles　shorter　than　by　the　high　road；　and　as

the　weather　was　clear；　and　there　would　be　moonlight；　she　determined　to

make　her　way　on　foot；　and　to　start　at　once；　that　she　might　reach

home　the　next　day。

　　　　The　sun　had　set；　and　the　evening　bells　sounded　through　the　air

from　the　tower　of　the　village　church；　but　to　her　it　was　not　the　bells；

but　the　cry　of　the　frogs　in　the　marshes。　Then　they　ceased；　and　all

around　became　still；　not　a　bird　could　be　heard；　they　were　all　at　rest；

even　the　owl　had　not　left　her　hiding　place；　deep　silence　reigned　on

the　margin　of　the　wood　by　the　sea…shore。　As　Anne　Lisbeth　walked　on　she

could　hear　her　own　footsteps　in　the　sands；　even　the　waves　of　the　sea

were　at　rest；　and　all　in　the　deep　waters　had　sunk　into　silence。

There　was　quiet　among　the　dead　and　the　living　in　the　deep　sea。　Anne

Lisbeth　walked　on；　thinking　of　nothing　at　all；　as　people　say；　or

rather　her　thoughts　wandered；　but　not　away　from　her；　for　thought　is

never　absent　from　us；　it　only　slumbers。　Many　thoughts　that　have　lain

dormant　are　roused　at　the　proper　time；　and　begin　to　stir　in　the　mind

and　the　heart；　and　seem　even　to　come　upon　us　from　above。　It　is

written；　that　a　good　deed　bears　a　blessing　for　its　fruit；　and　it　is

also　written；　that　the　wages　of　sin　is　death。　Much　has　been　said　and

much　written　which　we　pass　over　or　know　nothing　of。　A　light　arises

within　us；　and　then　forgotten　things　make　themselves　remembered；　and

thus　it　was　with　Anne　Lisbeth。　The　germ　of　every　vice　and　every　virtue

lies　in　our　heart；　in　yours　and　in　mine；　they　lie　like　little　grains

of　seed；　till　a　ray　of　sunshine；　or　the　touch　of　an　evil　hand；　or

you　turn　the　corner　to　the　right　or　to　the　left；　and　the　decision　is

made。　The　little　seed　is　stirred；　it　swells　and　shoots　up；　and　pours

its　sap　into　your　blood；　directing　your　course　either　for　good　or

evil。　Troublesome　thoughts　often　exist　in　the　mind；　fermenting

there；　which　are　not　realized　by　us　while　the　senses　are　as　it　were

slumbering；　but　still　they　are　there。　Anne　Lisbeth　walked　on　thus　with

her　senses　half　asleep；　but　the　thoughts　were　fermenting　within　her。

　　　　From　one　Shrove　Tuesday　to　another；　much　may　occur　to　weigh　down

the　heart；　it　is　the　reckoning　of　a　whole　year；　much　may　be　forgotten；

sins　against　heaven　in　word　and　thought；　sins　against　our　neighbor；

and　against　our　own　conscience。　We　are　scarcely　aware　of　their

existence；　and　Anne　Lisbeth　did　not　think　of　any　of　her　errors。　She

had　committed　no　crime　against　the　law　of　the　land；　she　was　an

honorable　person；　in　a　good　position…　that　she　knew。

　　　　She　continued　her　walk　along　by　the　margin　of　the　sea。　What　was　it

she　saw　lying　there？　An　old　hat；　a　man's　hat。　Now　when　might　that　have

been　washed　overboard？　She　drew　nearer；　she　stopped　to　look　at　the

hat；　〃Ha！　what　was　lying　yonder？〃　She　shuddered；　yet　it　was　nothing

save　a　heap　of　grass　and　tangled　seaweed　flung　across　a　long　stone；

but　it　looked　like　a　corpse。　Only　tangled　grass；　and　yet　she　was

frightened　at　it。　As　she　turned　to　walk　away；　much　came　into　her

mind　that　she　had　heard　in　her　childhood：　old　superstitions　of

spectres　by　the　sea…shore；　of　the　ghosts　of　drowned　but　unburied

people；　whose　corpses　had　been　washed　up　on　the　desolate　beach。　The

body；　she　knew；　could　do　no　harm　to　any　one；　but　the　spirit　could

pursue　the　lonely　wanderer；　attach　itself　to　him；　and　demand　to　be

carried　to　the　churchyard；　that　it　might　rest　in　consecrated　ground。

〃Hold　fast！　hold　fast！〃　the　spectre　would　cry；　and　as　Anne　Lisbeth

murmured　these　words　to　herself；　the　whole　of　her　dream　was　suddenly

recalled　to　her　memory；　when　the　mother　had　clung　to　her；　and

uttered　these　words；　when；　amid　the　crashing　of　worlds；　her　sleeve　had

been　torn；　and　she　had　slipped　from　the　grasp　of　her　child；　who　wanted

to　hold　her　up　in　that　terrible　hour。　Her　child；　her　own　child；

which　she　had　never　loved；　lay　now　buried　in　the　sea；　and　might　rise

up；　like　a　spectre；　from　the　waters；　and　cry；　〃Hold　fast；　carry　me

to　consecrated　ground！〃

　　　　As　these　thoughts　passed　through　her　mind；　fear　gave　speed　to

her　feet；　so　that　she　walked　faster　and　faster。　Fear　came　upon　her

as　if　a　cold；　clammy　hand　had　been　laid　upon　her　heart；　so　that　she

almost　fainted。　As　she　looked　across　the　sea；　all　there　grew　darker；　a

heavy　mist　came　rolling　onwards；　and　clung　to　bush　and　tree；

distorting　them　into　fantastic　shapes。　She　turned　and　glanced　at　the

moon；　which　had　risen　behind　her。　It　looked　like　a　pale；　rayless

surface；　and　a　deadly　weight　seemed　to　hang　upon　her　limbs。　〃Hold；〃

thought　she；　and　then　she　turned　round　a　second　time　to　look　at　the

moon。　A　white　face　appeared　quite　close　to　her；　with　a　mist；　hanging

like　a　garment　from　its　shoulders。　〃Stop！　carry　me　to　consecrated

earth；〃　sounded　in　her　ears；　in　strange；　hollow　tones。　The　sound　did

not　come　from　frogs　or　ravens；　she　saw　no　sign　of　such　creatures。　〃A

grave！　dig　me　a　grave！〃　was　repeated　quite　loud。　Yes；　it　was　indeed

the　spectre　of　her　child。　The　child　that　lay　beneath　the　ocean；　and

whose　spirit　could　have　no　rest　until　it　was　carried　to　the

churchyard；　and　until　a　grave　had　been　dug　for　it　in　consecrated

ground。　She　would　go　there　at　once；　and　there　she　would　dig。　She

turned　in　the　direction　of　the　church；　and　the　weight　on　her　heart

seemed　to　grow　lighter；　and　even　to　vanish　altogether；　but　when　she

turned　to　go　home　by　the　shortest　way；　it　returned。　〃Stop！　stop！〃

and　the　words　came　quite　clear；　though　they　were　like　the　croak　of　a

frog；　or　the　wail　of　a　bird。　〃A　grave！　dig　me　a　grave！〃

　　　　The　mist　was　cold　and　damp；　her　hands　and　face　were　moist　and

clammy　with　horror；　a　heavy　weight　again　seized　her　and　clung　to

her；　her　mind　became　clear　for　thoughts　that　had　never　before　been

there。

　　　　In　these　northern　regions；　a　beech…wood　often　buds　in　a　single

night　and　appears　in　the　morning　sunlight　in　its　full　glory　of

youthful　green。　So；　in　a　single　instant；　can　the　consciousness　of

the　sin　that　has　been　committed　in　thoughts；　words；　and　actions　of　our

past　life；　be　unfolded　to　us。　When　once　the　conscience　is　awakened；　it

springs　up　in　the　heart　spontaneously；　and　God　awakens　the

conscience　when　we　least　expect　it。　Then　we　can　find　no　excuse　for

ourselves；　the　deed　is　there　and　bears　witness　against　us。　The

thoughts　seem　to　become　words；　and　to　sound　far　out　into　the　world。　We

are　horrified　at　the　thought　of　what　we　have　carried　within　us；　and　at

the　consciousness　that　we　have　not　overcome　the　evil　which　has　its

origin　in　thoughtlessness　and　pride。　The　heart　conceals　within

itself　the　vices　as　well　as　the　virtues；　and　they　grow　in　the

shallowest　ground。　Anne　Lisbeth　now　experienced　in　thought　what　we

have　clothed　in　words。　She　was　overpowered　by　them；　and　sank　down

and　crept　along　for　some　distance　on　the　ground。　〃A　grave！　dig　me　a

grave！〃　sounded　again　in　her　ears；　and　she　would　have　gladly　buried

herself；　if　in　the　grave　she　could　have　found　forgetfulness　of　her

actions。

　　　　It　was　the　first　hour　of　her　awakening；　full　of　anguish　and

horror。　Superstition　made　her　alternately　shudder　with　cold　or　burn

with　the　heat　of　fever。　Many　things；　of　which　she　had　feared　even　to

speak；　came　into　her　mind。　Silently；　as　the　cloud…shadows　in　the

moonshine；　a　spectral　apparition　flitted　by　her；　she　had　heard　of　it

before。　Close　by　her　galloped　four　snorting　steeds；　with　fire　flashing

from　their　eyes　and　nostrils。　They　dragged　a　burning　coach；　and　within

it　sat　the　wicked　lord　of　the　manor；　who　had　ruled　there　a　hundred

years　before。　The　legend　says　that　every　night；　at　twelve　o'clock；

he　drove　into　his　castleyard　and　out　again。　He　was　not　as　pale　as　dead

men　are；　but　black　as　a　coal。　He　nodded；　and　pointed　to　Anne

Lisbeth；　crying　out；　〃Hold　fast！　hold　fast！　and　then　you　may　ride

again　in　a　nobleman's　carriage；　and　forget　your　child。〃

　　　　She　gathered　herself　up；　and　hastened　to　the　churchyard；　but　black

crosses　and　black　ravens　danced　before　her　eyes；　and　she　could　not

distinguish　one　from　the　other。　The　ravens　croaked　as　the　raven　had

done　which　she　saw　in　the　daytime；　but　now　she　understood　what　they

said。　〃I　am　the　raven…mother；　I　am　the　raven…mother；〃　each　raven

croaked；　and　Anne　Lisbeth　felt　that　the　name　also　applied　to　her；

and　she　fancied　she　should　be　transformed　into　a　black　bird；　and

have　to　cry　as　they　cried；　if　she　did　not　dig　the　grave。　And　she　threw

herself　upon　the　earth；　and　with　her　hands　dug　a　grave　in　the　hard

ground；　so　that　the　bl